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Starts this Thursday!
Just about every writer has a love-hate relationship
with social media, and for some it serves as a serious distraction from
important writing work. While social media use is not mandatory for any
author, it will be a significant challenge for your career and
long-term marketing efforts if you exclude it entirely from your
arsenal of tools (or if you participate with a cynical attitude or sour
mood).
This
class focuses on how to take a holistic and fits-for-you
approach to social media that’s based on long-term reader engagement
and sound principles of online marketing. You won’t find gimmicks or
short-term approaches here. Rather, the basic philosophy is that (1)
your work—your writing—is always central, and (2) you have to enjoy
what you’re doing on social media for it to be sustainable and to
become a meaningful part of your author platform.
A big challenge for
every author is figuring out what social media use will be effective in
cutting through the noise, without consuming huge amounts of time. This
class doesn’t offer a cookie-cutter answer that works for
everyone, but it will show you the questions you need to ask to uncover
the best solution for you.
We’ll eliminate as much guesswork as possible, and focus on how to
retain your authentic voice regardless of what social media site you
use.
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- The
most important question to start with (which has nothing to do
with social media)
- How
social media fits into your overall author platform
- How
to use social media as a creative tool that adds to your writing
practice
- Specific
ways to build relationships with readers as well as influencers
- How
and when social media can work as a hard sales channel
- Social
media tools that can help you manage your time efficiently
- and
much
more!
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- Unpublished
writers who want to build their platform, but don’t know how
social media fits into the bigger picture, or where to start
- Authors
who wants to build their network and relationships in the writing
and publishing community
- Authors
who want to use social media more effectively
- Authors
who believe social media is mostly a waste of their time, but also
feel like they can’t afford to ignore it
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Starts this Thursday!
May 13, 1:00
PM ET
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Instructor:
Jane Friedman
The former publisher
of Writer’s Digest, Jane Friedman has
been active on social media since 2006, when she started an account at
Facebook (after briefly dabbling in MySpace). She has more than 200,000
followers on Twitter, as well as 12,000 Facebook followers, with active
accounts on Instagram, Goodreads, and YouTube, among others.
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Writers of all genres
can learn from the thriller, mystery, and crime genres. Here,
we explore articles that focus on suspense, solutions, and
more!
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As storytellers,
we believe it is the writer’s responsibility to keep the
reader glued to the story and turning the page. Writers
who can do this have long careers. We also believe that
writing can be looked at as a trade, a craft that can be
taught, practiced, and improved. Like all trades, there
are specific tools and strategies in the craft of writing
taut novels, including these eight that will add suspense
to any piece of writing. Read the full article...
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Writing the Mystery Novel
Writer's
Digest University
Do you love reading a
good mystery? Have you always wanted to write one? During the
Essentials of Mystery Writing workshop, you'll have the choice
of creating a brand new mystery story from scratch or working
with a story you already have in progress. Read More...
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Moriah
Richard is an editor at Writer’s
Digest with a particular interest in discussing
craft and genre. As a reader, she’s most interested in
horror, fantasy, and romance, although she will read just
about anything with a great hook. Find Moriah on Twitter @MoriahRichard93.
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Every issue of Writer’s
Digest is devoted to helping writers develop
their craft and offering expert advice on how to get published. This
magazine is full of pertinent tips on writing queries, writers' rights,
new markets, submission guidelines, and competitions.
Receive The
Writer's Guide to Creativity free when you
subscribe today!
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In each
issue:
- Must-have
tips and publishing secrets to stay inspired, creative, and
motivated
- The
latest (and greatest!) markets for print and e-publishing
- Inspirational
stories of writers who are living the dream, and how they got
there
- Technique
articles geared toward specific genres... and so much more!
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Active Interest Media
P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA
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Agent One-on-One: First 10 Pages Boot Camp
As many writers know, agents and editors won't give your work more than
ten pages or so to make an impact. If you haven't got them hooked by
then, it's a safe bet you won't be asked for more material. Make sure
you've got the kind of opening they're looking for!
