Innehållsförteckning för March - April 2016 från Writer's Digest

1 This Is The End In “Goodbye to All That” (Page 40), TheDeep End of the Ocean author Jacquelyn Mitchard looks closely at how we can arrive at the best possible endings for our fictional stories. In a bonus online sidebar, she offers insight into how these approaches apply to narrative nonfiction. 2 Publication With Purpose Inspired by WD’s 23rd Annual Self-Published Book Awards grand-prize winner Louise Esola (Page 44)? Learn more about her indie author journey and her best advice for other authors in our interview outtakes. 3 Mapping the Journey If Christopher Paolini’s novel-framing maps (Page 14) have you wanting to chart your own story, you’re in luck. Gain more insight into the process with a special look at Paolini’s early drafts. To find all of the above…

1 The Spirit of Revision In 2014, a hidden trunkful of letters from writer H.P. Lovecraft to his mentee Zealia Brown Reed Bishop, dating from 1927 to 1936, was discovered by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. Now, you can read the 36 messages in this collection alongside 18 previously known Lovecraft-Bishop letters—plus annotations by Lovecraft scholars, newspaper excerpts from the era, and clips of Lovecraft’s reference works and drawings. (We’re partial to the 1927 note where Lovecraft writes: “Regarding writers’ magazines—I believe that the most helpful is The Writer’s Digest … Nearly every author & critic recommends this strongly.”) $22.50, store.cthulhulives.org/products/the-spirit-of-revisionlovecrafts-letters-to-zealia-reed-bishop 2 Typing Begins With “T” Typewriter nostalgia has taken over our tea—and we don’t mind a bit. This full-sized teapot is handmade and hand-painted Suffolk pottery. While you won’t…

Some children’s books are so original they seem to have sprung from the author’s imagination alone. But no matter the genre, writers use personal experiences in their work. It may surprise you to learn these beloved children’s stories are actually inspired by real life. All are vital reminders that you never know what will spark a story. CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY BY ROALD DAHL: As a child, Dahl was a chocolate taster for Cadbury. The candy company sent his school boxes of experimental chocolate bars for the boys to sample and grade. Dahl fantasized about working in the chocolate factory, surrounded by pots of bubbling candy. The memory revisited him more than 30 years later when pondering plots for his next book. CHARLOTTE’S WEB BY…

It’s worth noting that there’s a big difference in tolerance for world-building and backstory between MG/YA and adult speculative fiction. Adult science-fiction and fantasy stories have a larger margin for copious exposition, as can be seen in such recent hits as Andy Weir’s The Martian and Neal Stephenson’s tome Seveneves. Those of us who write for young people are kept to a much stricter confine. Build your world, but keep it close to your vest. Dole it out like it’s a secret, and readers will receive it like the prize it is.…

The child of Bengali Indian parents who immigrated to the U.S. when she was 3, Jhumpa Lahiri grew up balancing two worlds: that of her traditional Bengali family, and that of the American society in which they lived. Identity and transition are motifs reflected in all of her writings, from her award-winning short stories and novels, to her latest book (and first foray into nonfiction), In Other Words, released in the U.S. this February. Lahiri has made a name for herself through writing about struggles: people trying to fit in, to identify, to discover their purpose. But while her characters toil, search and conflict, she herself makes the work look easy. At 32, she became the youngest author to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her debut work Interpreter…

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SELF-PUBLISHING? That the work is not quality. I’m talking about that stigma [that] if a traditional publisher didn’t want you, you are no good. I can say, seven awards later, it’s not true. I am hard on myself, and every single award—including this one—has been a surprise. I remember the day I found out I got a Kirkus star. I was crying when I got that first, glowing review and saw that star. My husband—old faithful, the believer—was looking at me, going, “See? See?” Anything is possible. If you want to leave your blood and guts on the floor and work your butt off, it’s possible. WHAT’S THE WORST MISTAKE THAT INDEPENDENT AUTHORS CAN MAKE? Not hiring an editor. At least enlist the help…

