July/August 2013 Issue
July/August Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Business Legal Matters
Discover what you need to know about business and legal matters. You’ll find tips for working with agents and editors, learn the truth about advances, foreign rights and what to expect with the sale your first book, and much more.
How to See Your Work Through an Agent or Publisher’s Eyes
Query letter writing is no doubt one of the hardest forms of writing to master. Here’s what agents and publishers need to see from you when you pitch your work. 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
Do You Need a Publisher Anymore? Hachette and J.A. Konrath Duke It Out
In his obituary to the year-long Domino Project, Seth Godin wrote that publishing companies and other traditional players that do not adapt to new modes of doing business will go extinct. Others have suggested the same.
Meanwhile, some authors like J.A. Konrath and David Gaughran have eschewed traditional relationships with publishers to create and distribute their work on their own. In the aftermath to the Book Country self-publishing tool launch from Penguin, some outspoken critics took the announcement as an opportunity to question publishers’ relevance.
Writer’s Workout Exclusive
Download a free motivational poster to keep you moving as your build your writing career. Read an Excerpt! Learn how to cultivate clarity, inventory ideas, write richly, and serve up words. About … Read more
Writer’s Workout Excerpt
Excerpt from The Writer’s Workout by Christina Katz CULTIVATE CLARITY When you write something needlessly prolix and convoluted, there’s a reason for it, and that reason is usually a lack of clarity … Read more
Writer’s Workout
The Writer’s Workout: 366 Tips, Tasks, & Techniques from Your Writing Career Coach by Christina Katz Writer’s Digest Books, 2011 ISBN-13: 978-1-59963-179-0 ISBN-10: 1-59963-179-2 $19.99 paperback, 384 pages Buy the Book! Read … Read more
Get the Inside Track to Agents
Learn more about what Hot List agents Rachelle Gardner, Chris Richman, Suzie Townsend and Ted Weinstein are seeking by reading these in-depth Q&As.
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Author Q&A: Dinty W. Moore
Author Dinty W. Moore discusses not taking shortcuts, perseverance and why you need to love writing to be a writer.
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Publishing 101: What You Need to Know
Here’s your step-by-step guide to the publishing process–how it works, why you need to know and how you can play an influential role in your book’s success.
by Jerry D. Simmons
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The Anatomy of a Writer’s Website
Whether you build it yourself or hire a designer, your website can do more than bring you into the 21st century—it can be an invaluable part of your marketing arsenal.
by Linda Formichelli Read more
The Four Commandments of Writing Good Sentences
If you want to write a good sentence, don’t pay any attention to your grammar. I don’t mean “a sentence this like OK is.” I mean don’t automatically think you’ve written a good sentence just because it’s grammatically correct. Lots of bad sentences are grammatically correct. Some of these bad sentences might even be yours.
by Bonnie Trenga Read more
Challenging the Limits of Memory
In this excerpt from Writing Life Stories, Bill Roorbach teaches you how to pay attention to and translate your memories and how to overcome your resistance to remembered places and events. Read more
Back Up Your Work for Free
Just because a natural disaster or computer virus wipes out your hard drive doesn’t mean you have to lose all your work.
by G. Kyle White Read more
Ask the Lawyer: Writing Together; Writing Sub Rosa
Pinpoint issues to resolve before getting involved in a co-authoring situation, and learn how to write under a pseudonym. Read more
The More-Complete-Than-You-Need Checklist for Book Signings
Use this checklist before you head out the door to your book signing. Read more
Bounce Back
Bounce Back Read more
Seven Tips for Formatting Your Article Manuscript
Seven Tips for Formatting Your Article Manuscript Read more
10 Easy Pieces For Your Publicity Arsenal
Award-winning authors Tom and Marilyn Ross share their twenty years of industry knowledge in Jump Start Your Books Sales Read more
More Bang for Your Buck
Some of the keys to building a successful writing career cost money—a novelty most writers can’t afford to waste. Here’s how to invest in your career wisely. Read more
Many (Sort of) Happy Returns
Getting back that SASE often means rejection, but at least you know the editor got your query. What happens when you query abroad? Read more
7 Secrets to Writing With Your Best Friend
How do you go from best friend to co-author without scarificing the friendship? Respect, honesty and a sense of humor. Read more
Copyright Law 101
Many writers worry their work isn’t protected unless they use a copyright symbol or file with the Copyright Office. Learn when and how your work is protected, and exactly what that means. Read more
What Do Editors Want?
It’s one of the biggest writing questions of all: What do editors want? Jeff Mock, former editor of the Gettysburg Review and author of You Can Write Poetry, has the answer. Read more
Ask the Editor—Frequently Asked Questions: Self-Publishing
Wondering if it’s time to self-publish? Get the facts first and make a decision that’s right for you. Read more
The Healthy Writer
If you’re a self-employed writer, finding health-care coverage can be daunting. Look to these organizations to help you get covered. Read more