May 20-23, 2021
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Social Media Bliss: How You Can Engage With Meaning and
Without Losing Your Mind
This live webinar focuses on how to take a holistic and fits-for-you
approach to social media that’s based on long-term reader engagement
and sound principles of online marketing.
May 13, 2021
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Based on a True Story: How to Secure, Write and Sell
Non-Fiction Screenplays & Book Proposals
In this live event, you'll learn what you need to know to get your true
story down on the page and up on the screen.
May 27, 2021
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Upcoming Virtual Conference
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Short Story Virtual Conference
Spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft skills,
marketing your short fiction, editing, and getting the tools you need
to advance your career as a writer from seven different published
authors, then (if you choose) submit up to 500 words of a short story
to an editor for critique.
May 21-23, 2021
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Active Interest Media
P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA
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About the Boot Camp May 20-23, 2021
As many writers know, agents and editors won't give your work more than
ten pages or so to make an impact. If you haven't got them hooked by
then, it's a safe bet you won't be asked for more material. Make sure
you've got the kind of opening they're looking for! In this invaluable
event, you'll get to work with an agent online to review and refine the
first ten pages of your novel or non-fiction book. You'll learn what keeps
an agent reading, what are the most common mistakes that make them
stop, and the steps you need to take to correct them. The best part is
that you'll be working directly with an agent, who will provide
feedback specific to your work.
Here's how it works:
On Thursday morning, May 20, you will gain online access to a special
60-minute online tutorial presented by agent and editor Paula Munier.
It will help you clarify what you should be looking for in your
work. You
will also be notified by email which agent you'll be working with on
the start date, 5/20/2021, by 5 pm ET. While we
accept agent requests, we cannot guarantee that you'll be assigned to
that agent. All agents have the ability to provide feedback in all
genres including non-fiction.
Students may take Thursday and Friday to revise their pages, which are
due to be sent to their assigned agent no later than 10:00 am (ET) on Saturday
morning, May 22, 2021. (The word count of submissions
is strictly limited to 2500 words and it should be submitted in the
body of their email, not as attachments).
All pages with notes will be returned to participants by 10:00 AM (ET) Sunday morning
(May 23rd). You'll work to revise your pages based on
the agent's specific feedback.
On Sunday, May 23rd from 1 pm - 4 pm ET, Talcott Notch will host an online discussion board.
This is your golden opportunity to ask your burning questions about
craft and improving your writing, as well as industry topics like
trends, markets, working with agents, and more. Keep in mind, this is a
lively, fast-paced learning environment that will give you an
immense opportunity to learn not only from your faculty but from the
other participants' questions, so please pose questions that
won't require your instructor to stop the discussion to reread your
boot camp submission in the middle of the Q&A, but otherwise,
consider the faculty your treasure trove of industry secrets at your
disposal!
By 11:59 PM (ET) Sunday night on
May 23, you'll return your final revised pages to your
assigned agent for review. Agents will spend the next few weeks reading
the revised submissions assigned to them and will provide a final brief
one-or-two sentence critique of your progress no later than Sunday, June 13. Any
one of them may ask for additional pages if the initial submission
shows serious promise.
*All attendees should have the first 10 pages of their novel or
non-fiction book finished and ready to submit to the agent prior
to the beginning of the event.
In addition to feedback, attendees will have access to "The 3
Missing Pieces of Stunning Story Structure," an on-demand webinar
by K.M. Weiland.
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25 Plot Twist
Prompts for Writers
Writing is a tricky
craft. Sometimes getting a story started is the hardest
part. Other times, it's figuring out the grand finale.
And then, there are all the twists and turns between
the beginning and the end. That's where this post aims
to help.
(25 ways to
start a story.)
After
all, that's where a majority of the writing and the
reading is done. But most fun stories don't follow a
simple Point A to Point B path even if the plot is as
simple as a fellowship of characters delivering a ring
from one place to another. In fact, most stories worth
reading take more than a few side paths and alleyways
on their way to the end.
So
I've collected 25 plot twist ideas and prompts to help
writers spark new directions in their stories when
they're feeling stuck. Read the full article...
