Innehållsförteckning för July/August 2017 från Writer's Digest

1 Accomplished Accomplices Bestseller Heather Graham is omnipresent in many segments of the writing community—including the International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and Horror Writers Association. In these bonus outtakes from our WD Interview (Page 40), Graham discusses the benefits of teaming up both on and off the page. 2 In Brief Read Lauren Schenkman’s “The Removal,” the grand prize winner in WD’s 17th Annual Short Short Story Competition (Page 48), and learn more about her science-inspired approach to the creative life. 3 Criminal Acts In “Sinners, Saviors & Sympathetic Heavies” (Page 32), David Corbett outlines the keys to character conflict in the mystery, thriller and crime genres. In this companion piece from our archives, he discusses the nuances of writing for each one. To find…

KNOCKOUT ADVICE Just finished reading Elizabeth Sims’ article, “Knock ’em Dead,” in the March/April issue and wanted to tell you how helpful I found it. For several years, I helped plan the Connecticut Authors & Publishers Association’s annual writers’ conference, CAPA University. What a dream it would have been to schedule conference presenters who’d embraced this kind of information! And as an occasional workshop presenter myself, my favorite tip was the one about Sims’ email sign-up list in the form of a paper shopping bag, and the accompanying giveaway. Thanks for a helpful and engaging read! —Rita M. Reali Crossville, Tenn. SPOTTED ON TWITTER #ShortStory #Writers make sure you pick up the latest issue of @WritersDigest magazine as it is jam-packed with information you need to know. —@AndrewJLind @jessicastrawser I…

On the cover of Jeff Guinn’s true crime bestseller, Manson, the usual grizzled mugshot associated with the former cult leader has been replaced by a photo from his younger years as a smiling, neatly coiffed boy. It’s an arresting image—one that promises a fresh approach to an amply covered, troubled tale. “I’m always trying to figure out the difference between mythology and real history,” Guinn says. The myth about Manson: “Charles Manson is not now and never was insane. He was a cunning sociopath—everything he did was calculated, and to me, that makes him even more terrifying than if he was a lunatic.” Guinn aims in his books to unearth the truth behind common perceptions. His subjects have included Bonnie and Clyde in Go Down Together (whose “two-year crime spree…

In 2008, Iowa City became just the third place in the world to receive the designation of UNESCO City of Literature (after Edinburgh, Scotland, and Melbourne, Australia). It remains the only one in the U.S., though there are currently 19 others around the world with this special honor—awarded by UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network based on “literature, drama and/or poetry playing an important role in the city” and “hosting literary events and festivals which promote domestic and foreign literature.” While many people know Iowa City for its famous writers’ workshop, much more is happening in this bastion of reading and writing. Here are five reasons to add Iowa City to your travel bucket list: 1. THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA The Iowa Writers’ Workshop, a rigorous and selective Master of Fine Arts…

If you’re like most people, when you believe something, you assume it’s true. It rarely occurs to us that we might be wrong, just as it rarely occurs to us that other people, as fair-minded and principled as we are, might look at the same events or facts and reach different conclusions. Yet it happens all the time (and not just in politics). I call this dichotomy a perception gap—and you can capitalize on its potential to reveal meaningful information about your characters and develop deliciously intriguing plots. In Wendy Corsi Staub’s thriller The Final Victim, the protagonist, Charlotte, describes her grandfather as a rock—a kind and generous man who’s always there for her. But her grandfather’s sister, her great aunt, describes him as mean and self-centered. Two women interact…

A great title has gravitas, wit and certitude. It invites readers in initially, and after they understand the title’s role in the story, makes them feel both intelligent and included. Were you among the millions of readers who gasped at the entirely unexpected conclusion of Trespass With Force and Arms? Did you begrudgingly read Under the Red, White and Blue in high school, only to recognize its fragile beauty when you came back to it as an adult? Were you among the generations of book lovers who recoiled in horror at the behavior of the wild children in the classic novel Strangers From Within? And didn’t you just love Traveling Light, which recently spent two full years on TheNew York Times bestseller list? Of course not. You never read those…

What do you like best about the short story form? It’s something you can hold in your brain because it’s small enough. Since there’s a short commitment, you sometimes feel less fear. What drew you to both writing and science? Being a very idealistic teenager, I thought, Well, I want to know everything, so I’m going to major in physics and I’m going to major in creative writing. The more we’re aware of what’s out there, the further we can push the boundaries in our own writing. What are your goals as a writer? To articulate things for people that they have often thought but never been able to articulate for themselves. And to be in a position to be able to help expand the voices that we hear in…

WRITE A SHORT STORY of 700 words or fewer 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 (entries must be pasted directly into the body of the email; attachments will not be opened). NOTE: WD editors select the top five entries and post them on our website ( writersdigest.com/your-story-competition ). Join us online in mid-July when readers will vote to help rank the winners! The winner will be published in a future issue of Writer’s Digest . DON’T FORGET: Your name and mailing address. One entry per person. DEADLINE: July 10, 2017.…