1 Visitors to Montauk Ranch always ask why Grandpappy stole that bench from Central Park, and I tell them to go ask Grandpappy—he’s buried underneath. —Nicholas Gustavson 2 Shed begun to associate the bench with the man’s angular silhouette, registering his absence the way one might a trash can or signpost gone missing. —Mary Beth Holcomb 3 Clutching his monogrammed bowling ball, Stella crouched on the branch above the bench where her cheating husband regularly met his concubine. —Michael Michlein 4 New York State was tired of me, and I was tired of New York, and Canada was only one freezing swim away. —Laurinda Lind Petersen 5 Twenty-five years ago, Bill and Anna sat in silence as waves splashed beneath them; pulling Anna closer, he whispered, “No one will find…

FOR YOUR FICTION, POETRY & NONFICTION: New England Review THE INSIDE STORY FROM: Carolyn Kuebler, editor. MISSION: “By publishing new fiction, poetry and nonfiction that is both challenging and inviting, New England Review encourages artistic exchange and thought-provoking innovation in the literary arts. Our mission, more broadly, is to encourage and promote writing that matters, and to give it a chance to find its deserved endpoint—a receptive reader.” FOUNDED: 1978. PUBLISHES: Quarterly. FOCUS: Offers readers poems, stories and essays that are formally inventive and traditional. CIRCULATION: 2,000. PAYMENT: $20/ page. KEY TO BREAKING IN: “If you love what you read in New England Review and want to be a part of it, try, try again ” KEY TO SUCCESSFUL SUBMISSIONS: “Care equally about language and content ” WHAT MAKES US…

WRITERSDIGESTUNIVERSITY.COM Writing the Picture Book WORKSHOP LENGTH: 4 weeks TUITION: $199.99 Picture books are among the most delightful—and important—types of literature. In this course, you’ll learn the nuances of the genre, including the best subject matter and audience for your work, misconceptions about picture books, the effective placement of illustrations and more. By the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to combine compelling narrative with visual appeal for a standout picture book. writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/ writing-the-picture-book Writing the Middle-Grade Book WORKSHOP LENGTH: 8 weeks TUITION: $449.99 Want to break into children’s publishing? You’ll need to learn the fundamentals. In this eight-week workshop, you’ll discover the elements of MG storytelling, create relatable characters, and find and develop your writing voice. Plus, you’ll read Nancy Lamb’s The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children…

Once Upon a Time … At a neighborhood party recently, the adults on my street were discussing the fact that I’m newly slated to become a published novelist with a mixture of fanfare, curiosity, and something akin to suspicion. What fun, I thought, having people suddenly wonder what’s going on in my brain! Nothing like fielding a series of odd questions to make you feel like a “real” writer, right? But then my neighbor’s second-grader spoke up. “You should write a book for kids ” she said. “I do have one idea ” I told her, and then, not really thinking, spouted a one-line description of my half-baked picture book title. It wasn’t anything Id thought seriously about writing, just a story I made up to make my son giggle.…

Stephen King said, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that” It's true: If you want to become a writer, you have to read authors you admire—works that you feel are better than your own. This is how you grow. When you read others’ work and follow them online, however, it’s easy to slide into jealousy—where reading and connecting stops being joyous and becomes an impediment to progress. Indeed, never-ending awards shortlists or humblebrag-ridden Facebook posts can arouse the green-eyed monster in the most grounded writers. Fortunately, you can leverage envy to your advantage. WHAT ARE YOU JEALOUS OF? As a writer, I have plenty of jealousy: of talent, of network and of success. The trick to disarming…

Northwestern University alum Rebecca Sherman did brief stints interning at Playbill magazine and writing obituaries for a dot-com before joining Writers House as an assistant in 2001. Now a senior literary agent at the powerhouse firm, she represents authors and illustrators of picture books, middle-grade and young adult fiction, and YA nonfiction. Find her online at writershouse.com and publishersmarketplace.com/members/rebeccasherman, and on Twitter @RebeccAgent. Kara Gebhart Uhl (pleiadesbee.com) writes and edits from Fort Thomas, Ky.…

It’s my firm belief that the best instruction in writing comes from reading. With that in mind, here are some of my favorite books that excel at world-building. As you read, ask yourself: What do you respond to best as a reader? Does anything make you lose interest? What can’t you get enough of? How can you apply these techniques to your work-in-progress? • Rae Carson, The Girl of Fire and Thorns• Nancy Farmer, The House of the Scorpion• Gregory Maguire, Egg & Spoon• Megan Morrison, Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel• Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince• Parker Peevyhouse, Where Futures End• Terry Pratchett, Nation• Trent Reedy, Divided We Fall• Marie Rutkoski, The Winner’s Curse• Angie Sage, Magyk• Lindsay Smith, Dreamstrider…