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5 Tips to Work
Through Procrastination
The only reason my
oven has EVER been cleaned is when there is a looming
writing deadline hurtling towards me like a ten-tonne
truck. Rather than make things easier for myself by
sitting down and getting with it, I clean out my sock
drawer or rediscover a box of old photographs.
(How to
Conquer Self Doubt And Just Write)
Last
year, when I was struggling with my second novel,
promoting the first and starting a new full-time day
job in a matter of days, I decided that was a great
time to trace my family tree. Three days later, I had
discovered the man I thought was my grandfather,
wasn’t. The real one was a Canadian soldier stationed
in England during WW2. It caused a rather large ripple
effect across three continents and didn’t help with
novels 1 or 2 at all, but at least I’m in contact with
my cousin in Canada now, silver linings and all.
Firstly,
allow me to state the obvious. Procrastination is good
old-fashioned fear; fear of failing, of not being good
enough, of being judged. I’m not going to be able to
fix you. All I can do is share some of the wool I try
and pull over my own eyes in the hope it gets a few
fellow procrastinators out of the starting blocks. Read More...
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This Week in
Writing
5/10—Shel Silverstein died 1999
5/11—Douglas Adams died 2001 (14 Douglas
Adams quotes)
5/13—Daphne Du Maurier born 1907
5/14—Chris Cleave born 1973
5/14—Tom Wolfe died 2018
5/15—L. Frank Baum born 1856
5/15—Emily Dickinson died 1886 (10 Best
Winter Poems)
5/15—Katherine Anne Porter born 1890
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Robert Lee Brewer
Robert Lee Brewer
is a senior editor for Writer's Digest and former
editor of the Writer's Market book series. He is also the
author of Smash Poetry Journal
and Solving the World's Problems.
Find him on Twitter at @RobertLeeBrewer
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Courses
Starting This Week:
12
Weeks to a First Draft
Instructor:
John DeChancie
Dive into the world
of writing and learn all 12 steps needed to complete a first draft. In
this writing workshop you will tackle the steps to writing a book,
learn effective writing techniques along the way, and of course, begin
writing your first draft.
You'll take an
in-depth look at Harper Lee's To
Kill A Mockingbird as well as more contemporary novels
such as Alice Sebold's The
Lovely Bones and Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge.
When you take this workshop, you will learn invaluable tips on writing
a book and receive detailed instruction through weekly lessons and
writing assignments.
Writing the Picture Book
Instructor: Holly Alder
Picture books are
one of the most delightful—and important—genres in all of
literature. In this course, you'll learn how to write a winning
picture book narrative, envision it with illustrations, and put
together a picture package that a publisher will really notice. Plus,
you'll receive feedback on each assignment from your instructor and
have the chance to participate in the peer critique section of the
workshop with other classmates.
Outlining Your Novel
Instructor:
G. Miki Hayden
Writers often look
upon outlines with fear and trembling. But when properly understood and
correctly used, the outline is one of the most powerful weapons in a
writer's arsenal.
With the help of the book Outlining
Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland, you
will learn how to write an outline as you explore what type of outline
is right for you, brainstorm plot ideas, and discover your characters.
Increase Your Online Reach with The Magic
of SEO
Instructor:
Dorit Sasson
Your readers and
customers are randomly putting in keywords and keyphrases into Google
to find answers to their questions. But if you cannot be found on
Google, you can’t sell your books or be of service no matter what.
Using keywords and the magic of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
doesn’t have to be technical and time-consuming. Your content is
already Google-friendly. Start optimizing your content with the right
keywords and keyphrases today and attract more of the right online
readers, customers, and prospects.
Grammar
and Mechanics
Instructor: Kelly
Boyer Sagert
Do you remember the
difference between the 8 parts of speech and how to use them? Are you
comfortable with punctuation and mechanics? No matter what type of
writing you do, mastering the fundamentals of grammar and mechanics is
an important first step to having a successful writing career.
