May/June2013 Issue
May/June 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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7 Simple Ways to Make a Good Story Great
To stand out to the gatekeepers who hold the keys to publication, it’s not enough for your story to be good. Use these techniques to take your fiction to new heights. Read more
5 Story Mistakes Even Good Writers Make
Sometimes it’s too easy to get caught up in the so-called rules of writing and forget what’s really important. Here’s how to avoid the traps that can steer your story off-course.
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7 Things That Will Doom Your Novel (& How to Avoid Them)
You can doom your debut from the start with these 7 (tongue-in-cheek) strategies for flailing, and failing—or, you can do just the opposite. Read more
Writing a Query Letter: The Best Way To Land Your Next Freelance Writing Gig
Are you new to freelance writing or perhaps having trouble selling your work to editors? Today’s tip of the day can help. Kelly James Enger, author of Writer For Hire, explains the … Read more
4 Editing & Proofreading Techniques For Your Novel
Joseph Bates, author of The Nighttime Novelist, shares tips for editing and proofreading a novel or book. Creating A System For Editing & Proofreading Revision is really about seeing your book as … Read more
5 Wrong Ways to Start A Story
Your story’s opener is your one opportunity to capture an editor’s or agent’s attention. Learn how to avoid the critical mistakes (such as providing too much backstory) that lead to rejection and … Read more
How to Sell Your Manuscript Without an Agent
First-time author Diane Kelly offers 4 strategies to connect with editors and sell your manuscript—without an agent. Read more
Top 10 Blogging Tips: How to Turn Your Blog Into a Book
If you’d like to quickly amass content for a book—without the pressure of actually having to work on one—consider blogging a book. Blogging is a fast and simple way to generate a … Read more
What is a Minor Character: Understanding the Minor Characters’ Role
So where is the dividing line between major and minor charactors? There isn’t one. The different levels shade into each other, and as you master the techniques appropriate to each level, you’ll be able to create each character at exactly the level of importance the story requires. Here’s how to master the techniques. Read more
23 Timeless Quotes About Writing
While fad advice in the writing world comes and goes, some wisdom is so novel that it’s withstood the test of time. Culled from 91 years of WD articles, interviews and essays, here are 23 of our favorite writing quotes of enduring advice and inspiration. Enjoy. Read more
How to Write Effective Supporting Characters
Your cast of supporting characters should reflect what your protagonist needs. Here’s how to craft strong supporting characters to make your novel jump off the page. Read more
April is Poetry Month – Ready for Our Poem-A-Day Challenge?
Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? I have never considered myself to be a poet, but I’ve learned that writing poetry can be fun. That’s why a couple of years ago I participated in Robert Lee Brewer’s Poem a Day challenge. It was one of the best decisions I ever made as a writer–and I think it’s something you should consider doing too. Read more
Freelance Writing: 10 Tips to Better Interviews
Whether you’re working on an article or researching your book, steal a page from the psychology world using these 10 methods to get the most from your interviews. Read more
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Gene Weingarten Shares his Thoughts on Writing
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Gene Weingarten shares his thoughts on writing, reporting and how, exactly, to capture the meaning of life Read more
The Dos and Don’ts of Novel Endings
In learning how to end your novel with a punch, it’s important to know what you can and can’t do to write success novel endings that attract agents, publishers and, most important, readers. Here are the dos and don’ts of writing a strong closer. Read more
10 Foolproof Tips to Launch a Regional Writing Conference
No writers conferences in your area? No worries. Follow these 10 foolproof tips to launch your own regional writing conference. Read more
How to Write a Manuscript: 5 Key Tips
So you have a great idea for a novel or nonfiction book but you just don’t know where to begin? Have no fear: I’ve devised a pretty simple plan that will help guide you. Read more
How to Submit Short Stories
The most important thing when when understanding how to publish short stories is to follow the publisher’s writing guidelines carefully. Here are some general rules. Read more
How to End a Novel With a Punch
Your closer is the most important incident in the novel, which is why you must know it inside and out so you know how to end a novel that agents want to rep. Read more
How to Resurrect a Stalled Manuscript
Is your manuscript stuck? Take a break from completing your fiction project and diagnose it. Here’s how to take your manuscript into its next phase: completion. Read more
5 Simple Steps on Creating Suspense in Fiction
Whenever you cause readers to be curious about what comes next, you’re creating suspense in fiction writing. Here are five simple steps you can take to increase the level of suspense in your scenes. Read more
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
Learn How to Write a Synopsis Like a Pro
Learn how to write a synopsis with quick and easy tips for synopsis formats, see synopsis examples from fiction writing, and become a pro at writing a synopsis! Read more
Writing Rules: 10 Experts Take on the Writer’s Rulebook
Is it always better to show than tell? Do you really have to write every day? Experts prove there’s merit in both playing by the book and staging a writing rebellion. Read more
How to Overcome Writer’s Block Like a Bestselling Author
Writers everywhere have or will lack writing inspiration. Whether you need help to overcome writer’s block, or are simply looking for inspiration for writing, read our today’s tip, taken from Write Great … Read more
