Here are the latest Writer's Digest newsletters with tutorials, competitions, the annual conference, reduced subscription deals and more:
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New! Digital Archive
Collection: Iconic Women Writers
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For nearly 100
years, Writer’s Digest magazine has been the leading authority for writers of
all genres and career levels. And now, for the first time ever, we’ve
digitized decades of issues from our prestigious archives to share with the
world. In this, the first of our series of archive collections, discover
exclusive historic interviews with classic women authors including Maya
Angelou, Pearl S. Buck, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates and Joan
Didion—and much, much more. Featuring five stunning issues spanning more than
60 years, this collection is perfect for writers, literary enthusiasts,
educators and historians.
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Writer’s Digest April 1935, Featuring Pearl
S. Buck
Format: PDF
Pearl
S. Buck (1892-1973) authored dozens of nonfiction works and novels, including
the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The
Good Earth, and became the first American woman to win the Nobel
Prize for Literature in 1938. Three years prior, she headlined an issue of WD
with her wisdom in the recurring “Advice to Novelists” column.
Other
gems from this full issue include:
- “Adventures in Collaboration” by poet, playwright and
essayist Newman Levy
- “A Fiction Trick Explained” by Narleen Thornes
- "A Young Man Breaks In” by Jean Francis Webb
… Plus dozens more pages of historic stories, tips, columns
and more.
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Writer’s Digest December 1971, Featuring
Joan Didion
Format: PDF
Joan
Didion remains one of the greatest names in literature, and one of the most
widely recognized women authors of all time. A journalist, playwright,
screenwriter, memoirist and novelist, Didion is famed for works including Salvador, Slouching Towards
Bethlehem and The
Year of Magical Thinking, for which she became a Pulitzer
finalist and won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. In this 1971 issue,
she authors a feature entitled “A Best Selling Novelist Tells Why She Keeps a
Notebook.”
Other
gems from this full issue include:
- “5 Ways to Sell Your Play” by Sam Smiley
- “The Secret of Full-Time Freelancing” by Ted Rakstis
- "Are you that special person who can write
inspirational articles?” by Ruth Peterman
… Plus dozens more pages of historic stories, tips, columns
and more.
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Writer’s Digest January 1975, Featuring an
Interview with Maya Angelou
Format PDF
When
you think of historic women writers, it’s hard to not think of Maya Angelou,
whose poetry and memoirs—including the internationally renowned I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings—are
only second in historical significance to her civil rights activism. At age
45, when she was interviewed for this issue of Writer’s Digest, she had already
established a reputation as a globally recognized cultural leader and
literary icon. Learn about her diverse career as an author, playwright,
educator, speaker and journalist in this enthralling interview entitled “Out
of the Cage and Still Singing.”
Other
gems from this full issue include:
- “Toward an American Haiku” by Judson Jerome
- “Tax Questions Answered” by Julian Block
- "Finding Your Medium: Cartooning” by Jack Markow
… Plus dozens more pages of historic stories, tips, columns
and more.
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Writer’s Digest April 1986, Featuring Joyce
Carol Oates
Format PDF
Joyce
Carol Oates as proven to be one of the most widely talented authors of our
time. An incredibly prolific and consistently prestigious author, Oates has
earned the National Book Award, two O. Henry Awards and the National
Humanities Medal, and three of her novels and two of her short story
collections have been Pulitzer finalists. In this issue’s headlining
interview, “Joyce Carol Oates and the Hardest Part of Writing,” she discusses
the process of style and revision that have shaped her world-renowned works.
Other
gems from this full issue include:
- “Anatomy of a Short Story” by James Gunn
- “What to Do When the Publisher Won't Pay” by Dean R.
Lambe
- "The Editor's Wish Book” by John Wood
… Plus dozens more pages of historic stories, tips, columns
and more.
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Writer’s Digest April 2004, Featuring
Margaret Atwood
Format: PDF
Canadian
poet, novelist, critic, essayist, inventor and environmental activist
Margaret Atwood was already a champion in the literary world before her
dystopian novel The
Handmaid’s Tale rocketed to global popularity. She has won the
Arthur C. Clarke Award, Prince of Asturias Award for Literature and the Peace
Prize of the German Book Trade (not to mention the fact that she’s been a
finalist for the Booker Prize
five time), and in 2001 she was inducted into Canada's Walk of
Fame. In this interview, “Unlocking the Door,” Atwood expounds upon finding
your voice, the beauty of multitasking and what “chick lit” may have in
common with Dracula
and Frankenstein.