Writing
Nonfiction 101: Fundamentals
Instructor: Mark
Spencer
Research, interview, and explore the
subjects that interest you. Then write about what you've learned in
Writing Nonfiction 101: Fundamentals. Writing nonfiction is a great way
for beginner and experienced writers to break into the publishing
industry. Throughout this 12-week workshop, you will get step-by-step
instruction on how to write nonfiction, read Philip Gerard's Creative Nonfiction: Researching
and Crafting Stories of Real Life, and write articles,
essays, or a few chapters of your book. Register for this workshop and
discover how fun writing nonfiction can be.
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Upcoming Webinars:
Social
Media Bliss: How You Can Engage With Meaning and Without Losing Your
Mind
with Jane Friedman
May 13, 1:00
PM EDT
Just about every writer has a
love-hate relationship with social media, and for some it serves as a
serious distraction from important writing work. This class focuses on
how to take a holistic and fits-for-you approach to social media that’s
based on long-term reader engagement and sound principles of online
marketing. Join popular WDU instructor Jane Friedman and sign up today!
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Upcoming Virtual Conference:
Short
Story Virtual Conference
with SEVEN Award-Winning Writers
May 21-23,
2021
Writer's Digest is pleased to
present an exclusive virtual conference for short story writers! Spend
the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft skills, marketing
your short fiction, editing, and getting the tools you need to advance
your career as a writer from seven different published authors, then
(if you choose) submit up to 500 words of a short story to an editor
for critique.
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Featured May Courses:
21
Days to Your Novel Outline and Synopsis
Instructor:
Bryan Young
May 27 - June
17
Outlines
for novels can seem daunting. The synopsis, even more so. A synopsis is
something you’re going to need because it’s vital to selling your novel
if you’re going to query agents or publishers. And the outline is going
to save you time while you’re writing your novel. Starting with your
premise, expanding your outline, and then writing your synopsis is the
perfect way to understand exactly what your story is about and how to
get it done.
Build
Your Novel Scene by Scene
Instructor:
Mark Spencer
May 27 -
August 19
If you want to learn how to
write a story, but aren’t quite ready yet to hunker down and write
10,000 words or so a week, this is the course for you. Build Your Novel
Scene by Scene will offer you the impetus, the guidance, the support,
and the deadline you need to finally stop talking, start writing, and,
ultimately, complete that novel you always said you wanted to write.
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EXPERT INSTRUCTORS |
CONVENIENT ACCESS
INVALUABLE FEEDBACK
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Active Interest Media
P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA
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Whether you are a
writing novice looking to cut your teeth or a published professional,
the short story is a unique and challenging medium that offers you
amazing opportunities. Also, short stories are a great way to gain
publishing credentials with less time investment than it takes to
develop a novel-length work. The workshop covers structure and the
common pitfalls writers experience when crafting a short story.
Throughout this
four-week workshop, you will have feedback and support while
you write and hone an entire short story from beginning to end, and
you'll leave with a polished draft of your story. You will get insider
information about what editors are looking for in short stories they
choose to publish. Literary journals are always looking for quality
stories, and with the advances in online submissions, getting your work
in front of an editor has never been easier.
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- How
to structure a short story
- What
makes a short story a short story (and what doesn't)
- How
to start your short story strong to capture your reader
- What
are the most common structural problems of short stories and how
to fix them
- How
to end your story for maximum effect
- Tips
on revising your short story to a polished draft
- and
much
more!
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Active Interest Media
P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA
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Writer's Digest is
pleased to present an exclusive virtual conference for short
story writers! On May
21-23, our Short Story Writing Virtual
Conference will
provide expert insights from SEVEN award-winning and
best-selling authors on the finer points of how to write a short story.
See the schedule of sessions below
with Jacob Appel, Windy Lynn Harris, Ran Walker, and others!
All
participants will benefit from:
- SEVEN all-new, one-hour webinar presentations
provided by award-winning and bestselling authors, all examining
different aspects of writing short stories. Each session will
include an opportunity for live Q&A with the authors!
- A critique (with written feedback) of the first
500 words of a short story from an editor.
