May/June 2012 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Website of the Week
Writing Website of the Week
Published author Roz Morris' website covers a lot of topics about writing--some serious, some for fun. Either way, it's a site that's worth a few minutes of any writer's week. (I recommend following her on Twitter too.Nail Your Novel 
*Not affiliated with our 101 Best Writing Websites feature.
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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Winners of the 2010 WD Poetry Awards
Karin Bradberry’s "Javelina" took first place in WD’s 5th Annual Poetry Awards competition, taking home $500 in prize money. The online contest, which pulled in nearly 3,350 entries, was open to poems of any style that were original, unpublished and 32 lines or fewer.
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Bob, The Column: On Conquering Criticism
Humor writer Bob Woodiwiss, author of The Serfitt & Cloye Gift Catalog: Just Enough of Too Much, takes a funny look criticism.
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Agent Michael Larsen On: 4 Reasons You May Want to Transform That Memoir Into a Novel
If you’re writing a memoir (a me-moir to the cynical), you may wonder whether it would be better to fictionalize elements and release your story as a novel. What reasons might there be for making that decision?
1. Legal Reasons
Publishers are extremely wary about anything that might cause litigation. If you’re going to include unflattering things about living people, they may sue.
2. Personal Reasons
Fictionalizing your past may make it easier to write about. A memoir is constrained by the truth. Writing fiction liberates you to alter your experience as you wish. Read more
3 Exercises for Defining Your Book’s Hook
Whether you are writing a memoir or fiction, having a strong hook is essential. This advice rings true to nearly all books.
by Paula Balzer
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A Hook for Every Book
Here’s how to find the focus that can turn your own story into a marketable memoir.
by Paula Balzer
Q&A With April L. Hamilton
Learn the benefits and challenges of indie authorship from April L. Hamilton, author of The Indie Author Guide.
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Creating Your Brand
Find out what you need to know to create your brand from The Indie Author Guide by April L. Hamilton
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The Indie Author Guide
Find out how to successfully self-publish and promote your work in The Indie Author Guide by April L. Hamilton.
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Q&A With James V. Smith, Jr.
Read an interview with James V. Smith, Jr., author of You Can Write a Novel, 2nd Edition
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