Other
gems from this full issue include:
- “Fiction Essentials” by James Scott Bell
- “Science Sells” by John K. Borchardt
- "The Six-Figure Writer” by Robert W. Bly
… Plus dozens more pages of historic stories, tips, columns
and more.
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Gain invaluable
insight on querying and first pages
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If you want to get a
literary agent, you have to hook them quickly with your submission materials.
And the two most important items during your initial agent inquiry are the
all-important query letter and first pages of your story. This Writer’s
Digest Boot Camp will teach how to do create an amazing agent submission.
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Writing a strong
query letter requires a great hook and clear premise. The first sentence
should immediately catch the reader’s attention, while the ending should
leave the reader wanting to dive into the pages of the manuscript. Your first
pages should work similarly—you want the person reading to find it absolutely
unputdownable. But this takes practice, patience, and an eye for detail.
Which is why we’re here: to discuss what to do and not to do and to make your
query and first pages as stand-out as possible.
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Suzie Townsend and
JL Stermer are currently building their lists at New Leaf Literary &
Media, Inc. and understand what information will help prospective authors
weigh all of their options before choosing an agent.
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Tips on writing
the most effective query
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How to write
strong first pages
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Tips on the actual
querying process
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Key querying
resources; key revising resources
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Tips on how to
write a non-fiction book proposal
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Here's how it works:
On January 23, 2018, you will gain access to an all-new special 111-minute
online tutorial via the course system: "How to Catch an Agent's Interest with Your Query and
First Pages” presented by literary agents of New Leaf
Literary.s
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After listening to
the presentation, attendees will spend the next two days revising materials
as necessary. After viewing the tutorial, writers will have two days in which
to log onto the course system and ask assigned agent critiquers questions
related to revising materials. The agents will be available on the course
system from 1-3 p.m. (EDT) on both Wednesday, January 24 and Thursday,
January 25. No later than Saturday, January 27, attendees will submit a query and the first five
manuscript or proposal pages for critique. The submissions
will receive feedback directly from the boot camp literary agents.
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The agents will
spend up to three weeks reviewing all assigned critiques and provide feedback
to help attendees. (The agents reserve the right to request more materials if
they feel a strong connection to the work and want to read more; note that
multiple agents have signed writers after reading their work as part of WD
boot camps.)
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Join the Boot Camp
Today!
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Agent: Suzie Townsend
Prior to joining New Leaf, Suzie Townsend
graduated film school, earned her Masters of Education, taught high school
English, and coached a swim team. In her spare time, she read everything she
could, which prompted her move to publishing. As a literary agent, she
represents all brands of children’s and adult fiction.
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Agent: JL Stermer
is adding to her non-fiction list in both YA
and adult categories with smart pop-culture, comedy/satire, fashion, health
& wellness, self-help, and memoir. She’s also growing her fiction list (a
bit more selectively) and is looking for adult and some YA coming-of-age,
humor, dark and edgy stories, and new and original voices in commercial and
upmarket.
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Discover the general
concepts concerning the legal system and trial practice
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In this 47-minute tutorial, writers learn
about general concepts concerning the legal system and trial practice. In
addition, writers learn about how to handle preliminary and advanced legal
research. Along the way, author Adam Mitzner tells a few anecdotes about his
own legal practice, and how he incorporates it into his fiction. Read More...
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Writer's Digest Membership Options
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350+ WD Tutorials are immediately available
for viewing, and at least one new tutorial is added weekly.
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Sue Johnson
Sue is an Instructional Designer for
Writer's Digest. She lives with her Corgi/Dachshund (Dorgi), Dori, and three
kitties. Follow her on Twitter @sueajohnsonco.
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Exclusive interviews
with H.G. Wells, Terry Brooks, Stan Lee, and more!
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For nearly 100
years, Writer’s Digest magazine has been the leading authority for writers of
all genres and career levels. And now, for the first time ever, we’ve
digitized decades of issues from our prestigious archives to share with the
world. In this archive collection, discover five full issues from our vault,
each of which includes exclusive historic interviews and columns from science
fiction writing legends including H.G.
Wells, Octavia E. Butler, Ray Bradbury, Terry Brooks—and even Stan Lee.
Featuring five stunning issues spanning more than 60 years, this collection
is perfec¬t for writers, literary enthusiasts, educators and historians.
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Writer’s Digest February 1932,
Featuring H.G. Wells
Format: PDF
The
prolific author of sci-fi classics including The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds and
The Invisible Man,
as well as dozens more novels, short stories, social commentary essays and
more, H.G. Wells is a household name. In this 1932 issue of Writer’s Digest,
he discusses his take on “The Future of the Novel.” Discover whether his
predictions played out as expected.
