Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i Writer's Digest

1 Writing Galaxies Far, Far Away The agent roundtable discussion behind “Science Fiction & Fantasy Today” (Page 40) delved so deep we couldn’t fit it on the page! Don’t miss these uncut responses relating to word count, series potential and trends. 2 Coming to America Dual WD Interview subjects Jane Green and Freya North (Page 46), best friends and bestsellers on opposite sides of the Atlantic, talk differences in publishing in the U.S. and U.K., and what it takes to expand your market. 3 Puzzling, Dreaming & Pursuing Change Visual artists share their secrets for staying inspired in “Creativity in Color” (Page 32), but there’s more where that came from. Our bonus sidebar features even more tips from even more talented souls. To find all of the above online companions…

“I find the author’s subject matter wickedly truthful.” CHECK OR CREDIT? Jessica Allen’s intro line (“The Others,” May/June)—“When can you call yourself a ‘real’ writer?”—struck a chord with me. When I began writing, whenever I referred to myself as a writer my husband would chime in, “You’re not a writer until you see that check.” Knowing there were many non-paying markets, I would reply, “No, all you need is that byline” Then: my first sale! It was a tongue-in-cheek essay written from a man’s point of view, so I couldn’t use my name, and I certainly wasn’t going to use his! Staring at a clematis vine’s purple blooms solved the problem. When the publisher’s packet arrived, my husband read my name on the check, while I read my credit: “By…

The tricube is a newer form introduced by acclaimed Sacramento poet Phillip Larrea. A mathematical poem, the tricube makes up for its lack of history simply by being a fun and addictive form to write. The math is simple: three syllables per line × three lines per stanza × three stanzas per poem = one tricube. Here are two examples by Poetic Asides readers. Unburdening , by James Von Hendy The riverruns swiftly,his pockets Tricubes present poetry to the power of three: three syllables by three lines by three stanzas. filled with stones,one for eachdream deferred. He skips them,one by one,a drowning. Rhymes are optional, and subject matter can be about anything, as long as the poem adds up. Finished , by Tracy Davidson I put downthe gold…

While Mitch Hoffman entered the agenting world only recently, he has 20 years of experience in the industry, having had a hand in publishing more than 200 books, nearly a third of which were New York Times bestsellers. He’s held editorial positions at Dutton and Dell Publishing and most recently was vice president/executive editor at Grand Central Publishing. Through his career, Hoffman has worked with such noteworthy authors as David Baldacci, Roger Ebert, Harlan Coben, Senator Al Franken and Brad Meltzer. So a year after joining the Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency as a senior agent, he’s likely the most veteran “new” agent you’ll find hunting for clients. Hoffman says he’s looking for storytellers, regardless of genre, who strive to build surprising and singular worlds on the page. “In nonfiction,…

Dear FYSA, I queried my novel to a handful of agents (none were interested) before realizing it wasn’t ready yet and needed some major revisions. Would it be inappropriate to re-query any of them when my new-and-improved novel is ready to submit? It’s going through significant changes (I’m editing out a main character), so will be fundamentally different from the novel they turned down. Sincerely, Query-ous Dear Query-ous, I wanted to write a concise and knowledgeable response to this question, but that was hard to do after my head exploded. Can any of you out there in the studio audience guess why my office has gone from matte white to matter gray? Did anyone come up with the line … “before realizing it wasn’t ready yet and needed some major…

As a story coach I see this all the time: The author’s concept is compelling, her premise guarantees a great ride … and then she steps over the premise to focus on character almost exclusively. She dwells too much on backstory and marches the protagonist through an episodic sequence of experiences that do not clearly connect to the core story introduced by the premise. Sure, readers get to know that character intimately, but until your hero is doing something in pursuit of a goal, the picture isn’t complete. The engine of fiction is not character. Character is critical, but it isn’t the main source of energy within a novel. Conflict fuels a story. You need to give your character a challenge, a need, something to do, something with purpose, something…

1 Chapter One Young Writers Conference Young authors will love this event just for them on the outskirts of the Windy City. WHEN: Aug. 6, 2016. WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn, Saint Charles, Ill. PRICE: $100 until July 31; $125 after. WHAT MAKES THE CONFERENCE UNIQUE: Ch1Con is by young writers, for young writers. “Our conference planners are primarily high school or college students, all of our speakers are young, and attendees are preteens, teenagers and young adults,” conference director Julia Byers says. “The advice from speakers is specific and pertinent to this audience, and we work hard to make the conference as safe and welcoming as possible.” WHO IT’S PERFECT FOR: Aspiring authors ages 11 to 23 who are eager to learn from published professionals their own age. “We put…