- The
ability to network
with fellow writers via discussion boards
that will be open throughout the weekend. Share ideas, and even
your work if you choose.
- Unlimited OnDemand viewing! All conference
sessions will be made available for download in the week following
the live presentations. Even if you can’t attend every session
live, you will be able to view each lecture on your own whenever
you choose.
- Learn valuable techniques to hone your craft!
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Marketing
Short Fiction: The Science of Publishing
with Jacob M. Appel
In this session, an author who has
garnered more than two hundred acceptance letters and 20,000 rejection
slips in the course of his efforts to publish short fiction offers his
"tricks of the trade" on such subjects as market selection
and submission, contests, cover letters, "best of"
anthologies, red flags, how to build a portfolio that will appeal to
agents, and how to market a collection. The purpose of this session is
to demystify the submission and selection process, ultimately leading
to a more impressive acceptance to submission ratio.
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How to Use
Eight (vs Five) Senses in the Short Story
Instructor: Jenny Bhatt
Beyond the five senses of smell,
touch, taste, hearing, and sight, there are three others we can include
effectively in our storytelling to move a story’s action along,
escalate tension or conflict, reveal a character’s motivations or
emotions, or even simply change the pace of a narrative. During this
hour, we'll look at practical examples from well-known short stories
for how to leverage all eight senses in our own writing.
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Going Short:
Flash Fiction for the Flash-Curious
Instructor: Nancy Stohlman
Flash fiction is changing the way we
tell stories. Carving away the excess, eliminating all but the most
essential, flash fiction is putting the story through a literary
dehydrator, leaving the meat without the fat. In this session, veteran
writer, publisher, and professor Nancy Stohlman will take you on a
flash fiction journey to examine and discuss the fundamentals of flash,
examine different approaches to the compressed narrative, debunk flash
myths and distinguish flash fiction from its close cousins, the short
story and the prose poem.
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Whose Story Is
It Anyway?: Point of View in Short Stories
Instructor: Ran Walker
Figuring out which point-of-view to
use in a story can be frustrating. Should you go with first person or
third person? Or what about using the enigmatic second person?
Award-winning author Ran Walker discusses the ins and outs, pros and
cons, of using the various forms of point-of-view so that you can
approach your next story with greater confidence.
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How to Develop
an Enticing Story Premise
Instructor: Rachel Swearingen
One of the more difficult tasks of
writing fiction is transforming an initial idea into a plot that
invites mystery and drives your story forward. In this session, you
will learn how to use the elements of craft to discover the unique
premise hiding in your material. We will also discuss how to develop
that premise toward the deeper riches of your story, and the surprising
yet inevitable turns.
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Worldbuilding
and the Bi-valve Heart of the Story
Instructor: Brenda Peynado
This craft lesson will show you how
to forecast the heart of the story within the first sentence or
paragraph at the same time as it builds your fictional world, small or
large—a family, a suburb, a spaceship, or a planet. Whether you’re a
planner or a pantser, your opening sentences can lay the groundwork for
a richly built story that delivers meaningful change.
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Editing the
Short Stuff
Instructor: Windy Lynn Harris
An effective editing process is your
path to getting short stories published. Literary magazines expect a
polished draft when you submit, but how do you know what to fix and
what to leave alone? And when should you stop tweaking the prose? Your
worries are over! This session will walk you through a four-step plan
to go from first draft to last with confidence
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This month, the WD
team is focusing on #PersonalWrites, including the memoir and self-help
genres. Let us give you tips for sharing your story!
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When thinking about
structure in literature, most will default to fiction,
poetry, and maybe even academic writing. However, structure
is crucial to all literary genres—including memoir. In this article from
2018, author and memoirist Cheryl Suchors gives her top
tips for structuring your memoir so it can stand tall and
make an impact.
Cheryl
Suchors, September 12, 2018, WritersDigest.com
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For some writers,
structure appears like a bridge in the mist; for others,
like myself, there’s only the mist. Several ingredients can
be used to create a structure, like that bridge, that works
for your book. You may know the answers to the considerations
below right away, or you may need to experiment and
discover them through the writing itself. Either way,
memoir structure is as crucial as structure in fiction and
no good memoir will be able to stand tall without it.