Other
notable stories in this issue include:
- “Writing True Crime Stories” by Douglas Lurton
- ““Writing True Crime Stories” by Douglas Lurton
- An instructive article on writing celebrity
interviews by Lou Myrtis Vining
… And more!
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Writer’s Digest November 1947, Featuring
Stan Lee
Format: PDF
Stan
Lee is the legendary co-creator of comic book characters and franchises
including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, X-Men, Doctor Strange, the Fantastic
Four, Iron Man, Daredevil, Thor, Black Panther and more. In the November 1947
issue of Writer’s Digest, when comics had only been common for a decade and
Lee himself was merely the young editor and art director of Timely Comics,
Inc., he headlined the magazine with an article called “There’s Money in
Comics!” This illustrated historic gem explains how to write and plan
dialogue for comics, how to work with illustrators, how to build suspense and
how to write a great ending.
Other
notable stories in this issue include:
- “James Carroll, Moment by Critical Moment,” an iconic
interview of the poet/playwright by Gary Provost
- “Let Your Feeling Show” by Colleen L. Reece
- "The Three R’s for Revitalizing Article Sales”
(Recycle, Rejuventate, Revamp) by Larry Holden
… And more!
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Writer’s Digest January 1980, Featuring Larry
Niven
Format PDF
Widely
acclaimed and awarded for his best-known science fiction novel Ringworld, Larry Niven
has been honored especially for his work in hard science fiction based in
theoretical physics, as well as rational fantasy. In this issue, you’ll find
“Around the Worlds in 80 Ways (Starring Larry Niven)” in which Niven
discusses his process for world-building and other aspects of sci-fi-writing.
“I want my reader to daydream in color and three dimensions.” This issue is
also the 60th Anniversary issue of Writer’s Digest, featuring “The Best,
Worst and Wackiest in American Writing”—full of fun and weird facts about
authors from history.
Other
notable stories in this issue include:
- “Chronicle: How the Hell Did I Write a Book?” by
Barry Manilow (yes, that Barry Manilow)
- “Six Classic Elements of the Bestselling Novel” by
Evan Marshall
- A series of seven games for writers by Doug Donaldson
… And more!
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Writer’s Digest February 1986, Featuring Ray
Bradbury
Format PDF
Ray
Bradbury’s influence on the literary world was revolutionary. The breadth of
genres and styles he covered in his novels, screenplays, television scripts,
and dozens more collections of short stories is astounding, but he’s best
known for his iconic work in dystopian fiction (Fahrenheit 451) and science fiction (The Martian Chronicles)—as
well as horror. In this issue of Writer’s Digest, Bradbury takes the stage in
a cover interview about leveraging nostalgia when writing about a fictional
future.
Other
notable stories in this issue include:
- “Anatomy of a Short Story” by James Gunn
- “The Basics of Successful Fiction: Choosing Your
Storyteller” by Joel Rosenberg
- "10 Ways to Get to Know Your Market Better Than
Its Editor Does” by John Wood
… And more!
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Writer’s Digest February 1986, Featuring Ray
Bradbury
Format PDF
Ray
Bradbury’s influence on the literary world was revolutionary. The breadth of
genres and styles he covered in his novels, screenplays, television scripts,
and dozens more collections of short stories is astounding, but he’s best
known for his iconic work in dystopian fiction (Fahrenheit 451) and science fiction (The Martian Chronicles)—as
well as horror. In this issue of Writer’s Digest, Bradbury takes the stage in
a cover interview about leveraging nostalgia when writing about a fictional
future.
Other
notable stories in this issue include:
- “Anatomy of a Short Story” by James Gunn
- “The Basics of Successful Fiction: Choosing Your
Storyteller” by Joel Rosenberg
- "10 Ways to Get to Know Your Market Better Than
Its Editor Does” by John Wood
… And more!
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Early Bird ends
February 6—register today!
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No two writers are the same. That’s why no
two conference experiences should be the same. We’re doing our part by
reimagining our tracks for a new year, and you can do yours by building the weekend you want around the
sessions that most interest you. Consider what your writing needs are right
now and what new skills will take your career further in 2018. Then, take a
look at what we have on deck for you this summer.
This August at the Writer's Digest Annual Conference in New
York City, you’ll get your most pressing questions answered, because you’ll
be customizing the program most suited to
your needs. Each hour, you’ll choose which session is right for you, from
five different tracks:
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Getting Published
We're throwing open the doors of the
publishing world to let you in on the information you need to get noticed,
heard and published.
