May/June2013 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Books
The 3 Skills Every Successful Freelance Writer Must Have
Today’s writing tip discusses freelancing for a living. If you are thinking about becoming a freelance writer and wondering what skills you need to survive within the freelancing world, today’s writing tip … Read more
The 21 Key Traits of Best-Selling Fiction
Do you wonder want readers want? In today’s writing tip, you’ll discover the 21 key traits of best-selling fiction excerpted from The Writer’s Little Helper by James V. Smith, Jr. The 21 … Read more
How to Build Online Community
By Rob Eagar If you want to build a following, especially online, the key is to position yourself as someone who is worth following. The best way to attract a large group … Read more
Author Interview: Don Fry
Don Fry has taught over 10,000 writers worldwide to write better and faster with less agony. He a writing coach who has worked with newspapers and magazines, radio and television stations, and … Read more
A Day in the Life of a Writer
Try this fun day-long writing prompt from Jack Heffron, author of The Writer’s Idea Book. You’ll gain a lot of insight, and may just come up with some great ideas to spark … Read more
Songwriting Without Boundaries
Songwriting Without Boundaries Lyric Writing Exercises for Finding Your Voice by Pat Pattison Writer’s Digest Books, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-59963-297-1 $17.99, paperback, 240 pages Infuse your lyrics with sensory detail! Writing great song … Read more
Word Savvy
Word Savvy: Use the Right Word Every Time, All the Time by Nancy Ragno Writer’s Digest Books, 2011 ISBN-13: 978-1-59963-303-9 ISBN-10: 1-59963-303-5 $14.00 paperback, 224 pages Buy the Book! Read an Excerpt! … Read more
First 50 Pages
The First 50 Pages Engage Agents, Editors, and Readers, and Set Up Your Novel for Success by Jeff Gerke Writer’s Digest Books, 2011 ISBN: 9781599632384 $16.99, paperback, 240 pages Buy the Book … Read more
Question of the Day
Question of the Day Where Truth Is the Dare by Al Katkowsky Writer’s Digest Books, 2011 ISBN: 9781599632926 $12.99, paperback, 352 pages buy the book Life has answers. Make sure you’re … Read more
Writing & Selling Your Memoir: Bonus Materials
Check out bonus material from Paula Balzer’s Writing & Selling Your Memoir.
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What Writers Mean by “Flow”
What do writers mean when they say a piece of writing "flows" or "doesn’t flow"? Read more
On Writing Fiction
Rethinking conventional wisdom about the craft of writing fiction. Read more
WD Author Interview: Nancy Ellen Dodd
The Writer’s Compass author Nancy Ellen Dodd talks about writing and the writer’s life in this exclusive Q&A. Read more
Story Map Worksheet
Map your story structure with this downloadable Story Map Worksheet based on Nancy Ellen Dodd’s The Writer’s Compass. Read more
Finding Your Memoir’s Voice
Literary agent Paula Balzer discussed finding your voice in this excerpt from her book WRITING & SELLING YOUR MEMOIR. Read more
Foreshadowing
The Writer’s Compass author Nancy Ellen Dodd discusses foreshadowing.
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Returning Characters to Life
On Writing Fiction author David Jauss discusses Chekhov’s subversive endings in this insightful essay.
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Paranormal Novel Checklists
Worksheets to help you write your paranormal novel.
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Story Engineering Writing Tools
Check out this helpful story architecture checklist from novelist Larry Brooks.
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Author Q&A: Steven Harper
Novelist Steven Harper (In the Company Mind, Corporate Mentality) discusses what sets writing supernatural fiction apart from other fiction writing. Read more
Author Q&A: Steven Harper
Novelist Steven Harper discusses what sets writing supernatural fiction apart from other fiction writing. Read more
Author Q&A: Orson Scott Card
Hugo award-winning author Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game, Shadow of the Hedgemon) discusses writing, the publishing industry, and finding your own motivation. Read more
Author Q&A: Sarah Domet
Read an exclusive Q&A with 90 Days to Your Novel author Sarah Domet
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Interviewing Techniques for Researching Your Novel
Great interviewing techniques for researching your novel. Read more