Just Write  by James Scott Bell So many writers find their careers stuck in neutral. The solution is simple: Just write. Write past fears, doubts and setbacks, using your desire for excellence to deeply immerse yourself in the craft. In Just Write, you’ll learn how to master the nuances of fiction, give readers what they really want, and persevere through the challenges of getting started, conquering writer’s block, and dealing with rejection. ITEM #T8829 RETAIL: $17.99 YOUR PRICE: $10.99* Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot  by Jane K. Cleland Suspense is one of the most powerful tools a writer has for captivating readers—but it isn’t just for thrillers. From mainstream fiction to memoir, suspense creates the emotional tension that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Award-winning author Jane K.…

Fill Your Pockets If “Pro Tips & Techniques” sounds a little vague, I’ll fess up: That’s by design. Our most reliable contributors have a way of occasionally pitching outstanding articles that just don’t happen to fit with any of our issue themes. And as I was reviewing a batch of such pieces that had been treading water in the depths of my inbox, I realized that they all had one very simple thing in common: Darn good advice from people I trust to give it. But this issue isn’t a kitchen sink—far from it. Because it’s filled with the kind of advice that can be broken down into pocket-sized gems worth tucking into that corner of your brain you reach right into whenever you need a nudge in the right…

Aya de Leon Uptown Thief (romantic suspense, Dafina, July) “A sexy modern-day Latina Robin Hood returns to a life of crime to save her Lower East Side women’s health clinic—first by starting an exclusive escort service, then by plotting to heist a billionaire.” WRITES FROM: Oakland, Calif. PRE- THIEF: I was on “Def Poetry [Jam]”; I had a short essay in Essence; I had poems and short prose in various anthologies; I toured the country with my one-woman show; I self-published chapbooks, a DVD of my theater show and CDs. I put off my dream of publishing long-form fiction to do all those stay-out-late-at-night activities that would be much harder to do as a mom. TIME FRAME: I started in 2008 and sold Uptown Thief in 2015. ENTER THE…

The notion that we humans can create something out of nothing—whether a novel, a song, a painting or a recipe for vegan chili—is fascinating and just a little bit magical. Of course, that’s not how brain scientists would put it. According to people in white lab coats, creativity is a matter of brain activity and neural connections. Did you know, for example, that research shows that no matter how you express yourself artistically, the simple act of using your imagination lights up your whole brain more than almost any other activity you can engage in? I have always been interested in both science and magic. In retrospect, that is probably because the intersection of the two is art. As a writer who pens humor and nonfiction for various audiences and…

LUCIENNE DIVER joined The Knight Agency in 2008, after spending 15 years with Spectrum Literary Agency. She has sold more than 700 titles, worked with every major publisher, and has a client list of more than 40 authors spanning the commercial fiction genres, primarily fantasy, science fiction, romance, suspense and young adult. Clients include such bestsellers and award-winners as Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, Faith Hunter, N.K. Jemisin, Christina Henry, Ramez Naam and many others. Visit knightagency.net and her blog, luciennediver.wordpress.com. RUSSELL GALEN , an agent with Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, has made thousands of book, movie, TV and subrights sales in his 30-plus years as a literary agent. He divides his time between nonfiction (specializing in science and history) and fiction (specializing in science fiction, fantasy and mainstream novels…

Have you ever read a novel that was just OK, or that was similar to a dozen others? Have you ever found yourself mentally griping to an author, Don’t tell me that’s where you’re taking this story! No! By contrast, there are certainly novels in your collection that you’d consider keepers—ones whose authors have concocted a plot or characters you remember for years after reading them, their twists and turns cemented in your memory. Such works you might read over and over again, fawning over a new turn of phrase every time. Which author are you—the throwaway or the keeper? I’m pretty sure I know which one you want to be, but perhaps your current manuscript makes you unsure. Your story seems to be missing a crucial element, one you…

CONFERENCE GUIDE SEPTEMBER 2016 • Keep in mind that there may be more than one workshop in each listing. • These workshops are listed alphabetically by state, country or continent. • Unless otherwise indicated, rates include tuition (T) only. Sometimes the rates also include airfare (AF), some or all meals (M), accommodations (AC), ground transportation (GT), materials (MT) or fees (F). • When you find workshops that interest you, be sure to call, email or check the website of the instructor or organization for additional information. • All listings are paid advertisements. CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST WRITERS CONFERENCE & BOOK FAIR, September 29–October 1 at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA is an essential annual destination for writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers. Each year writers join our community for three…