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Craft
Revisit the fundamentals or explore new
techniques to take your work further. Empowering you to do your best work is
at the heart of every session.
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Genre Studies
Dig down into what makes your genre tick!
Discover what editors, agents, and audiences want, and learn how to give it
to them—all while staying true to your vision.
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The Business of
Writing
Whether you're writing for pleasure or money
(or both), learn what it takes to develop your platform, promote your work,
think like an entrepreneur and manage your writing like a business.
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Writer's Reserve
Refresh your thinking, revisit your passion
or reinvigorate your work with a lineup designed to inspire and challenge you
to broaden your boundaries as a writer and as a creative.
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Register by February 6 for your best price!
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Register for the new
live webinar - critique included
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This webinar is
designed to help you learn key strategies to writing and publishing and
successful memoir. Author of You
Should Really Write a Book: How to Write Sell and Market Your Memoir,
Regina Brooks, will guide you through the process of selling and publishing a
memoir that readers, agents, and editors will love.
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All registrants
are invited to submit a proposal for your memoir. All submitted proposals
are guaranteed a written critique by Literary Agent Regina Brooks. Regina
reserves the right to request more writing from attendees by e-mail
following the event if she deems the writing excellent.
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How to determine
where your books will fit in the marketplace
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How to determine
whether you have a classic memoir or are writing narrative nonfiction
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The important
element to include in your query letter
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How to best submit
your work to agents and publishers
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Writers who are
considering writing a memoir
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Writers who have
written a memoir and want to know what to do next
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Writers who want
to know how to think like a publishing professional
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
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Instructor:
Instructor's Name
Regina Brooks is the founder and president
of Serendipity Literary Agency LLC, based in Brooklyn, New York. Her authors
have appeared in USA TODAY, NY TIMES and the Washington Post as well as on
Oprah, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, and more.
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Final
Deadline:January 15, 2018
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Make
your story bold, brilliant and of course, make it brief.
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This email was sent by: F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 200 Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Register this
month's Virtual Conference for Novelists
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Writer's Digest is
pleased to present an exclusive virtual conference for novel writers! On January 19-21, our 2018 Writer’s Digest Virtual Writing
Conference for Novelists will provide expert insights from SEVEN award-winning
and best-selling authors on the finer points of how to write a novel. Spend
the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft skills, refining your
characters, exploring the future of publishing, and getting the tools you
need to advance your career as a writer from seven different published
authors*, then (if you choose) pitch your novel via query letter to a
literary agent. The agent will provide you with a personalized critique of
your query – and maybe ask to see more.
Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live
writing conference without ever having to leave your home!
All participants will benefit from:
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SEVEN all-new,
one-hour webinar presentations provided by award-winning and bestselling
authors, all examining
different aspects of writing novels. Each session will include an
opportunity for live Q&A with the authors!
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A critique (with
written feedback) of your query letter from an agent with experience.
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A bonus 90-minute
OnDemand webinar covering how to write a query letter so you’re prepared when pitching your novel to agents. (A
$79.99 value!)
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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.
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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.
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PITCH YOUR NOVEL TO
A LITERARY AGENT:
Join us for the live event and have a chance to get written feedback on your
query letter from a literary agent who works with authors. Participating
agents include Jennie Goloboy (Donald Maass Literary Agency), Moe Ferrara
(BookEnds Literary Agency), Victoria Cappello (Bent Agency), and Gabrielle
Piraino (DeFiore and Company). Click on the “Participating Literary Agents”
tab for more information!
Register
now to join us for this unique online event!
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Victoria Cappello
Victoria Cappello graduated from the City
University of New York, Queens College. Before joining the Bent Agency, she
completed internships at Serendipity Literary and the Carol Mann Agency.
She’s looking for both commercial and literary fiction, as well as nonfiction
titles.
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Moe Ferrara
Moe is a member of the BookEnds team in May
of 2015 as a literary agent and the subsidiary rights director. Moe is
interested in books for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers in most
genres—especially science fiction, fantasy, contemporary, and light horror.
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Jennie Goloboy
is a literary agent at Donald Maass Literary
Agency in St. Paul, MN, with a particular interest in representing history
and science fiction and fantasy. A Harvard-educated historian, she is the
author of Charleston and the Emergence of Middle Class Culture in the
Revolutionary Era.
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Gabrielle Piraino
Gabrielle Piraino joined DeFiore and Company
in 2016, having previously worked for both major commercial publishing houses
and literary agencies alike, including Farrar, Straus & Girous and AGI
Vigliano. Gabbie is actively seeking projects in the mystery, thriller, and
horror genres.
