WD Presents: From Our Readers Announcement, Upcoming Webinars, and more!
There's always so much happening in the Writer's Digest universe that even staff members have trouble keeping up. As a result, we decided to start collecting what's on the horizon to make it easier for everyone to know what's happening and when.
This week, we’re excited to announce a call for From Our Readers submissions, a webinar on crafting expert query letters, and more!
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Describe a Time When You Found the Courage to Write: From Our Readers (Comment for a Chance at Publication)
From Our Readers a Writer's Digest Column
This post announces our latest From Our Readers ask: Describe a time when you found the courage to write. Comment for a chance at publication in a future issue of Writer's Digest.
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Writer’s Digest Annual Conference Information!
July 22-25, 2021
Writer's Digest Annual Conference is hopeful we will be able to meet in person this July. There is still a lot of COVID-related uncertainty in 2021, and WD wants to take the proper steps to ensure all of our speakers, attendees, exhibitors, and staff are as safe as possible. That includes creating and thinking about a contingency plan for our in-person event. Be sure to check our website for the latest information.
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Five Online Writing Courses Start This Week
Five new online writing courses start this week, including Creative Writing 101, Query Letter in 14 Days, and more. Click here to check out the Writer's Digest University calendar.
Creative Writing 101
Creative Writing 101 combines teaching the key elements of storytelling with developing the protagonist. Once you understand who this character is and how to make sure you’ve included the key story elements, you are well on your way to writing that book you have been squelching.
Advanced Novel Writing
Advanced Novel Writing
Push yourself beyond your comfort zone and take your writing to new heights with this novel writing workshop, designed specifically for novelists who are looking for detailed feedback on their work. When you take this online workshop, you won't have weekly reading assignments or lectures. Instead, you'll get to focus solely on completing your novel.
Writing the Middle Grade Book
Any middle-grade book author will tell you that writing an effective book is more challenging than reading one! Take this online workshop and learn the essential elements of writing for kids and how to break into children’s publishing. Throughout this 8-week course, you can expect to read lectures and complete weekly writing assignments. Plus, you will read The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb and learn how to write a middle-grader’s book. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll be able to write the book for the middle-grader you’ve always wanted.
Query Letter in 14 Days
Query Letter in 14 Days
You've devoted hours, days, months—even years— to writing and editing your novel or nonfiction book. With all that time invested, it's natural to want recognition for your hard work and dedication. Take your writing one step further and tackle the publishing process. When you enroll in this online course, you'll learn the details of the query letter format and how to write a query letter that catches the attention of agents and publishers.
Grammar and Mechanics
Do you remember the difference between the 8 parts of speech and how to use them? Are you comfortable with punctuation and mechanics?
No matter what type of writing you do, mastering the fundamentals of grammar and mechanics is an important first step to having a successful writing career.
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Upcoming Webinars!
Agent One-on-One: How to Craft Query Letters & Other Submission Materials That Get Noticed Boot Camp
April 20, 2021–April 23, 2021
When your submission materials—a query letter, synopsis, manuscript, or book proposal—arrive in an agent's inbox, they land among hundreds of others. At that point, one of two things will happen. Either the agent (or the agent’s assistant) will like the submission and request more materials, or they will reply with a rejection.
Authors who get rejected tend to fall in one of two categories when submitting materials: they try too hard, or not enough. This Writer’s Digest Boot Camp is designed to help you streamline your submission materials to stand out in a good way.
Writing & Selling the Historical Novel: From Idea to Publication
April 29, 2021
Writing a successful historical novel is challenging, especially in today's market! In order to appeal to the modern reader, you must be aware of changing expectations, keep an eye on social awareness, and develop a keen ear for dialogue. Mastering these aspects, while staying true to your time period, requires extensive study and skill.
Writing and Selling the Historical Novel is a crash course jam-packed with advice from the start of your novel to the finish, from picking a concept with immediate appeal to pitching your finished product to the agents and editors who will take it to publication.
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March/April Issue of Writer’s Digest Out Now!
Writer's Digest March/April 2021 Cover
Writer’s Digest gets bigger, better, and more personal in the March/April 2021 issue! We’re unveiling our new expanded look (92 pages!) and a collection of new columns aimed to ensure writers of all levels and genres learn something new. In this issue, our features span intimate topics from how to make the most of your writing habits to writing about your own life with no judgment to advice for writing the most personal of all fictional scenes: the sex scene.
