Indholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2019 i Writer's Digest

1 App Happy Are you happier viewing one of our 101 Best Websites (Page 24) on your tablet or phone than on a laptop? Check out our favorite apps for writers. 2 Reading for Meaning Award-winning fantasy writer N. K. Jemisin, this issue’s WD interview (Page 46), talks about sensitivity readers, author interpretation and more in an extended Q&A. 3 Group Insight Breaking In (Page 22) author Joanne Ramos shares secrets on how to find and make the most of your writing community. To find all of the above online companions to this issue in one handy spot, visit writersdigest.com/jun-19 .…

ROB EAGAR (“Operation Amazon,” Page 38) is a marketing consultant who has coached more than 600 authors and helped books hit the New York Times bestseller list in three different categories. He is the creator of The Author’s Guide book series and instructor of the Writer’s Digest University online course Mastering Amazon for Authors. Learn more about Rob at robeagar.com JULIE DUFFY (“Pillar of the Community,” Page 42) is founder of StoryADay (storyaday.org), an online community and creativity challenge where she has been writing about creativity, productivity and short fiction since 2010. Her first experience of a writer’s group was the ironically named online Local Writers’ Workshop, back in 1996. After starting a family, she realized how important it was to maintain connections with other writers and founded StoryADay to…

Elisabeth Eaves and her husband Joe Ray knew what they needed when they opened Type Set in Seattle in March 2017: “A quiet and serene place to work, away from the dishes and distractions, that also provides the collegiality of other writers,” Eaves says. “There’s a real mutual respect for the need to put our heads down and do our jobs. I just don’t get that amid the noise and to-ing and fro-ing of a coffee shop.” At Type Set, writers can choose from nine workstations, two club chairs or a long table used for monthly brown-bag lunches with guest speakers, such as a developmental editor or the Sasquatch Books editorial director. A gurgling coffee pot and the soft clack of keys may be heard, but the 650-square-foot office has…

GRAND PRIZE THE LAST CHECKOUT by Peter Besson ($7.99, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $17.95 Audible), peterbesson.com. MYSTERY/THRILLER GILCHRIST by Christian Galacar ($4.99, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $19.99, paperback; $21.99, Audible), christiangalacar.com. FANTASY COYOTE ATE THE STARS by E.A. Van Stralen ($4.99 Kindle; $9.99 paperback). MEMOIR AMSTERDAM EXPOSED by David Wienir ($2.99, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $12.95, paperback; $12.99, Audible), De Wallen Press, amsterdamexposed.com. YOUNG ADULT THE LOVELOCK by Eichin Chang-Lim ($2.99, Kindle; $15.99, paperback), eichinchanglim.com. ROMANCE SCOTLAND’S KNIGHT: A ROSE IN THE GLADE by Anne K. Hawkinson and Paul V. Hunter ($3.99, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $5.99, paperback), annehawkinson.com. SCIENCE FICTION ANGEL CITY BLUES by Jeff Edwards ($4.95, Kindle; $14.99, paperback, $21.95, Audible), Braveship Books, jeffedwardswrites.com. NONFICTION THE WORK AT HOME TRAINING PROGRAM by Bethany Mooradian…

Joanne Ramos 1 The Farm (Literary fiction, May, Random House) “Would you trade nine months of freedom for a better life?” WRITES FROM: New York City. PRE-FARM: My career jumped from investment banking to private-equity investing to journalism. Though I’d loved writing stories since I was a child, I’d never considered it a career option. As an immigrant from the Philippines, the idea didn’t seem “practical.” There were ideas that occupied me for most of my life. These ideas ended up suffusing The Farm. TIME FRAME: I spent a year writing short stories on themes that obsessed me. After 15 months, I happened upon an article about a surrogacy facility in India. This triggered an avalanche of what ifs. I wrote The Farm over the next three years. ENTER…

