February 2012 Issue
January Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Webinars
Agents Lori Perkins & Louise Fury Teach a New Webinar: “How to Find and Work with an Agent in the 21st Century” (Jan. 19, 2012)
The times — they are a-changing. Finding a literary agent today is unlike finding one 10 years ago. You’re dealing with electronic submissions, researching agents through Twitter, dealing with lots of information on websites, and trying to build a platform and brand online to impress them. So in today’s market, what should you be doing to best find an agent? To answer that question, we’ve enlisted two agents who pride themselves on being knowledgeable about technology: Lori Perkins and Louise Fury of L. Perkins Associates. The new webinar on Jan. 19, 2012, which includes a critique, is called “How to Find and Work with an Agent in the 21st Century.” Read more
5 Easy Ways to Build Your Writer Platform: Author Marianna Swallow Explains More on Dec. 15, 2011
Creating a writer platform is so important these days. It’s important because it makes you a valuable author who can connect with the maximum number of people and spread the news about your book. If you’re writing nonfiction, you must have a platform; if you’re writing fiction, you want a platform. That’s why we got platform expert Marianna Swallow to teach “5 Easy Ways to Build Your Writer Platform,” a new intensive webinar, on Dec. 15, 2011. Read more to learn about the webinar as well as the critique for all attendees. Read more
Agent Mary Kole is Teaching a Picture Book Intensive on Jan. 12, 2011 (Includes Full Critique For Attendees!)
Literary agent Mary Kole has run several webinars for us before. They were so successful that we’re very excited to have her back for more in 2012. This webinar on Thursday, January 12, 2012 is an intensive on picture book writing (and includes a critique of your book!). Since Mary has many several picture books (lots of debuts) in the past two years, she knows her stuff. Keep reading to learn more.
All registrants are invited to submit the full manuscript of their picture book (up to 1,000 words) after the event. All submissions are guaranteed a critique by instructor Mary Kole. Read more
Agent Kathleen Ortiz Teaches How to Write a Great Query on Dec. 8, 2011 (Includes Query Critique!)
The query letter is that all-important first contact with literary agents. Before they opt to read your work, they have to be interested in you and your story — and that’s what the query letter does. We all know that composing a query is a completely different monster than writing a story. If you’re getting rejected at the query stage, don’t fret — we have an expert for you. Literary agent Kathleen Ortiz of Nancy Coffey Literary is teaching an intensive webinar on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011 called “How to Hook an Agent or Editor With Your Query.” The new webinar features a query critique by Kathleen for every registrant. Read more
Writing Christian/Inspirational? Let an Agent Help You Get Published
Are you writing a book that’s considered Christian or inspirational? If so, get an agent’s eyes on your work. Literary agent Sandra Bishop (MacGregor Literary) is teaching an all-new webinar called “Get Your Christian Fiction and Nonfiction Published” on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011.
All webinar registrants are invited to submit a bio and platform statement. All submissions are guaranteed a critique by the instructor. Sandra Bishop will request more materials from authors who have an excellent book idea or who possess quality writing. Read more
Literary Agent Barbara Poelle Teaches How to Write Crime / Thriller / Mystery Novels on Nov. 3 (Includes an Awesome Critique!)
