July/August 2013 Issue
July/August Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Writing Articles
Unleash your writing potential now with Writer’s Digest writing articles. Here, you can learn everything you need to know about virtually any writing topic and genre. Whether it’s fiction writing, how to write an article, getting published, promoting your work and much, much more. Learn from published authors and industry experts alike how to take your initial ideas and turn them into a completed story that is creative and print-worthy – from the Writer’s Digest writing articles.
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4 Simple Steps to Creating a Book Trailer
You don’t have to be a technology guru to publicize your book 21st-Centruy-style. Follow these easy steps to create a trailer to promote your book with cinematic flair.
by Shauna E. Black
Why Start a Website or Blog If You Have Nothing to Promote?
I feel like there’s a debate heating up between the group who believes it’s never too early to develop an online presence (that’s me) and the group who believes it’s necessary to … Read more
Why You Should Post Your Work Online
Today I’m the featured blogger over at Writer Unboxed, where I contributed a new post: Stop Being Afraid of Posting Your Work Online*. Too many people are afraid of the very thing … Read more
Best Resources for Successful Writers of the Future
Today I gave an online class on how writers can succeed in an ever-shifting publishing landscape. To help those students—as well as all of you—I’m providing what I consider the most helpful … Read more
Kindle, iPhone, iPad: Exploring the Impact for Writers and Authorship
Pictured above: My office at Writer’s Digest, from L to R: Kindle 2, MacBook (with iPhone sitting on top), iPad When I started working in publishing (1998), the epic dream of writers … Read more
There
Worried that some of your stories aren’t that good and were a waste of your time? Don’t be, and here’s why.
by John Smolens
Why Don't Publishers Market & Promote the Books They Publish?
Over on my Facebook page, I shared a quote from David Ogilvy: In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative original thinker unless you can also sell … Read more
How I Got My Agent: Eve Brown-Waite
“How I Got My Agent” is a recurring feature on the GLA blog. Some tales are of long roads and many setbacks, while others are of good luck and quick signings. If you have a literary agent and would be interested in writing a short guest column for this GLA blog, e-mail me at literaryagent@fwmedia.com and we’ll talk specifics.
Eve Brown-Waite is the author of First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria: How a Peace Corps Poster Boy Won My Heart and a Third World Adventure Changed My Life, (2009, Broadway Books) available in paperback on April 14, 2010. Read more
Can Writers Get Creative With Facts?
Is it ever OK to get creative with the facts in nonfiction? If you think honesty’s the only policy, here are some gray areas to consider.
by Art Spikol
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AWP Note + Best Tweets Rests This Week
I’ve been in Denver for the last 5 days for the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference, where I participated on two panels, and also manned the Writer’s Digest Bookfair table … Read more
Sue Grafton’s Advice for Writers: Put in the Time
Five books from the end of her alphabet series, Sue Grafton says it doesn’t get any easier—and there’s always another lesson to learn about the ABCs of writing.
by Diana Page Jordan
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Create Your Own Mini-Writing Retreat
Too busy to write? No budget to get away? Setting aside a time and place for your writing can be easier than you think.
by Kathryn Haueisen Cashen
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How I Got My Agent: Marianne Elliott
“How I Got My Agent” is a recurring feature on the GLA blog. Some tales are of long roads and many setbacks, while others are of good luck and quick signings. If you have a literary agent and would be interested in writing a short guest column for this GLA blog, e-mail me at literaryagent@fwmedia.com and we’ll talk specifics.
Marianne Elliott is the author of the blog Zen and the Art of Peacekeeping. (She has written a memoir of the same name.) Read more
New Agent Alert: Marissa Walsh of Shelf Life Literary
Note from Chuck (4-28-2010): Soon after posting this new agent alert, Marissa contacted me and said she is joining the crew at FinePrint Literary Management. All her bio info remains the same.
Reminder: Newer agents are golden opportunities for new writers because they’re likely building their client list; however, always make sure your work is as perfect as it can be before submitting, and only query agencies that are a great fit for your work. Otherwise, you’re just wasting time and postage.
She is seeking: pop culture, humor, narrative nonfiction, memoir, or children’s books. Concerning picture books, she is looking for younger books with very little text (800 words or fewer). Concerning middle grade and YA, no paranormal please. She prefers contemporary stories. Read more
3 Exercises For Tapping Inspiration
Sometimes writers need a little inspirational nudge. Try these exercises to help get you started.
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7 Reasons Inspiration Matters to Writers
Here are 7 reasons why inspiration matters—and plenty of ways to use them to your creative advantage.
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17th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Poetry
Announcing the Poetry winners of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
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17th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Nonfiction
Announcing the Nonfiction winners of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
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17th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Life Stories
Announcing the Life Stories winners of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
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17th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Middle-Grade/Young Adult
Announcing the Middle-Grade/Young Adult winners of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
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17th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Humor Writing
Announcing the Humor Writing winners of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
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17th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Inspirational Writing
Announcing the Inspirational Writing winners of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
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17th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Mainstream Fiction
Announcing the Mainstream Fiction winners of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
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17th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Genre Fiction
Announcing the Genre Fiction winners of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
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17th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Winners – Children’s Books
Announcing the Children’s winners of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
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