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Writer's Digest

January/February 2020
Magazine

Writer's Digest magazine is a comprehensive source of writing instruction for writers. Each issue provides advice and insider tips on writing and selling fiction, nonfiction, poetry and scripts.

FROM OUR READERS

Here’s to New Beginnings!

Writer's Digest

CONTRIBUTORS

Polishing Your Prose • Help your freelance writing land better with editors and increase your chances of getting published with these 11 proven hacks to strengthen your work.

Up Close and Personal: The Author Brand • Your work as an author doesn’t stop at writing and publishing books. Here’s how to develop a personal brand to connect with readers and sell books.

Worth a Thousand Words

The Veterans Writing Project • Founded by a veteran for veterans, a nonprofit teaches writing as a way of making sense of the stories soldiers have to tell and coping with the trauma of war.

Support the Arts and They May Support You

New Year, New Books • Looking for more new books to add to your to-read list? The editors of WD reveal the 2020 book releases that they are most excited for.

Worth More Than a Thousand Words: The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference • In 2020, Writer’s Digest will celebrate its 100th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City will be bigger and better than ever—make sure to save the date for August 13–16! These cartoons offer a sneak peek of the experience.

100 Years of Writer’s Digest • In celebration of our 100th anniversary in 2020, WD is selecting the best past articles to showcase again.

Poetic asides • No matter what you write, a bit of poetic license can be a valuable asset to any writer’s arsenal.

INDIELAB • New rules. New strategies. New paths to success.

John Talbot THE TALBOT FORTUNE AGENCY

BREAKING IN • Debut authors: How they did it, what they learned, and why you can do it, too.

OPENINGS That Kill It • The strongest stories start with a bang. fuse these elements into your first page for a beginning that hooks readers and won’t let them go.

INTRODUCING THE NARRATIVE QUESTION IN THE FIRST LINE

THE COLD OPEN • It’s any writer’s greatest fear: facing the blank page with no ideas to get started. Here’s how to get into the right mindset to begin writing and find your muse.

BEGINNING YOUR PRE-WRITING MEDITATION

ONE LEG at a TIME • One writer flew by the seat of his pants to begin his freelance writing career so you don’t have to. Here’s his advice on how to take the plunge.

TELLING THE STORIES OF WAR • Three award-winning journalists discuss their unique approaches to chronicling seminal moments in American military history.

NOW, WHERE WAS I? • Life often interrupts writing, forcing authors to set their manuscripts aside. Here’s how to use these breaks effectively and return to your work-in-progress with a fresh perspective.

TURN THE BEAT AROUND • Newbie writers are bound to make some mistakes. Here are the five most common blunders that beginning writers make and how to avoid them.

THE WD INTERVIEW Dani Shapiro • The author of five bestselling memoirs speaks the truth about objectivity when writing about your own life and how the past influences the present.

THE FIRST HUNDRED WORDS ARE THE HARDEST • From The Writer’s Digest, October 1921 issue

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK • A literary agent’s mostly serious answers to your mostly serious questions.

Across the Grass • THE CHALLENGE: Write a short story of 650 words or fewer based on the photo below.

ENTER YOUR STORY

Idea Versus Premise • HOW TURN YOUR IDEA INTO A STORY WINDFALL

SCREENPLAY STORY STRUCTURE

S.M.A.R.T. WRITING GOALS WORKSHEET • FROM...


Expand title description text

Formats

OverDrive Magazine

Languages

English

Writer's Digest magazine is a comprehensive source of writing instruction for writers. Each issue provides advice and insider tips on writing and selling fiction, nonfiction, poetry and scripts.

FROM OUR READERS

Here’s to New Beginnings!

Writer's Digest

CONTRIBUTORS

Polishing Your Prose • Help your freelance writing land better with editors and increase your chances of getting published with these 11 proven hacks to strengthen your work.

Up Close and Personal: The Author Brand • Your work as an author doesn’t stop at writing and publishing books. Here’s how to develop a personal brand to connect with readers and sell books.

Worth a Thousand Words

The Veterans Writing Project • Founded by a veteran for veterans, a nonprofit teaches writing as a way of making sense of the stories soldiers have to tell and coping with the trauma of war.

Support the Arts and They May Support You

New Year, New Books • Looking for more new books to add to your to-read list? The editors of WD reveal the 2020 book releases that they are most excited for.

Worth More Than a Thousand Words: The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference • In 2020, Writer’s Digest will celebrate its 100th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City will be bigger and better than ever—make sure to save the date for August 13–16! These cartoons offer a sneak peek of the experience.

100 Years of Writer’s Digest • In celebration of our 100th anniversary in 2020, WD is selecting the best past articles to showcase again.

Poetic asides • No matter what you write, a bit of poetic license can be a valuable asset to any writer’s arsenal.

INDIELAB • New rules. New strategies. New paths to success.

John Talbot THE TALBOT FORTUNE AGENCY

BREAKING IN • Debut authors: How they did it, what they learned, and why you can do it, too.

OPENINGS That Kill It • The strongest stories start with a bang. fuse these elements into your first page for a beginning that hooks readers and won’t let them go.

INTRODUCING THE NARRATIVE QUESTION IN THE FIRST LINE

THE COLD OPEN • It’s any writer’s greatest fear: facing the blank page with no ideas to get started. Here’s how to get into the right mindset to begin writing and find your muse.

BEGINNING YOUR PRE-WRITING MEDITATION

ONE LEG at a TIME • One writer flew by the seat of his pants to begin his freelance writing career so you don’t have to. Here’s his advice on how to take the plunge.

TELLING THE STORIES OF WAR • Three award-winning journalists discuss their unique approaches to chronicling seminal moments in American military history.

NOW, WHERE WAS I? • Life often interrupts writing, forcing authors to set their manuscripts aside. Here’s how to use these breaks effectively and return to your work-in-progress with a fresh perspective.

TURN THE BEAT AROUND • Newbie writers are bound to make some mistakes. Here are the five most common blunders that beginning writers make and how to avoid them.

THE WD INTERVIEW Dani Shapiro • The author of five bestselling memoirs speaks the truth about objectivity when writing about your own life and how the past influences the present.

THE FIRST HUNDRED WORDS ARE THE HARDEST • From The Writer’s Digest, October 1921 issue

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK • A literary agent’s mostly serious answers to your mostly serious questions.

Across the Grass • THE CHALLENGE: Write a short story of 650 words or fewer based on the photo below.

ENTER YOUR STORY

Idea Versus Premise • HOW TURN YOUR IDEA INTO A STORY WINDFALL

SCREENPLAY STORY STRUCTURE

S.M.A.R.T. WRITING GOALS WORKSHEET • FROM...


Expand title description text