STEVEN JAMES (“Tweaking Critiquing,” Page 36) is a critically acclaimed author of 14 novels and a WD contributing editor. Publishers Weekly calls him “[a] master storyteller at the peak of his game” His book on writing, Story Trumps Structure (WD Books), received the Special Storytelling Resource Award from Storytelling World. When he’s not working on his next novel, James teaches Novel Writing Intensive Retreats across the country with New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. LEIGH ANNE JASHEWAY (“Creativity in Color” Page 32) is the author of 21 comedy and self-help books as well as hundreds of articles and essays. She’s also written a half-dozen screenplays, one stage play, greeting cards, doormats and bumper stickers. She teaches comedy writing, improv and finding the humor in memoirs. When not writing or…

My life as a freelance writer began with Lucille Ball. It was June 1971. A recent graduate of San Diego State University, I was breaking in my green reporting skills at a weekly throwaway when a friend who worked at the posh La Costa Country Club & Spa invited me to a cocktail party that was to kick off the resort’s annual celebrity tennis tournament. I was an ambitious little fledgling. Never mind the thrilling prospect of mingling with Hollywood luminaries. I was going to La Costa to land a celebrity interview. Entering the cocktail lounge, I tried to play it cool when I literally bumped into Charlton Heston. The room was ablaze with stars, but it was Lucille Ball who riveted my attention. Wearing cream-colored silk, her flaming-red hair…

Cheers! You’ve finished your manuscript, and are preparing to begin your search for the perfect agent or publisher. But what if someone discovered you first? Someone who could shorten aspects of the traditional submissions process—vetting a publisher’s interest before you’ve even signed with an agent, or getting you a foreign-language deal? This may be the stuff writers’ dreams are made of—but those dreams are pretty far-fetched. Or are they? In publishing circles, a system for bringing your book directly to the attention of a publisher by way of “literary scout” is taking off—so much so that if you haven’t yet stumbled upon the term, you probably will soon. Here’s a brief look at the many forms scouts can take—and what they could mean for you. PUBLISHING HOUSE SCOUTING WHAT IT…

Early in Raymond Chandler’s 1939 novel The Big Sleep—one of the most popular noir stories ever published, and a book that’s twice been adapted into film—the chauffeur of the rich family that sits at the center of the convoluted plot is found dead of a blow to the head, left inside the family car and pushed off a pier (when someone dislikes you so much they murder you twice, you know you’re in trouble). Famously, the chauffeur is quickly forgotten and his murder is never solved, or even referred to again. When Howard Hawks was making his film version he called up Chandler and asked who killed the chauffeur, and Chandler admitted he had no idea. As a writer, you likely have one of two basic reactions to that story:…

For legions of women on both sides of the pond, summer is Jane Green season. Books such as Dune Road, Summer Secrets and The Beach House have been beckoning from beach bags since Green got her start in the late ’90s, in her native U.K., sharing shelves with Helen Fielding and Jennifer Crusie when the market for women’s fiction was undergoing a youthful transformation. Now in her late 40s, a mother of five living in Connecticut, Green remains a consistent bestseller whose books—and readers—have grown with her. This July’s release, Falling: A Love Story, follows a convert from the corporate life as she starts over with a new home, a new family and ultimately a new perspective on life and love. In a parallel publishing universe across the Atlantic, Freya…

Inevitably, self-editing skills play a significant role in crafting your novel-in-progress. If the first draft falls short, no agent or editor will be able to help you turn your book into something spectacular. And unless you’re a David Foster Wallace-esque prodigy, if you don’t revise your mediocre first draft, it probably won’t win over readers, gather flattering reviews or even get published at all. Your editing brain is not the same as your writing brain, which is why you must kindly ask your inner editor to step outside while your more imaginative and spontaneous mind writes the first draft. You call in the editing brain when you’ve had a few days, weeks or months to gain emotional and intellectual distance from the first draft. Your more methodical, detail-oriented left brain…

FOR YOUR FREELANCE WRITING: Family Tree Magazine THE INSIDE STORY FROM: Diane Haddad, editor MISSION: Family Tree Magazine provides a wealth of information, inspiration and community for genealogists who want to discover, preserve and celebrate their family history. FOUNDED: 2000. PUBLISHES: 7 issues per year. FOCUS: Family Tree Magazine (published by F+W Media, parent company of WD) reaches beyond strict genealogy research to cover ethnic heritage, family reunions, memoirs, oral history, scrapbooking, historical travel and other ways families connect with their past. CIRCULATION: 75,000. PAYMENT: Rates vary widely on the scope of the project and writer experience level; up to $800. NOTABLE CONTRIBUTORS: David A. Fryxell, Sunny Jane Morton, John Philip Colletta, Maureen A. Taylor. KEY TO BREAKING IN: Send us a well-crafted, engaging query letter with an…