May/June2013 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
Preview the Issue
Buy It Here
Give a Gift SubscriptionSave 58%!
Website of the Week
How to Publish a Book, Get Published
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. Whatever your goals may be, you’ll find the information you need to get published right here. It’s to your advantage to get started today because getting published may be easier than you think. The first step is to tap into the vast writing resources available at Writer’s Digest, then collaborate with our advanced but easy to use information to help you find a literary agent. Get started today.
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.
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
How to Recover From E-Mail Gaffes
E-mail gaffes are all too easy to make—and all too common. Here’s how to recover from four cringe-worthy mistakes.
by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
Read more
18th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners
Like confronting a dark past, publishing your own book can be daunting. Weldon Long found one bold way to do both—and earned top honors in WD’s Self-Published Book Awards.
by Melissa Wuske
Read more
18th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Mainstream Fiction
Announcing the Mainstream Fiction winners of the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
Read more
18th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Children’s
Announcing the Children’s winners of the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
Read more
18th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Genre Fiction
Announcing the Genre Fiction winners of the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
Read more
18th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Life Stories
Announcing the Life Stories winners of the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
Read more
18th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Reference
Announcing the Reference winners of the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
Read more
18th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Nonfiction
Announcing the Nonfiction winners of the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
Read more
18th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Poetry
Announcing the Poetry winners of the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
Read more
18th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Middle Grade/Young Adult
Announcing the Middle Grade/Young Adult winners of the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
Read more
Learn How Less Can Be More
Read the winning story in WD’s 11th Annual Short Short Story Competition, and find out more about how its author, Mikala Engel, conveyed big emotion in a small word count. Read more
Elements of a Successful Fiction Platform
To really make your name, you need to put it out there—and not just on the cover of your book. Here, novelists share which strategies for attracting readers work, which ones don’t, and why craft is still as important as ever.
By Christina Katz
How to Turn Rejection Letters into a Positive
Lessons in perseverance can come in unexpected packages. Learn how one writer found redemption through rejection.
by Sue Fliess
Read more
10 Basics on How to Nab Your Book a Blurb
Follow the rules of endorsement etiquette to get the names you want on your book jacket.
by Jenna Glatzer
Read more