Are you writing a novel that falls under the genres of crime, thriller or mystery? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you on Thursday, Nov. 3. Literary agent Barbara Poelle, who reps all kinds of crime and mystery novels (lots of debuts, too) is teaching a new intensive webinar called “From Cozy to Carnage: An Agent Explains the Ins and Outs of Thriller/Mystery Writing — For Both the Adult and YA Markets.” It’s a lot of instruction, and also comes with a critique of your query and first page, and an opportunity to simply get your work in front an agent. Read on to learn more. Read more
Earn More Money Writing This Year. New Webinar — “Breaking Into Corporate Writing” — Shows You How on Jan. 26, 2012
Other than ransom notes, the most profitable area of writing is probably corporate writing. Big businesses are willing to cough up $50/hr, $100/hr, or more. That’s why author IJ Schecter is teaching a webinar, “Breaking into Corporate Writing,” this Thursday, January 26, 2012. Learn how to launch or revitalize your freelance career by taking advantage of the lucrative corporate writing market. Read more
September’s Premium Collection is “Build Your Author Platform”
The WD Premium Collection Bundle Kits are new this year and they’re very simple in nature. We bundle a ton of stuff relating to a topic—in this case, “Build an Author Platform” … Read more
Blog Like a Pro and Sell Books. Guru Dan Blank Shows How — New Webinar, Oct. 6, 2011
Want to blog but need some help getting started? Your blog is your foremost tool for providing information to your audience and connecting with readers. After all, you’re reading a blog right now! So when we started wondering who could teach a dynamite webinar on Blogging, we chose social media leader Dan Blank. His new webinar, “How to Create an Engaging Blog and Build an Audience,” happens on Oct. 6, 2011. All attendees get his personal feedback on their blog as it stands now. Keep reading to learn more. Read more
Looking For an Agent? Let Me Teach You Everything You Need to Know (and Critique Your Query) on Oct. 20, 2011
NEW DATE!!! This event now has a new date: 1 p.m., EST, Thursday, OCTOBER 25
Sorry about the move. Anyone who signs up will be thanked for their patience by receiving a free gift: A copy of the on-demand webinar “Start Your Story Right: How to Hook Agents and Editors With Your First Pages and Chapter 1″ by literary agent Sara Megibow. It’s one of our most popular webinars and can help writers get their work started on the right foot. Read more
Social Media Guru Jane Friedman Teaches “How to Find Your Readers & Keep Them: The Basics of Audience Development” (New Webinar, Sept. 29, 2011)
Audience development is what people in business call it, but it boils down to one thing: building meaningful relationships with people who are interested in what you do. It’s a skill that’s more valuable than ever for you to understand and practice, as authors are increasingly called upon to market and promote themselves. This session will discuss both online and offline strategies for identifying and engaging readership, as well as tools such as websites and blogs, social media, e-mail newsletters, and content marketing. Read more
Make Money Now By Selling Freelance Articles — Learn How on Oct. 27
If you’re looking to make more money as a writer, I’ve always said that you should try your hand at writing freelance articles. Articles are published all around you — in magazines, newspapers and online — and thousands of markets are willing to pay for content. Writing articles helps writers gain credits, platform, paychecks and more. That’s why we’ve employed freelance expert Kelly James-Enger to teach a new webinar on Oct. 27, 2011 called “Make Money NOW Writing Freelance Articles: How to Pitch and Sell Articles to Freelance Markets.” There is a query critique, too. Read on to learn more. Read more
Agent Sara Megibow Shows How to Write & Sell Romance/Erotica (and Critiques Your Work!) — New Webinar, Oct. 13
Writing romance or erotica? Want to get some inside info on how to spice up your work and sell your book? Well, do we have a treat for you. Literary agent Sara Megibow (Nelson Literary), who runs some of our most popular webinars here at WD, is doing a new intensive webinar called “What’s Hot in Fiction’s Hottest Genre: How To Make Your Romance Hot Enough For An Agent” on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. She is also giving all attendees some personal attention with a critique. Keep reading to learn more. Read more
When and How to Self-Publish: Literary Agent and Digital Expert Meredith Barnes Explains on Nov. 17 (Includes a Critique!)
Thinking about self-publishing or e-publishing your work? These days, there are many ways you can get your work online for free on different e-publishing platforms (such as Amazon), but it’s a tricky road to maneuver. When should you self-publish? And when you’re ready, how do you make sure that your work is available to the most readers? Luckily for us, literary agent and digital conversion expert Meredith Barnes is teaching a comprehensive new webinar on “When and How to Self-Publish: What To Expect, When To Do It, and How to Do It Right” on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, and the session includes a critique. Read more
Jerry Jenkins, Co-Author of the “Left Behind” Series, is Teaching a New Webinar on Revision & Self-Editing (Aug. 25, 2011)
A few years ago, we had fiction heavyweights Stephen King and Jerry B. Jenkins interview one another for an article in the magazine. It was an amazing article. Both men have sold incredible amounts of books and understand what makes fiction work. That’s why it’s especially exciting that Jerry Jenkins is teaching a new webinar on Aug. 25, 2011 called “How to be a Ferocious Self-Editor,” where attendees can learn the fundamental writing principles that can make a manuscript shine. Read more
Agent Paula Balzer Explains How to Sell Your Memoir (and Offers a Critique to Writers) — New Webinar on Sept. 22, 2011
Lots of writers want to tell stories about their own lives, but memoirs are often unfocused and too long. What’s an aspiring memorist to do? Learn from an agent — that’s what. On Sept. 22, 2011, literary agent Paula Balzer is teaching a new webinar called “Write a Memoir That Sells: How to Use Voice, Structure and Platform to Draw Readers to Your Story.” The webinar includes a query critique as well as a critique of your first few pages.