N.K. Jemisin wants to be a “storyteller of a writer.” It’s an ambition she claims not to have mastered, but many who have lost themselves in Jemisin’s tales of captive gods and stone eaters are sure to disagree. Through her three epic fantasy series (the Inheritance trilogy, the Dreamblood duology and the Broken Earth trilogy) as well as dozens of short stories and a novella, Jemisin has become known as a master world creator, each world brought to life through their detailed histories and unique mythology. Even though Jemisin’s stories are set in universes where magic is common, Jemisin’s writing feels pressingly relevant to our own world. Her stories are based on flawed power structures and deeply held prejudices with devastating consequences. There’s also hope—a constant theme through Jemisin’s latest…

GRAND PRIZE “NIGHT SURF” David Burns MYSTERY/CRIME FIRST PLACE “THE SCHUYLER DIAMONDS” Benjamin Fine HONORABLE MENTIONS “EXODUS” Jillian Shoichet “THE ADVENTURER” Jeff Siebold “THE BET” William Mueller “TOWN WATCH” Carol Kohn HORROR FIRST PLACE “THE UNEXPECTED GUEST” Connie White HONORABLE MENTIONS “MILK TEETH” Mackenzie Hurlbert “NEEDLE AND KNIFE” L.J. Longo “RADIANT SUNS AND ELEPHANT EARS” Shevon Porter “THE NEW GUY” Erin Chavis ROMANCE FIRST PLACE “FRAGMENTS” Kevin Hogg HONORABLE MENTIONS “EVERYWHERE A SIGN” Richard Leist “LETTING GO” Raquel Levitt “SOME KINDA HAT” Margaret (Rita) Smith “THE GHOST OF ARABELLE VALE” Michelle Lindsey SCIENCE FICTION/ FANTASY FIRST PLACE “ALTERITY” Emily M. Dietrich HONORABLE MENTIONS “BUS STOPS” John Biggs “LIVING THE DREAM ON THE FINAL FRONTIER” Daniel Elliot “SOAR” Michele Roberts-Bonn “THE COPPER WARNING” Ruth Simon THRILLER/SUSPENSE FIRST PLACE “SOME PIG” Thomas…

THE CHALLENGE: Write the first line (one sentence only, 25 words or fewer) to a story based on the prompt below. You can be funny, poignant, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story. TO ENTER: Send your story via the online submission form at writersdigest.com/your-story-competition or via email to yourstorycontest@fwmedia.com with the subject line Your Story #98 (entries must be pasted directly into the body of the email; attachments will not be opened). NOTE: WD editors select the top entries and post them on our website (writersdigest.com/your-story-competition). Join us online in early June, when readers will vote for their favorite to help rank the top 10 winners! The winners will be published in a future issue of Writer’s Digest . DON’T FORGET: Your name and mailing…

A keen grasp on grammar is a marketable skill for all writers. Not only are you able to revise and improve your own writing—which can save you on editors and proofreaders—but also there is almost always freelance work available to copy editors who can put a final polish on an article or book. Here are some tips about how to up your grammar game: • BRUSH UP ON YOUR STYLE MANUALS. AP and CMS make changes all the time. Buy the most recent editions of each. (And for daily updates, follow them on Twitter at @ChicagoManual and@APStylebook.) • TEST YOURSELF. Think about the last good book you read, and then write a short review telling a specific audience why that book is so good and why they should take the time to…

1 Lakefly Writers Conference Enjoy some Midwestern hospitality at this intimate conference known for its regional flair. WHEN: May 10–11, 2019. WHERE: Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center, Oshkosh, Wis. PRICE: $75. Fee includes Saturday lunch. A special conference rate of $99.99 is available at the adjacent Premier Waterfront Hotel. WHAT MAKES THE CONFERENCE UNIQUE: It offers writers an inspiring, affordable guide to publishing success. “Due to our size and budget, we don’t host many well-known speakers, but all of our presenters are passionate about their topics and have rich life experiences,” Conference Director Ruth Percey says. “The conference is small enough to make lasting connections yet large enough to offer a varied selection of session topics.” HOW MANY ATTEND: 120. FACULTY: Novelists Beth Amos (Mattie Winston series),…