GRAND PRIZE American Boys: The True Story of the Lost 74 of the Vietnam War BY LOUISE ESOLA ($19.99). Pennway Books. WEB: louiseesola.com CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS FIRST PLACE The Incredible Chapore BY MONSIEUR ODYSSEY AND JO DE RUITER (illustrator) ($13.69). KAPOW! Publishing. HONORABLE MENTIONS Genevieve and the Moon BY KARLENE KAY RYAN AND MEREDITH JOHNSON (illustrator) ($17.99). WEB: karlenekayryan.com The SuperBrother Squad vs. the Aquatic Carrots of Doom BY JENAY SHERMAN AND KAROLINA SKORUPSKA (illustrator) ($12.95). CreateSpace. WEB: superbrothersquad.com GENRE FICTION FIRST PLACE Imogene in New Orleans BY HUNTER MURPHY ($15). Rolltop Publishing. WEB: huntermurphywriter.com HONORABLE MENTIONS A Place Between Breaths BY JENNIFER FROELICH ($12.99). CreateSpace. WEB: jenniferfroelich.com Archie and Emma: A Novel Based on Actual People and…

Once a short story has been submitted for an editor’s consideration, little can be done to enhance its chances of acceptance and publication. All the more reason to do whatever you can to strengthen those chances before the story goes out. The stakes are even higher for anyone who hopes to publish an entire book of short stories; in nearly all cases, agents and publishers look more favorably on collections in which at least some of the component stories have been previously published by magazines or literary journals. After more than a decade of submitting stories, including those in my collection, Quiet Americans, and discussing the process with fellow writers, editors and teachers, I’ve noted that highly successful short story writers practice a number of useful habits that help them…

1 Houston Writers Guild Annual Conference Glean the secrets to success in writing and publishing deep in the heart of Texas. WHEN: April 29–May 1, 2016. WHERE: Marriott Houston Westchase. PRICE: Three-day pass: $170 for HWG members, $190 for nonmembers until April 1; $190 for members, $210 for nonmembers thereafter. Day passes also available: See website for details. WHAT MAKES THE CONFERENCE UNIQUE: An emphasis on instructional breakout sessions makes this event valuable for writers of every level, HWG President Rebecca Nolen says. Saturday opens with a keynote, after which participants attend one of three intensives per hour through the afternoon. Sessions address specific aspects of craft, marketing, platform and publication, such as “Writer Tools You Can Use” and “Marketing Effectively.” WHO IT’S PERFECT FOR: Writers looking to discuss their…

2016 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market  by Chuck Sambuchino Take the guess work out of submitting with our fully updated contact list of over 650 market listings. Learn from interviews with today’s hottest authors and illustrators, and read about how to start a series, attract a vast fan base and much more. If you dream of your book being read to kids across the world, this guide to finding an agent and publisher is an essential tool. ITEM #T8339 RETAIL: $29.99 YOUR PRICE: $23.99 Writing Irresistible Kidlit  by Mary Kole Young adult and middle-grade book markets are more robust than ever, which is good news for aspiring writers, but means the competition is fierce. In this book, former literary agent Mary Kole’s candid commentary and insightful observations, as well as…

TERI BROWN (“Get Schooled,” Page 34) is the proud mother of two children, in addition to being a wine-sipper, head-banger, slow-runner, book-reader, rule-breaker, food-fixer, novel-writer, kitty-keeper and mountain climber. She writes young adult books (Born of Illusion and Velvet Undercover), as well as adult historical fiction (the Summerset Abbey series). Brown lives with her husband and way too many pets in Portland, Ore. LAUREN CAMP (“9 Ways to Polish Your Poetry for Publication” Page 56) is the author of three books, most recently the Dorset Prize–winning One Hundred Hungers. Her poems have appeared in New England Review, Linebreak, Beloit Poetry Journal and more, and she’s been awarded the Margaret Randall Poetry Prize, Anna Davidson Rosenberg Award and a Black Earth Institute fellowship. She can be found online at laurencamp.com. JACQUELYN…

