November/December 2013 Issue
November/December Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Author Archives: Brian A. Klems
Today’s the Day You Save a Life
You’re on your way to lunch when you walk by a crowd of people staring up toward the sky. You look up and see someone at the top of a building getting ready to jump to his or her death. Quickly you realize you know this person—in fact, it’s someone from work. Something about this moment overtakes, so you rush to the top of the top of the building to save this person’s life. Read more
The Pros and Cons of Self Publishing (& Traditional Publishing)
Here are the pros and cons of self publishing and traditional publishing, something every writer should consider before taking the leap in either direction. Read more
WD Annual Competition Deadline Extended to June 11 (& More Prizes Added!)
No matter what you are writing, chances are there’s a spot for it in our 81st Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. And now there’s even greater incentive to enter as we’ve upped the ante … Read more
Introducting Your Main Character (Free Download)
Thanks for being a member of the Writer’s Digest community (whether that’s through WritersDigest.com, Twitter, Facebook or Google+)! As a thank you, here’s a free download to help your writing career: How … Read more
Leaving Town Abruptly
A friend rings your doorbell way too early in the morning to be ringing doorbells. You answer the door in your PJs, and the friend says, “Pack a bag quickly. I have to get out of here now and need you to come with me.” You are intrigued. Read more
Do You Underline Book Titles?
Do you italicize book titles? Underline them? Put book titles in quotes? Here’s the real scoop on how to handle styling book titles in your writing. Read more
Lipstick Message
You get a message, it is obviously for you, but it is scrawled in lipstick on a mirror in a public restroom. It’s unexpected, but now you know exactly where the killer is hiding. It’s time to find him and, hopefully, your friend (and hopefully your friend is still alive). Write this scene. Read more
What if You Were the Editor Who Rejected Jurassic Park?
Most of us writers have received rejection letters at one point or another in our writing career (I’ve certainly received my fair share, that’s for sure). But what if we could turn the tables a bit and pretend to be an editor that rejects a bestselling novel or famous author? Writer’s Digest’s Reject-a-Hit free writing contest encourages you to do just that. Recently, writer Matthew Lauser took a stab at it and wrote this brilliant rejection of Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park. Perhaps you have a brilliant rejection in you too? Read more
Person of Your Dreams
The person of your dreams shows up on your doorstep, asking if you’d like to go out for coffee. You are surprised and confused, but you say yes. At the coffee shop, as he/she is talking, you discover that he/she thinks that you are someone else. Instead of coming clean, you go with it—only to be foiled by an unexpected twist that reveals your identity. Read more
7 Tips for Turning Your Blog into a Book
Here are seven tips on how to book a blog and turn out a professional manuscript—one with a high likelihood of achieving self-publishing success or landing a traditional publishing deal—in the process. Read more
Random Acts of Kindness for Writers
The writing community is made up of thousands of individuals who support one another. There is a collective understanding between writers that we are strongest together, and to that end, people readily give their time and energy to see their fellows succeed. Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi share the writing path with so many great people, and decided to stage a Random Acts of Kindness for Writers initiative at their blog, The Bookshelf Muse. Learn more here. Read more
Why Are You Digging That Hole?
You’ve been outside digging a large hole for several hours when you realize that you can’t recall why you are digging it. Retrace your steps to try to discover your motivation. Read more
Leaped or Leapt?
It’s time to settle the dispute in the battle of leaped vs. leapt (vs. lept). Which one is correct? Find out here. Read more
Mary Kole’s Publish Your Children’s, Tween, or Teen Fiction in Today’s Market (& a Critique)
We are honored to have agent Mary Kole back this Thursday (May 10, 2012) to teach her webinar “Publish Your Children’s, Tween, or Teen Fiction in Today’s Market: How to hook an agent with your ‘Once upon a time…’ and make your own fairy tale.” This is not only our most popular webinar, but, as a bonus, you get a critique from Mary herself! Get more details here. Read more
When Your Favorite Characters Don’t Get Along
Your parents have thrown you a surprise birthday dinner and have invited your two favorite fictional characters (can be literary, television, movie, etc.). There’s only one problem: Turns out, the characters don’t get along and, after some mild bickering, they get into a big fight following one particular insult. Write this scene. Read more
7 Ways to Write a Stand-Alone Book (with Series Potential)
Publishers would rather publish a stand-alone book and see how it does before committing to a series, so the first book becomes a tough balancing act. How do you learn to write a stand-alone book with series potential? Here are 7 ways to accomplish that. Read more
Backstage Passes Lead to Adventure
You’ve been given the opportunity to see any band (dead or alive) at a live concert in your hometown. At the end of the show, you bump into an old high school friend who is working security and offers you (and the friend you brought to the concert) backstage passes. What happens next is an adventure you’ll never forget. Read more
The Q: Can You “Read” an Audiobook?
A few months ago, my wife picked up an audiobook from the library (it was Rob Lowe’s Stories I Only Tell My Friends, in case you were wondering). I had never listened to an audiobook before, so I thought I’d give it a go. And I fell in love with it. It’s the perfect way to spend my solo time in the car, beating the other well-known car pastime of complaining about traffic. So now I read in the car … Or do I? Read more
Why You Were Late for the Meeting
You’re at lunch when your smartphone buzzes with an e-mail from your boss: “Don’t forget, we have a meeting in 10 minutes.” Of course you did forget, so you rush out of the restaurant and attempt to make it before it starts. But a crazy chain of events stops you from getting back in time for the meeting. Read more
Add Writer’s Digest to your Google+ Circles & Get Our Creativity Guide
Did you know Writer’s Digest has a Google+ page? We’ve become a part of one of the fastest-growing networks so we can deliver more great writing advice and tips to even more people. Are you on Google+? If so, follow us and you’ll get extra goodies, like this … Read more
23 Timeless Quotes About Writing
While fad advice in the writing world comes and goes, some wisdom is so novel that it’s withstood the test of time. Culled from 91 years of WD articles, interviews and essays, here are 23 of our favorite writing quotes of enduring advice and inspiration. Enjoy. Read more
7th Annual Pop Fiction Writing Competition Winner: Horror
Here’s the winning entry for the Horror category for the 7th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Writing competition by nursing student Stefani Corn. Read more
Exciting News: I Landed a Literary Agent!
As many of you know, I’ve spent the past few months working on a New Year’s Resolution list that’s difficult, yet achievable (well, I’m not yet convinced that getting a photo of me and my kids with all of our eyes open at the same time is achievable, as they usually turn out like this). But one of the major goals was to develop a book proposal and land a literary agent. Today I can officially say: Mission accomplished! I’m thrilled to announce that … Read more
Bribing An IRS Agent
There’s a knock on the door. It’s an IRS agent who has come to your house to audit your taxes. Knowing that you fudged a few numbers on your forms, you decide to attempt to bribe the agent. Much to your surprise, it’s working, but things take an peculiar turn when the agent makes an odd request. Write this scene. Read more
Friday the 13th Fun: 13 Top Products in the Writer’s Digest Shop
I know Friday the 13th is supposed to be an unlucky day, but I prefer to take the day and look at what can make me better—a better person, a better dad, a better writer. There are a lot of great WD tools that have helped me with the latter. And I’m not alone. Bestselling authors like Stephen King and Stephenie Meyer have credited some of their early success to Writer’s Digest and Writer’s Market. Even John Grisham has said that this article that originally appear in WD gave him the tools to write The Firm. What item has helped you? Read more