MAY/JUNE 2019 • 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 ANNUAL GREATER LOS ANGELES WRITERS CONFERENCE, produced by West Coast Writers Conferences. June 21–23, 2019 at Los Angeles Valley College. Writers of all genres and disciplines benefit from this popular educational and inspirational three-day event focused on the…

IMAGINATION UNCHAINED Bird Box author and multidisciplinary creative Josh Malerman shares insights into his writing process, what it’s like having a story adapted for the screen, his unique theatrical book readings and more. HOW TO SET WILDLY AMBITIOUS WRITING GOALS—AND ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THEM P.S. Hoffman outlines the secrets to successfully accomplishing your biggest, hairiest writing goals—including setting them and creating a sustainable routine that will enable to you to realistically attain them. FROM YA TO YEAH: 4 WAYS TO KEEP TEEN & YOUNG ADULT READERS HOOKED Many YA authors are adults, which means the generation gap between these writers and their intended audience can make it easy to miss the mark. Teen writer (and avid reader) Lorena Koppel lays out four ways to make sure your YA novel meets…

POETIC FORM: RONDINE The rondine is a typical French form. It’s loaded with rhymes and refrains. As a result, rondines are—like most French forms—lyrical and fun. Here are the basic rules: • Twelve lines in two stanzas • Seven lines in the first stanza, five in the second • Eight to 10 syllables per line (with the exception of lines seven and 12) • Lines seven and 12 have the refrain, which is the opening phrase of the poem • Rhyme scheme is abbaabR/abbaR Here’s an example by a Poetic Asides reader. The Memory Store by Taylor Graham It’s all swept clean, Main Street seven o’clock. Nothing’s open yet, as rain turns to snow. I’m walking yesterday-town, Antiques Row. A pewter tray, a stoneware pickling crock. That grandfather…

Stephanie Hansen, owner and senior agent at Metamorphosis Literary Agency, represents debut and New York Times bestselling authors alike. She holds a master’s degree and creative writing specialization. While she mostly represents young adult sci-fi and fantasy, Hansen says she also has “a secret addiction” to romance. Hansen handles everything fiction, from children’s books to adult thrillers. Currently she’s seeking romantic comedies and “all YA with unexpected antagonists.” She’s “intrigued by prose that flows as smoothly as poetry, unforgettable plot twists and well-rounded characters.” Previously an editor for Mind’s Eye literary magazine, Hansen founded Metamorphosis in July 2016. Originally looking to help Midwestern authors garner the attention of major publishing houses despite residing in “flyover states,” Hansen says she found camaraderie with multiple agents and editors. Visit Hansen online at…

Dear FYSA, How do agents form relationships with editors and publishing houses? Do they query them in the same way a writer queries an agent? Just Wondering Dear Wondering, Not exactly … but kinda? I had the luxury of starting out at a very established agency, so once I signed a client, I would practice my pitch to Irene Goodman in order to refine it and make sure it contained up-to-date and viable comp titles and a hook-y logline, just like you do in your initial query. Then Irene and I would discuss imprints and editors and I would make a sublist. After that? I grabbed my desk phone and just started Willy Loman-ing it. I would call, pitch the book and when requested (in those days) package a hard…

Welcome to The Web Issue! Most of us have a love/hate relationship with the internet. It’s a fantastic place to fritter away hours of good writing time obsessing over the latest celebrity breakup, taking quizzes to figure out what kind of breakfast food best represents us and arguing with strangers from across the world on Twitter. It’s a place where we can be wildly misunderstood, but also a place where we can find common ground. It can be the place where we find connections with others of our sort that we otherwise might not—fellow parents, science fiction fans, knitters, cat people, oh and, writers. For what—to me, at least—is a startling number of years (21!), Writer’s Digest has been compiling the Best Websites for Writers feature. In this year’s edition…

“I was not given time to finish!” the Russian writer Isaac Babel was said to have shouted as he was whisked away to prison by Stalin’s secret police in 1939. Babel was executed at age 45, leaving behind short stories, plays and novellas that would fill a thousand pages. Eighty years later, you are sitting at your desk in Seattle, writing your first novel. You are 58, thirteen years older than Babel when he died. What do you have to show for it? The answer is laughable: a few essays, short memoir pieces, a knock-kneed novel stumbling out of the gate. Then you wonder, How many are given time to finish? Consider now your 83-year-old uncle, who passed away from liver cancer. He managed to say goodbye to all five…

