May/June 2012 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Website of the Week
Writing Website of the Week
Published author Roz Morris' website covers a lot of topics about writing--some serious, some for fun. Either way, it's a site that's worth a few minutes of any writer's week. (I recommend following her on Twitter too.Nail Your Novel 
*Not affiliated with our 101 Best Writing Websites feature.
Author Archives: Brian A. Klems
Playing With Fire
You come across a pack of matches that sets off a series of uncanny events. Start your story with “My mother always told me not to play with fire.” End it with … Read more
Should Your Interview Subjects Sign a Release?
When interviewing someone for an article or a book, do I need to have the interviewee sign a release form so I can use his or her quotes? Get the answer here. Read more
The Q: What’s the Most Over-Rated Book?
We’ve all read a book that our friends have ranted and raved about, finished the final sentence of the final page and thought, “That was lame. My friends should get their heads checked.” Every time I tell folks that I didn’t like The Great Gatsby, they look at me like I just called them ugly. What books do you think are over-rated? Read more
25 Ways to Improve Your Writing in 30 Minutes a Day
The best writers never stop striving for ways to write better. Here, five masters of the craft share their secrets for honing the essentials, one technique at a time. Read more
Ask the Pro: Editorial Manager Deborah Werksman
Editorial Manager Deborah Werksman is seeking romance novels, series and trilogies in the paranormal, time travel, romantic suspense, historical, contemporary and erotic genres for Sourcebooks Casablanca. She is also interested in innovative women’s fiction, as well as international and historical fiction. For submission guidelines, visit … Read more
Should You Post Your Novel Online for Free?
Q: Is it a good idea to serialize an unpublished novel in a weekly blog? I have a completed sci-fi novel and was thinking about releasing it online, but I wasn’t sure … Read more
It’s #StoryFriday Time on Twitter (Join in!)
It’s #storyfriday time on Twitter! Here’s how it works: We write the first line, then someone adds a line & so on. Starts @9:30 EST. Use #storyfriday hashtag. For more details on how #storyfriday works, click here. To join in, click here. Read more
The Q: What Are the Benefits of Being a Writer?
I recently posed this question on Twitter because I was having a kind of “Oh man, why did I choose to be a writer” kind of day. (Of course, every writer knows we don’t “choose” to be writers. We are born that way, for better or worse.) So I wanted to see what the benefits were for being a writer to give me the pick-me-up I needed—and to stop me from accidentally stabbing myself with paperclips. I even started it off with this tweet … Read more
60 Rejection Letters Didn’t Stop Kathryn Stockett and Her Bestseller “The Help”
Talk about an inspirational story: Kathryn Stockett, author of the bestselling book (and now highly successful movie) The Help, received 60 rejection letters over 3 and a half years—and still didn’t give up. Good thing she didn’t. You have to read this great article by Stockett about her determination. Read more
How to Keep Some Privacy When Using Social Media
In an age when both working and aspiring writers are expected to be “out there” more than ever before, privacy has become a luxury unaffordable to those of us not named Stephen … Read more