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1. Order of Events
In some memoirs, Without a Map by Meredith Hall, for
example, the chapters jump forward and backward in time.
This adds an element of unpredictability that both
challenges and engages the reader.
Most memoirs, however, tend to flow chronologically. That
is, they run through events in the sequence in which they
happened. But even a chronological memoir isn’t purely
chronological since the narrator is now an adult filtering
past experiences through the lens of a wiser, more mature
person. This is part of what adds richness to the tale.
If you can avoid a mostly chronological structure, good for
you. You’ll benefit from the inherent complexity. But if,
like most memoirists, you are using a chronological
structure, there are still several techniques to help you
avoid the pitfall of “first this happened, then that
happened,” an approach that drains the life and tension
from a book.
Read the full article on our
website...
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Moriah Richard is
an editor at Writer’s Digest
with a particular interest in discussing craft and genre.
As a reader, she’s most interested in horror, fantasy, and
romance, although she will read just about anything with a
great hook. Find Moriah on Twitter @MoriahRichard93.
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This course guides
beginning and intermediate writers through elements of how
to write a personal essay, helping them identify values
expressed in their stories and bring readers into the
experiences described. Learn more...
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Win
$5,000, a feature about you in Writer's Digest and so much
more!
For 90 years, Writer’s Digest has honored new and
up-and-coming writers in many genres or categories.
And it’s that time again—we’re looking for writing that strikes
and grabs us, that we can’t put down. We’re looking for
standout writing in any and all of the following categories:
- inspirational/spiritual
- memoirs/personal
essays
- print or
online article
- genre short
story (think romance, thriller, mystery, sci-fi, etc.)
- mainstream/literary
short story
- rhyming
poetry
- non-rhyming
poetry
- script
(think stage play or television/movie script)
- children’s/young
adult fiction
With so many options, we’re sure something you’ve written or
are writing will fit in. And we’ve seen a wide range of winners
in the past several years. Just be sure to check our website
for entry details—we have strict word count restrictions for
each category.
So, how will this competition help you? That’s easy. The grand
prize winner will receive $5,000 in cash, a trip to the
Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, and an interview for a
feature article in our magazine. First place winners in each
category receive $1,000, second place winners in each category
win $500, and on and on!
Ready to be the next Writer's Digest Annual Competition winner?
Enter by May 7 for the best price!
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Overcoming writer's block can be frustrating. This week,
WD brings you tips and tricks to help you get unstuck.
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So, you have an idea for a book? You’re not alone.
Joseph Epstein wrote in the New York Times in 2002 that
“81 percent of Americans feel they have a book in them—and that they
should write it.” He then urged people not “to write that book ... Keep
it inside you, where it belongs.”
Setting aside Epstein’s advice, it is obvious that
far fewer than 81 percent of the population actually become published.
Why is that? What separates professional writers from amateurs?
Whatever the perceived talent of each writer, which is subjective, it
is an objective fact that every published author started out as an
amateur writer. The first, and perhaps most important, difference
between the professional and the aspiring writer, is that the published
ones finished their books. Read
the full article...
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5 Tips to Work Through Procrastination
Have you caught yourself doing anything other than
sitting down to write? Procrastination and writer's block happen to
every writer. Let author Clare Whitfield give you tips on how to
overcome and get back to writing. Read
More...
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Outlining Your Novel
Writer's Digest University
Writers often look upon outlines with fear and
trembling. But when properly understood and correctly used, the outline
is one of the most powerful weapons in a writer's arsenal. In this
course, you will learn how to write an outline as you explore what type
of outline is right for you, brainstorm plot ideas, and discover your
characters. Read
More...
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Short Story Virtual Conference
Writer's Digest University
Writer's Digest is pleased to present an exclusive
virtual conference for short story writers! On May 21-23, our Short
Story Writing Virtual Conference will provide expert insights from seven
award-winning and best-selling authors on the finer points of how to
write a short story. Read
More...
