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February 2012 Issue
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Writer's Digest Magazine
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Questions and Quandaries
Brian Klems’ Questions & Quandaries Blog
[description]Let the informative columnist Brian A. Klems answer some of your most pressing grammatical, ethical, business and writing-related questions.[/description]
[keywords]business writing, grammatical questions, legal issues[/keywords]
[keywords]business writing, grammatical questions, legal issues[/keywords]
Online editor Brian A. Klems has been writing for Writer’s Digest since 2003. He covers the most pressing grammatical, ethical, business and writing-related questions—and often does it with a bit of humor.
What Are the Guidelines for Formatting a Manuscript?
Before sending your novel out to potential agents and publishers, be sure to follow these important formatting guidelines. Read more
What is a Poetry Chapbook?
Cindy N. asks writing expert Brian A. Klems “What is a poetry chapbook, and how is it different from a regular book?” Here he gives a detailed explanation. Read more
Which Sample Chapters Should You Send to Agents?
When agents ask for sample chapters, which chapters should you include? If your strongest chapters fall in the middle, is it OK if I send those? The answer is different for fiction and nonfiction. Read more
Into vs. In To
Using “into” and “in to” interchangeably is a very common grammar faux pas—heck, my sister commits this grandiose error in e-mails at least twice a day and, despite my attempts to sick the grammar police on her, she continues to write recklessly. But if you understand their individual definitions, it’s easy to pick the right word to convey your true meaning and avoid the grammar police altogether. Read more
Is a Freelancing Career Feasible?
Q: I want to quit my day job and freelance full time, but I’m nervous that I won’t be able to make enough money to pay my bills. Can I really make … Read more
How Long Should Novel Chapters Be?
When dividing a manuscript into chapters, how long should each chapter be? Are there any requirements on length? Find out here. Read more
How Do First North American Serial Rights Work?
What are First North American Serial Rights, how do they work and what does it mean for you when trying to get your writing published? Find out here. Read more
Should You Use a Non-AAR Literary Agent (& What Does That Mean)?
There are plenty of things writers should worry about—writer’s block, plagiarism, memoirs by the cast of “Jersey Shore”—but an agent who isn’t a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives shouldn’t be high on the list. Here’s why. Read more
How Many Sample Chapters Are Necessary?
When submitting your work to an agent for consideration, how many sample chapters should you include in your proposal? Writer’s Digest online editor Brian A. Klems explains. Read more
Is it E-mail or Email?
Everywhere I turn I see “email” (or is it “e-mail”?) punctuated differently. Can you tell me which is correct? —Kate T. WD online guru Brian A. Klems says that punctuating “e-mail” with or without a hyphen is … 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
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
The Rule is Not “A” Before Consonants and “An” Before Vowels
Many people get this rule wrong, including some of the most grammatically sound people I know. The real rule is this. Read more
Why “Start Your Novel Is With Action” is Bad Advice
The cliché “start your novel with action” has a flaw—and it’s a major one: What good is the action if it isn’t grounded in context that’s important to the story or draws you to the main character? It’s much, much better to start your story with tension, like a character conflict or a character who’s not getting what he wants. This gives the reader a reason to feel connected. Read more
Is There a Secret Formula to Getting Published?
It stands to reason that the key elements of any publishing formula would include (but would not be limited to) … Read more
Since vs. Because
Q: I’ve always been told I have to use “since” when referring to time and “because” when referring to “cause.” Is that true? A: While “because” does imply cause, “since” can imply … Read more
Are Serial Commas Necessary?
Q: When writing a sentence that contains a series of something (e.g., a butcher, a baker, and a candlestick maker), do I need a comma before the “and” connecting the final two … Read more
Plethora Doesn’t Mean “A Lot”
Q: Can you use “plethora” to mean “a lot,” as in, I own a plethora of baseball hats? A: The misuse of “plethora” is a pet peeve of mine. The word “plethora” … Read more
Are Agents Just Looking for an Excuse to Reject Your Work?
Q: Doesn’t it seem like agents are just looking for excuses to reject work? —Anonymous A: Actually, the complete opposite is true. Agents don’t want to reject your work, they want to … Read more
Is "None" Singular or Plural?
Q: The word “none” should always be singular, right? —Anonymous A: This is a major misconception. “None” can be a singular pronoun if it’s referring to “not one” or “no part,” but … Read more
9th "Dear Lucky Agent" Contest: Women's/Upmarket Fiction
Welcome to the ninth (free!) “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest on the GLA blog. This will be a recurring online contest with agent judges and super-cool prizes. Here’s the deal: With every contest, … Read more
Contests: The Writer’s Fairy Godmother
With the exception of shoe size and the fact that I don’t do floors, Cinderella and I are basically twins separated at birth. My stepsisters, Query and Rejection, had been hounding me for months and I was starting to lose hope, when one magical day I received a phone call from an editor—suddenly my editor—telling me that I’d won the St. Martin’s Minotaur/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition and that my manuscript was going to be published. It was the greatest day of my life—with the possible, though not absolute, exception of the births of my kids (and please don’t tell them I said that).
Guest column by Janice Hamrick, author of Death on Tour (2011, Minotaur), the winner of the 2010 St. Martin’s Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition. Read more
Isle vs. Aisle
Q: It drives me crazy when my friends mistake “isle” for “aisle.” Can you set the record straight so I prove to them once and for all there is a difference? —Elizabeth … Read more
Will Publishers Buy a 200,000-Word Novel?
Q: I am a first-time novelist with an incredible manuscript on my hands. The issue I have is that my work of historical fiction runs about 200,000 words long, and that’s with … Read more
Win a Free Writing Course With Holly Lisle
Chuck says: Here’s the deal. Writer Katharina Gerlach is a writer from Germany who writes fantasy and historical novels for all ages, both in English and German. She previously wrote for me … Read more