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Plus, find tips for
setting attainable writing goals, and meet the new editor of Writer's Digest
magazine.
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This interview from the February 2010 issue
of Writer’s Digest is posted in fond memory of the late Sue Grafton, who
passed away on December 28, 2017, at the age of 77. Five books from the end
of her alphabet series at the time, Sue Grafton told us it doesn’t get any
easier -- and there’s always another lesson to learn about the ABCs of
writing.
Read More...
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STUDY
CREATIVE WRITING IN KYOTO THIS SUMMER with a Top 10 program. Spalding's
affordable low-residency MFA offers screenwriting, playwriting, fiction,
poetry, creative nonfiction, and writing for children & YA amid a
nurturing community. Choose your own pace of study. Kyoto residency July
12-23, 2018; Louisville residencies in May and November. Apply by February 1.
spalding.edu/mfa
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Books with multiple points of view can yank
readers out of the story or make readers feel detached from the main
character. Here’s what you can do to keep readers turning the pages. Read More...
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"I envision my role as one part steward
and one part soothsayer. WD published its inaugural issue in December 1920,
and in the span since, such legends as H.G. Wells and Jack Kerouac, Joan
Didion and Ray Bradbury, Maya Angelou and Kurt Vonnegut have expressed
themselves through our pages -- a lineage of literary royalty so
distinguished it would make a Beefeater gawk. I plan to carry on the craft
tradition that WD has so effectively celebrated, while also integrating in
the future of storytelling." Read More...
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Advertisement
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Unlock the potential of your manuscript! Helga Schier, PhD, published author and professional editor
offers effective, personalized, constructive and comprehensive editorial
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Contact: withpenandpaper@verizon.net, www.withpenandpaper.com,
310.828.8421
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January 1, 2018 was the 200th anniversary of
the publication of Frankenstein
by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley in 1818. At the time of its publication,
Shelley was only 20 years old. Discover more interesting facts about her
iconic novel in this video.
Read More...
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Every New Year gives you a chance to set new
goals. Script Magazine Editor, Jeanne Veillette Bowerman, shares tips for
creating writing goals that are realistic in hopes this will be the year that
truly elevates your career!
Read more...
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Writing your life story sounds easy. After
all, you know your life better than anyone else. In fact you know lots of
things, way too many things to ever get it all on paper. That’s a relief. But
what do you write? Where do you begin? Here’s a process to get you
kick-started on your own life story. Answer these ten questions, and the
answers to the prompts will be the framework to your story. Read More...
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Jess Zafarris
Follow @jfarrisknight and @uselessety
Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more
than 7 years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of
Writer’s Digest.
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The Writer's Digest Annual Conference—August
10–12 in New York City—is your chance to acknowledge the importance of
writing in your life. And if writing is your passion, a trip to the
conference is a perfect—and purposeful—affirmation of your goals as you begin
this New Year.
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This event offers a full spectrum of
sessions covering the craft and business of writing, all led by
experts in the field (often bestselling
authors themselves). Take advantage of the premium networking or pitch an
agent face-to-face (more than 50 will be on hand at the Pitch Slam).
The final program is still coming together, but now is the time to act. If
you’ve been craving change, if you want to advance creatively and professionally
as a writer, you need to be here.
Lock in your best price by February 6.
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Three questions to
keep in mind when conceiving your plot
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This 43-minute tutorial focuses on three
questions that writers should keep at the forefront of their thoughts as they
conceive, plot, and write a novel. The goal of this presentation is to assist
genre writers to break down the genre walls that may limit their ability to
get to that next level of success. Read More...
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Writer's Digest Membership Options
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300+ WD Tutorials are immediately available
for viewing, and at least one new tutorial is added weekly.
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Sue Johnson
Sue is an Instructional Designer for
Writer's Digest. She lives with her Corgi/Dachshund (Dorgi), Dori, and three
kitties. Follow her on Twitter @sueajohnsonco.
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Learn proven tips
for successful writing
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2018 is finally here! Could this be the year you finish
your story?
Whether you are just getting started or want to hone your craft, Writer’s Digest can
help with proven tips on how to get and stay inspired, how to make time
for writing, master essential writing techniques, and how to get
published. Let us be your 2018 writing guide!
Must-have tips
and publishing secrets!
Plus when you subscribe, you also get Writer’s
Digest’s Writing Essentials– filled with the tools you need
to get started producing your best work today, whether you pen fiction,
nonfiction, freelance articles, memoirs, or children’s books.
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