Peter Besson’s work in film influences his writing process as an author, as he must understand what the hook is that makes a story interesting before he can write it. The hook in his e-book The Last Checkout is two lovers coming together at a hotel in which the only way to check out is to die. “I thought it would be interesting [to have a world where] suicide was actually encouraged and there was hopelessness, and to try to find the hope in that,” Besson says. “Maybe you find the bright spark or hope or love even in the sh*ttiest circumstances.” Besson self-published The Last Checkout because he truly believed in his story, even as interest from agents waned. When thinking about self-publishing, he figured there was no reason…

Whether it’s done by a trade publisher or an author, publishing has two aims: to make words consumable in reader friendly formats, and to get those words read by enough people to make a profit. These aims demand that seven processes are done well: editorial, design, production, distribution, marketing, promotion and rights licensing. Being a good author-publisher means being a good writer and being good at running a digital business. Each of these demands dedication. Too many writers get carried away by the creative process of making the book and press the “publish” button too soon. This can happen when the writing isn’t truly ready. Or, authors haven’t set up their marketing and promotion, or business processes are not ready. When self-published too soon, a book will likely bomb. However,…

WRITERSDIGEST.COM WD’s hub of free articles, prompts and downloads is filled with career advice, craft tips, competitions and more. Check out the editor blogs for friendly expert advice on writing and publishing, poetry challenges, agent updates and more. WRITERSMARKET.COM Along with 9,000-plus market listings updated continually, subscribers receive articles, industry updates, submission trackers and more. Monthly, six-month and annual paid subscriptions are available. WRITERSDIGESTUNIVERSITY.COM You don’t even have to leave home to get one-on-one instruction from expert authors and editors: WDU classes are offered year-round for every genre and experience level. TUTORIALS.WRITERSDIGEST.COM More than 300 instructional videos are available to stream immediately, with new videos added weekly. A monthly subscription is $25, while an annual is $199. SCRIPTMAG.COM Script Magazine offers vital scriptwriting advice, news and info on spec scripts,…

What are some places you look for writing ideas? I get ideas from the strangest places. Once I was sitting in the doctor’s office. There’s a magazine with an entirely black cover and very thin letters on it in gray, and I think it says “The Last Village.” By the time I go in to see the doctor, I’ve got an entire story about what the last village might mean. On my way out, I got a chance to look at the magazine cover and it said “The East Village.” I had gotten the title wrong, but it gave me a really good story idea. I also get a lot of ideas listening to music, particularly movie soundtracks, trying to imagine what scene might go with them. What are the…

Although most writers and editors have received extensive training in written English, we still make mistakes—all the time. The Careful Writer, Words into Type, The Elements of Style and other sources offer voluminous instruction and examples for writers and editors. This article will address some problems that editors commonly encounter. PARTS OF SPEECH Distinguishing Nouns and Verbs from Adjectives, Adverbs and Other Modifiers Some writers confuse adjectives with verb phrases. Pickup is an adjective, as in “a pickup game of softball,” or a noun, as in “driving a pickup.” Pick up is a verb phrase, or a verb actually made up of two words—a verb and an adverb. Typically, the noun and adjective forms are one word, whereas the verbs are phrases of two or more words. For example: WRONG:…

A writing conference can be a huge investment of time and money. Like any investment, you want to make sure you get a good return. Here are some questions to consider when deciding whether to take the plunge. • Can you afford it? In excitement, we sometimes forget the total cost of attending a conference in another state. Expenditures include registration, transportation, hotel accommodations, food, activities not included in the registration price such as agent/editor critiques and more. It all adds up. • What are your conference goals? This vital question should inform all of your decisions. Are you looking to hone your writing skills? Fine-tune a book? Meet with editors and agents? Your answer will help determine if a conference is right for you. • Does the conference address…