All registrants are invited to submit a query (300 words or fewer) and the first three pages of their memoir in advance of the event. All submitted materials are guaranteed a critique. Read more
WD’s August Premium Kit is the ”The Rules of Self-Publishing” Collection. Tons of Stuff Packaged at a Deep Discount
The WD Premium Collection Bundle Kits are new this year and they’re very simple in nature. We bundle a ton of stuff relating to a topic—in this case, “The Rules of Self-Publishing” Collection: Lots of great stuff for writers who have self-published or are considering self-publishing—and we sell the bundle of awesome material at 75% off. Easy peasy. There are only 100 kits available (65 left as of right now), and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Read more
Agent Mary Kole is Teaching an Intensive Webinar on Young Adult and Middle Grade Novels (Sept. 15, 2011)
Literary agent Mary Kole has run three webinars for us before. They were so successful that we’re very excited to have her back for more. This new webinar on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 is an intensive on young adult and middle grade novel writing (and includes a critique of your book!). Since Mary has sold several YA and MG novels (debuts) in the past two years, she knows her stuff. Keep reading to learn more about “Middle Grade and Young Adult Craft Intensive: Telling Kidlit Stories in Today’s Market.” Read more
Jane Friedman is Teaching a Webinar: ”Do Your E-Book Right (and Start Making Money)” on Aug. 11, 2011
A lot of writers are curious about the rise of e-books and how they can make money off new e-book opportunities. Between all the new e-readers and the sharp increases in e-book sales, these curiosities are well founded. That’s why our e-Media guru, Jane Friedman, is teaching a new webinar called “Do Your E-Book Right (and Start Making Money)” on Aug. 11, 2011. Read more
Cheryl Klein, Editor for Scholastic (and of Harry Potter Fame), Teaches ”How to Plot and Structure Your Novel” on June 23, 2011 (Includes a Critique)
This is so cool. Cheryl Klein is a senior editor at Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic. She’s responsible for a lot of books, but she’s most well known for her work as the chief continuity editor for several of the Harry Potter books—work that got her noticed by Time magazine. Now Cheryl is teaching a WD webinar next Thursday, June 23, 2011, on “How to Plot and Structure Your Novel.” Talk about a perfect subject for a perfect speaker. Keep reading to learn more and hear about the critique element. Read more
Find an Agent For Your Self-Published Book: New Webinar on June 30 by Agent Jody Rein
A frequent question I get at writers conferences is this: How do I get an agent to take on my self-published book? That’s a great question, and the answer is to pitch … Read more
WD's June Premium Kit is the Complete ''Write Great Fiction'' Book Series. Tons of Stuff Packaged at a Deep Discount
The WD Premium Collection Bundle Kits are new this year and they’re very simple in nature. We bundle a ton of stuff relating to a topic—in this case, The Complete Write Great … Read more
Special Songwriting Webinar on June 14: ''How to Place Your Music in Film & TV Through Music Licensing''
There are six market books we handle here at WD Books, including GLA and Writer’s Market. And one I don’t often talk about is the Songwriter’s Market, which is very popular among, … Read more
Writing a Novel or Memoir? Get Your Synopsis Critiqued at My Webinar on June 16, 2011
Ah, the pesky synopsis. If you write adult fiction, kids fiction or memoir, you know what I’m talking about. The synopsis is a strange animal, and a unique writing challenge of its own. That’s why I’m teaching a webinar on June 16, 2011 called “Critique Series: Novel/Memoir Synopses.” If you’re stuck on your novel/memoir synopsis and you’re submitting to agents/editors who request one, this session can help move you forward. Read more
WD's May Premium Kit is "Keys to Success: Queries and Manuscripts." Tons of Stuff Packaged at a Deep Discount.
The WD Premium Collection Bundle Kits are new this year and they’re very simple in nature. We bundle a ton of stuff relating to a topic—in this case, Keys to Success: Queries … Read more