February 2012 Issue
February Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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How to Publish a Book, Get Published
[description]Get the latest news, advanced tips and professional advice on how to get a book published at WritersDigest.com.[/description]
[keywords]how to get published, writing a book, publish a book, how to get a book published, how to write a book, how to become a writer, how to publish a book[/keywords]
[keywords]how to get published, writing a book, publish a book, how to get a book published, how to write a book, how to become a writer, how to publish a book[/keywords]
You’ve finished your novel, short story, or work of non-fiction – now you need to find someone who will publish it. Or perhaps you want to publish it yourself. You’ll find the information you need to get published here.
The 5 Steps to Writing a Novel that Sells
To create a marketable product—in this case, a salable manuscript—you need to follow these five steps. Although they may seem obvious, many writers ignore them. Read more
Do You Need a Publisher Anymore? Hachette and J.A. Konrath Duke It Out
In his obituary to the year-long Domino Project, Seth Godin wrote that publishing companies and other traditional players that do not adapt to new modes of doing business will go extinct. Others have suggested the same.
Meanwhile, some authors like J.A. Konrath and David Gaughran have eschewed traditional relationships with publishers to create and distribute their work on their own. In the aftermath to the Book Country self-publishing tool launch from Penguin, some outspoken critics took the announcement as an opportunity to question publishers’ relevance.
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
Ask the Pro: Literary Agent Adriana Dominguez Discuses Queries and More
Literary agent Adriana Dominguez is looking for manuscripts. Find out what kind, learn about the most common mistakes she sees in query letters and more. Read more
5 Steps to Transform Meals into Writing Experiences
Use these 5 steps to transform any meal or day in the kitchen into a written experience that will leave readers hungry for more. 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
Writer’s Workout Exclusive
Download a free motivational poster to keep you moving as your build your writing career. Read an Excerpt! Learn how to cultivate clarity, inventory ideas, write richly, and serve up words. About … Read more
Writer’s Workout Excerpt
Excerpt from The Writer’s Workout by Christina Katz CULTIVATE CLARITY When you write something needlessly prolix and convoluted, there’s a reason for it, and that reason is usually a lack of clarity … Read more
Writer’s Workout
The Writer’s Workout: 366 Tips, Tasks, & Techniques from Your Writing Career Coach by Christina Katz Writer’s Digest Books, 2011 ISBN-13: 978-1-59963-179-0 ISBN-10: 1-59963-179-2 $19.99 paperback, 384 pages Buy the Book! Read … Read more
The 4 Pet Peeves of Freelancers (and How to Tackle Them)
Here’s a quartet of freelancers’ biggest pet peeves—and how to tackle
them when they happen to you. 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
Your Straight-Forward Guide to Publication
Are you headed down the right road toward getting published? Have you lost your way? Use this guide to assess where you are on your journey—and how to know when it’s time to change course. Read more
6 Signs You’re Getting Closer to Publication
Be on the lookout for these signals, which may indicate that agents and publishers are starting to take notice of your work. Read more
Literary Journal Submissions 101
To submit your latest short story, essay or poem, you’ll need a cover letter—which is much different from a query. Use these tips from inside a creative writing program to help your letter make the grade. Read more
Where to Find Writing Grants
Start your search small and local by investigating grant opportunities in your own town, region and state. Peruse the websites of your town’s art council and your state’s arts commission. To help … Read more
Free Money for Writers
Grants, fellowships and residencies offer both support and opportunity—and all they ask in return is that you follow your writing dreams. Here’s what you need to know about some of the best opportunities you could be missing. Read more
How to Land Writing Gigs When Meeting Editors
Last fall, author and journalist John Moir redeemed part of his grand prize from WD’s 78th Annual Writing Competition when he traveled to New York City, where his escort from the WD … Read more
Read These Successful Query Letters
Writing a book is fun. Writing a query letter is stressful. In your book, you can add layers of backstory and extra pages to let your full story flow. In a query letter, you basically have four tiny paragraphs to say “PICK ME! PICK ME!” (Holy crap, I’m having grade-school playground flashbacks.) So what’s the best plan of attack to creating a pitch perfect query letter? Read more
5 Fast Facts on Book Publicity
After serving as the editor of Guide to Literary Agents for years, I figured I knew everything about the publication process. But when I released a humor book late last year (How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack), I quickly found that while I was well versed in what happens before a book is published, I had a lot to learn about what happens after a release. Here are five facts about how the world works when it comes to publicity. Read more
Questions to Ask Potential Ghostwriting Clients
Before you say yes to a ghostwriting gig, or even make a bid, you must know all you can about the project in question. Here are the important questions to ask.
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How to Be a Successful Ghostwriter
You might not like the idea of writing someone else’s book—but the hidden benefits of ghostwriting could just change your mind. Here’s why so many writers are taking this lucrative path, how to know if it’s right for you, and what you need to do to break in.
By Kelly James-Enger
Get Paid to be a Word Nerd
Writers who leverage their skills as copy editors can earn bigger paychecks, diversify their portfolios and spend more time doing what they love. Learn how you could be one of them.
by Rebecca Smith Hurd
Ask the Pro: Literary Agent Daniel Lazar
Agent Daniel Lazar talks about queries, his dream project and his biggest career surprise.
Was Your Idea Stolen? Maybe
Think someone stole your idea? Not so fast. Here’s what you can learn from two authors and their tale of “simultaneous discovery.”
by Eileen Cook and Lara Zielin
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How to Create a Free Author Website on WordPress
Here are 5 simple steps to set up a free website/blog using WordPress.
by Meryl K. Evans
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