May/June2013 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Tip of the Day, Creative Writing Tips
Our creative writing tips are short, helpful tidbits of information that you can apply to your writing right away. Use our Tip of the Day for easy-to-apply advice that you can use to improve your writing or help you get published.
Breaking into Corporate Writing For Freelancers: Contracts & Rates
If you are interested in corporate writing, read today’s tip of the day from 102 Ways To Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less by I.J. Schecter. Before accepting any writing assignment, … Read more
Writing a Nonfiction Book Proposal: Sample Chapters
In today’s writing tip Sharlene Martin and Anthony Flacco, authors of Publish Your Nonfiction Book, discuss one of the nine essential elements to a book proposal–sample chapters. Always begin with your first … Read more
Writing Fiction: The Three Types of Lead Characters
Today’s writing tip comes from Write Great Fiction: Revision & Self-Editing by James Scott Bell. If you are writing a fiction book, you’ll need to create a strong lead character for your … Read more
Six Reasons For Using An Epilogue
You need a clear reason for writing an epilogue, and it cannot be used to simply tie up loose ends, which you should do during your falling action. Without a proper purpose … Read more
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
4 Questions To Ask Yourself When Writing Scenes
Today’s writing tip comes from Make a Scene by Jordan E. Rosenfeld and focuses on scene intentions, or goals for your protagonist. Read on to learn four questions to ask yourself when … Read more
Writing the Book You Were Meant to Write
Today’s tip of the day comes from Setting and Keeping Goals, a chapter in Book in a Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt. Here she discusses how to write the book you were … Read more
Breaking into Travel Writing: The 5 Elements of Writing Travel Articles
If you want to break into travel writing, either as a full-time travel writer or as a freelance writer, you’ll need to know how to write a travel article. 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
What Every Fiction Writer Should Do Before Submitting A Book to an Agent
If you aspire to write a fiction book and get published the traditional way, you’ll need to know what to do before you query an agent. Today’s tip comes from Get an … Read more
16 Blogging Tips For Writing Fresh Content & Attracting Readers
If you already write a blog or are thinking of creating one, you’ll need to know how to attract and keep your readers interested. Today’s tip comes from Christina Katz’s book Get … Read more
3 Steps For Overcoming Writer’s Block
This writing tip addresses overcoming writer’s block and is excerpted from You Don’t Have to Be Famous by Steve Zousmer. Being stuck at the start creates a special kind of frustration. Before … Read more
Starting a Freelance Career: A Couple Frequently Asked Questions
Are you new to writing and exploring what type of writing you want to do? This eBook excerpt, How Do I Start a Freelance Career?, from the Beginning Writer’s Answer Book, covers everything … Read more
4 Techniques For Improving Your Writing Style
Today’s tip of the day comes from Grammatically Correct and describes some techniques for improving your writing style and for assessing how well your efforts are succeeding. Not all these strategies will … Read more
Marketing a Screenplay
If you don’t have an agent, and have no contacts in the business, you can still market your script on your own. Before you try, however, take one preparatory step: Register your … Read more
How to Sell Books Like Wildfire
Building a fire is a great illustration for authors who want to sell more books. Here’s why. Read more
3 Built-In Book Marketing Tips
How do you create an effective book marketing tool? Follow these three guidelines. Read more
Beware of Reading Fees & Contests
There are certain red flags that should catch the eye of any writer. Here are a couple simple ones that will save you time (and money). Read more
Spotlight On: Object Poems
Are you interested in writing poetry? There are many different types of poetry, but today’s writing tip spotlights object poems. Discover what an object poem is and see examples of object poems … Read more
Avoiding Cliches in Writing
Don’t write another cliché novel or use clichés in your novel (here are some cliche examples)! Learn what to avoid from 179 Ways to Save a Novel by Peter Selgin. A writer’s … Read more
Writing a Mystery Novel: Creating a Villain & 5 Ways To Justify a Crime
Are you thinking about writing a mystery novel? Before you begin writing, create a plan or outline for your story. Then figure out what you want your villain to be like. What … Read more
Scene Structure: How to Write Turning Points
Are you in the middle of writing your story and wondering how to write a scene that indicates a turning point? Learn about turning points and how to show them within your … Read more
Defining Conflict: What Conflict Is and Isn’t in Writing a Romance Novel
Are you thinking of writing a romance novel or in the planning stages of writing one? Learn what conflict is and how to use it in your romance novel. Today’s tip of … Read more
3 Writing Critique Questions You Must Ask Your Prospective Critique Partners
Are you done writing your novel or book? Are you eager to share it with family and friends first before getting a professional manuscript critique? Learn what questions to ask your prospective … Read more
Accomplish Your Writing Goals: Make a Schedule and Meet Your Deadlines
The most disheartening place to be and feel as a writer is stuck. And the most possible place to be is in motion—moving toward our goals. At every turn, we have a … Read more