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Moriah Richard is an
editor at Writer’s
Digest with a particular interest in discussing craft and
genre. As a reader, she’s most interested in horror, fantasy, and
romance, although she will read just about anything with a great hook.
Find Moriah on Twitter @MoriahRichard93.
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In this issue,
we look at the three mindset shifts every writer must
make to become a full-time author, crowdsourcing to
find an agent, what are multiple submissions, and
more!
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Becoming a
Full-Time Author
It's the dream
lifestyle for every aspiring author who pictures a
long, successful career writing books—leisurely waking
up, making a hot cup of coffee, and perhaps indulging
in some reading before starting your busy writing day
in the office. But full-time authorship isn't without
its own pros and cons.
(Writing
Mistakes Writers Make.)
The
thing about authorship is that it's something no new
author has ever attempted before—so naturally, we're
going to make mistakes along the way. But some of these
mistakes are completely avoidable with a simple mindset
shift. Read the full article...
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Craft &
Business of Writing
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On
Crowdsourcing and Readership
"I tried to get the book published
back in 2008 after the second draft was done, but I was
unsuccessful. As a result, I self-published The Reincarnationist Papers in
2009, but I also employed an innovative technique of
crowdsourcing from my Silicon Valley day job to try to
get the book to a wider audience. Specifically, I
empowered my readers to help me by placing a cash
reward on the first page to anyone who could introduce
the novel to a Hollywood producer who would adapt the
novel into a movie. This reward of an agent’s
commission for making an introduction that led to a
movie deal effectively crowdsourced my early readers
into an army of agents." Read More...
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How to Inhabit
the Character You Write About
As a writer, I spend most of my life with
people who are dead. How sad is that? Deeply perverse.
I am in the resurrection business. I relate obsessively
to people who aren’t there, more so than to the living.
I read their diaries and love letters, pore over
photographs, prowl 'round their houses, get all such
information as I can from those who knew them for real.
Read More...
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What Are
Multiple Submissions?
Multiple submissions are submissions
that include multiple pitches and/or manuscripts. For
instance, I write and publish poetry, and it's very
common for poets to submit bundles of three to five
(and sometimes more) poems per submission. Since I'm
sending multiple poems in the same submission, it's
called a multiple submission.
This is different from
simultaneous submissions, which is the act of sending
the same submission to multiple agents and/or
publishers at the same time. That said, I've often sent
out multiple submissions (bundles of five poems) that
were also simultaneous submissions (to three or more
poetry publications at the same time). Read More...
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Send Your Work
to 2nd Draft Critique Services!
No matter your style or genre, Writer's
Digest Shop offers a high-level view of your writing.
Gain a critique of your manuscript, query letter,
synopsis, and more! Click here
to learn more >>
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On Mining Humor
From Family Dynamics
Humor often stems from things that are not
humorous. In Dial A for Aunties,
none of the characters in my book finds their
situation—having to hide a dead body while catering to
a huge wedding—humorous, but we as readers find it
hilarious. Meddy, the main character, does not find her
mother and aunts' feuds funny. But again, it's what we
readers want. The more drama, the more comedy. Here are
my top tips on how to extract the humor from family
dynamics. Read More...
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Robert Lee Brewer
Robert Lee
Brewer is a senior editor for Writer's Digest
and former editor of the Writer's Market book series.
He is also the author of
Smash Poetry Journal and Solving the World's Problems. Find
him on Twitter at @RobertLeeBrewer
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If you’ve finished your manuscript, or even just your first few pages,
and are looking for someone to critique your work, you should consider 2nd Draft!
Exclusively available through Writer’s Digest, 2nd Draft provides a
high-level review of your writing by certified professionals. You’ll
not only learn what’s working in your writing, but what’s not, and—most
important—how to fix it.
2nd Draft offers a variety of services from a full
manuscript line edit, to simple proofreading, to query letter and even
plot critiques!
Click
here to view all services and learn more!
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Active Interest Media
P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA
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