5 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF NATIONAL POETRY MONTH April marks the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month, first organized by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. One goal of designating a full month to celebrate poetry is to introduce great poems and poets to the world. Here are five ways to celebrate—even if you’re not a poet. 1. READ POETRY. The best way to appreciate poetry is to read it. Luckily, great poems have never been easier to find. Subscribe to a literary journal, buy a poetry collection or visit the poetry shelves of your local library. Browse poetry websites, and if you encounter a work you admire, leave a comment saying so. 2. WRITE POETRY. Anyone can write poetry, right? This NBA season, superstar Kobe Bryant…

Julie Falatko 1 Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book!) (picture book illustrated by Tim Miller, February, Viking Children’s Books) “Snappsy the alligator is having an ordinary day until a pesky narrator steps in to spice up the story with slanderous claims.” WRITES FROM: Maine. PRE-SNAPPSY: I wrote a lot of stories that I pray no one will ever see. I also did picture book reviews for the “Brain Burps About Books” podcast from 2011 to 2015, which allowed me to fuel my book-reading habit while also talking into a cool-looking microphone. TIME FRAME: The idea for Snappsy came out of Picture Book Idea Month in November 2012. Id been writing ideas all month, and this book inserted itself wholesale into my brain. Snappsy is…

There are many kinds of young adult and children’s authors, but they tend to have one thing in common: They truly care about their readers. It’s this human connection that is perhaps the best part of writing for children and teens—and that, in turn, makes us even better at our jobs as we go. Because being in tune with how young people think is no small part of being a children’s author. This is just one reason why successful authors make school presentations a part of their careers. Other benefits include book promotion (to an audience of educators and librarians as well as students) and, of course, income supplementation. In addition to being the author of several YA books and an experienced presenter, I’m also the director of an after-school…

Dear FYSA, I am writing a thriller and my agent keeps telling me to “pull back” But it’s a thriller! I’m concerned that she doesn’t read enough in the genre to understand how fast-paced they are these days. But I also want her to love it enough to sell it. I know you sell a lot of thrillers—what do you think? Sincerely, Less Than Thrilled Dear Not Thrilled, You know how freshly baked Subway sandwich bread always smells good? It wafts out into the street as you walk by, and no matter what you were thinking, the record in your head screeches and your brain interrupts to say, Oh man, that smells amaaaazing. That’s sort of the feeling I have when I hear, “I’m concerned she doesn’t read enough in…

Poetry is a sublime art form, but crafting even the shortest publishable poem takes time. Breathtaking poems generally emerge from a slow, considered approach and a long gestation period. Writing technical and magazine articles taught me structure, concision and reporting strategies, while poetry has taught me to analyze the colors of each thought, and to look for ways to sculpt the statement. If every poem was perfect from conception, the experience would feel too clipped. I want the project to take awhile, to marinate and evolve into language both exquisite and weirdly unexpected. To help ensure your poems are picked out of the editorial slush pile, take some time to prime your work for publication. Here are nine hands-on, critical techniques to help you assess your poems from different perspectives…

CONFERENCE GUIDE MARCH/APRIL 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 THE DIGITAL AUTHOR™ & INDIE/SELF PUBLISHING CONFERENCE produced by West Coast Writers Conferences. February 26–28, 2016 at Los Angeles Valley College, CA. Writers of all genres benefit from a weekend of intensive workshops, digital demonstrations, and…

The Write-Brain Workbook Revised & Expanded  by Bonnie Neubauer Battling writer’s block? This new version of The Write-Brain Workbook will ensure you never face another wordless day. Brimming with 400 stimulating writing prompts—including more than 60 exercises new to this edition—you’ll create quirky characters, discover fresh twists on classic word games and generate scores of plot ideas. ITEM #T1875 RETAIL: $26.99 YOUR PRICE: $25.99* The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing  by Zachary Petit So you want to be a freelance writer. Great! But now you’re faced with a laundry list of questions: Should you write for magazines or online markets? How do you dream up and pitch the perfect article idea? This great guide answers all of these questions and more. Filled with insider secrets, candid advice, humor and blunt…