Innehållsförteckning för November 2021 från The Writer

It feels foolish to compare last year to this one – or to compare 2020 to anything, really – but I do find myself succumbing to so many more intense cravings this year. I noticed it first with food: At the tail end of a very long winter, I suddenly became obsessed with radishes. While the rest of the Alaskan produce section shriveled and wilted as winter dragged on, the radishes remained bright, crunchy, spicy promises of spring. I ate them raw, with butter and flaky sea salt, dipped in hummus, thinly sliced on toast with herbs. I couldn’t eat enough. My cucumber phase began when the height of the snowpack outside finally dwindled to single digits. It ebbed only once we harvested our first greens, when I eagerly ate…

Without a doubt, Instagram is one of the most powerful marketing platforms in the world. From the social media superstars with millions of followers to niche content creators with smaller, tight-knit followings, savvy Instagram users (or Instagrammers) have found a way to grow an audience, gain publicity, or make the contacts they need to succeed in their fields. Whether you’re a complete newbie to the app or a seasoned Instagrammer in need of some new tips and tricks, I’ll share the tools that will help you thrive on the platform. I’m an award-winning blogger, Instagrammer, and published writer who earns a significant side income from Instagram. I also frequently use the platform to network and make contacts that have directly led to getting my work published. Pitching to editors can…

Blood oranges. Kimchi. Fried Spam. You’ll find meditations on all in Porridge, a five-year-old international online and print magazine showcasing creative writing – much of it food-related – by new and emerging writers. “We publish a pretty broad range of work, from videos to recipes to essays, photography, poetry, and more,” says Porridge founder and Arts Co-Editor Georgia Tindale. “What we love to see is work that is interesting above all. It doesn’t need to be totally avant-garde or left field – although we’re down for it if it is! – but we are always on the lookout for thoughtful work that isn’t afraid to be a bit different or stand out.” Tone, editorial content Nora Selmani is the editor of COMFORT FOODS, a Porridge series focusing on writing that…

Writing contests keep your mind fresh, your writing skills sharp, and your creativity pumping. And winning could score you new readers, notoriety, and even some extra cash. The biggest thing to keep in mind before submitting your work to a contest is following the rules. Here are some potential pitfalls to keep an eye out for: 1. Deadline. Research when the submission period both opens and closes and send your work within those dates. Contests generally do not grant any exceptions. 2. Word count. If a word limit is set, follow it. Even one or two words over could mean automatic elimination. Generally, the title won’t be included as part of your overall word count, and a contest’s submission guidelines will usually specify this. But if there’s any doubt, be…

Last chance to register for our webinar! Every day you can exercise your creativity. Sound pie-in-the-sky? It isn’t. On Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. ET, The Writer columnist Yi Shun Lai will share all her tried-and-true ways to make sure creativity enters your life – and how you can use it to better your productivity. Miss the webinar? You can also watch recordings of all our past eWorkshops if you’re a member of The Writer. Learn more about our membership program or start your free trial at writermag.com/memberships. 100 words = $1,000 Our 100-word contest is in full swing at writermag.com/contests. Enter your best work in 100 words or less by Oct. 5 for your chance to win $1,000 and publication in our magazine. STAY IN TOUCH Put our free…

As an unpublished author, I wonder: What should I include in a bio when submitting my fiction manuscript for contests or a writing residency? I don’t have any educational credentials but did a lot of writing as a certified paralegal and the director of consumer affairs for a national bank. I’ve always been a great storyteller and have written many fictional stories, but I have never tried to publish any of my work before. What’s the best way to make a bio sound interesting and unique? —IT’S ONLY JUST ME Dear Only, My darling, dear, Only Me – one does not “make” a bio sound interesting. A bio is either interesting, or it is not. A bio is a reflection of its person, and from what I can see, you…

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”—Martin Luther Outside my office window, the apple tree beckons me to take a writing break. It’s a crisp fall day, and red apples dangle from the branches like Christmas ornaments. Around a half-century old, the tree stands alone on a hillside and functions as a crossing guard for all the animals that pass by: turtles, deer, groundhogs, and even otters. I can’t recall ever seeing a more perfect tree, and I have Pete, an arborist that my boyfriend and I found on the listserv in our small Vermont town, to thank for that. Earlier this year, Pete graciously spent an afternoon giving our apple tree a makeover. He promised that it…

What’s a story or novel without scenes? Scenes involve us directly in characters’ lives and, when handled adeptly, provide dramatic intensity. If the prose writing is stellar, we will certainly be hooked by expository sections that dive deeply into a character’s head, and we’ll be enamored of descriptive passages that vividly capture setting. But good scenes tend to hook us even more. Through them, we can gain a sense of felt life played out in the theater of our mind. Oftentimes scenes are heavy with dialogue – and so much depends on the quality of this dialogue. Richard Russo has said, “What comes easiest for me is dialogue. Sometimes when my characters are speaking to me, I have to slow them down so that I’m not simply taking dictation.” But…