Magazine and newspaper editors are demanding more levity in their publications. Even in serious pieces, they’re anxious to lighten the load. Infusing wit affords publications a fresh way to tell a familiar tale. Editors also recognize that their readers want more that makes them laugh. Studies have shown that the humor column is among the most popular parts of any newspaper. And anyone who’s drawn to longer, meatier reads knows that features and interviews can benefit from humor, too. The key to succeeding with a humorous submission is the perfect marriage of quality humor with the newspaper or magazine’s audience. Look through an annually updated directory—such as Writer’s Market (WD Books), which lists hundreds of publications and their submission guidelines—or do a search online and identify publications that match your…

CONFERENCE GUIDE JULY/AUGUST 2017 • 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. ARIZONA WOMEN WRITING THE WEST 23RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE, sponsored by Women Writing the West, October 26–28, 2017 at Loew’s Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, AZ. Women Writing the West, an organization that supports authors and other professionals in…

Writing the Intimate Character by Jordan Rosenfeld The key to excellent fiction lies in the unforgettable protagonists, antagonists and secondary characters who populate the world of your story. Through practical instruction, examples and exercises, Writing the Intimate Character shows you how to create the experience of living through a character rather than just reading about one. ITEM: #S9149 RETAIL: $16.99 YOUR PRICE: $9.99* Creating Characters by The Editors of Writer’s Digest Populating your fiction with vivid characters is a sure way to captivate your readers. In Creating Characters, discover how to build a believable protagonist, juggle multiple points of view, motivate your players with powerful objectives, develop dynamic characters and more. ITEM: #T2799 RETAIL: $19.99 YOUR PRICE: $13.99* Plot Versus Character by Jeff Gerke Seamlessly intertwine plot and character to…

The Complexity of Character We often hear fiction categorized as either plot-driven (typically in mysteries, fantasies and other genre stories) or character-driven (more often in literary works)—but that way of thinking, like all thinking involving labels, can be dangerous if taken too literally. In her WD Interview a few years back, bestselling thriller writer Lisa Scottoline went so far as to assert that plot and character are the same thing—and as a former lawyer, she made quite the convincing argument: You are what you do. Regardless of whether you buy into the thinking that there’s no distinction between the two, there’s no doubt that plot and character are intrinsically linked—in fiction as in life. Who we are, in fact, does much more than simply influence how we behave, what we…

Poems about “serious” topics such as war, hunger and world injustice leave me breathless when expertly executed. In my many years as Poet’s Market editor, Poetic Asides columnist and final-round judge of the Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards, poems that display exceptional control of language and sounds always win me over, whether I “get” them or not. Verse that makes me laugh is exceptionally rare, which means I value it all the more. What has the strongest universal effect is when a poem surprises and delights us, when it takes us by the hand and leads us where it wants to go. There were many strong contenders in our latest competition—1,700 in total—but I ultimately selected “This,” by Jamison Cole McLean, for the grand prize. McLean will take home $1,000 and…

Mary C. Moore KIMBERLEY CAMERON & ASSOCIATES Mary C. Moore grew up “off the grid” in northern California, the child of “hippie parents.” An avid reader from a young age, Moore traveled the world and worked as a veterinarian assistant and a zookeeper—among various other jobs—before returning to her childhood passion, books, in 2012 at Kimberley Cameron & Associates. “Many authors are nervous that if they make one wrong move [when querying], they will be rejected and blacklisted forever,” she says. “But remember that agents are human and, if you do your best, most of us are kind and understanding.” Find Moore online at kimberleycameron.com and marycmoore.com, and on Twitter at @Mary_C_Moore.…

Perception is well studied, if not always well understood. Consider the story possibilities raised by these intriguing nuggets: • IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? An article in Smithsonian magazine titled “Where Men See White, Women See Ecru” reveals that scientists have discovered women do a better job at differentiating between subtle colors than men. Discover magazine reports that while the average woman can distinguish a million hues, some can differentiate as many as 100 million colors. How much that matters, of course, depends on your point of view—and the situation at hand. • DON’T I KNOW YOU FROM SOMEWHERE? In Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries, a character named Saul Panzer has an uncanny ability to remember faces. If he sees you once, you’re in his mental file cabinet forever. Readers might well have…

“Is there a character who has precisely one active moment, in which she wanders over to a Plot Lever and gives it a pull? If so, think of a more elegant way to pull that lever.” We’ve all experienced that sinking feeling when we finish drafting a novel, turn the key, and it makes a terrible grinding noise and lurches around the room, unsteady, knocking things off the shelves. The problem could be your plot (perhaps your decision to write the definitive Book About Nothing was poorly conceived). The problem could be your technique (an entire book in the second-person future progressive? Challenge, you will be accepted!). It could be the style, the twists, the setting or the dialogue—there are many ways a story can too easily go sideways. Luckily,…

This decision most likely will come down to you sitting quietly for a moment and listening to what your instinct is telling you about what you want your partnership to look and feel like. Dear FYSA, I received an offer of representation for my young adult novel. When I notified the other agents who had the full manuscript that I was withdrawing from consideration, I got an additional five offers! What would you advise I ask of the offering agents in this situation? Sincerely, Full Dance Card Dear Happy Dancer, Well, first of all, if I am one of the offering agents, I advise you to pick me. I am delightful. But really, thank you so much for this question, as this happens more often than most authors realize. When…

A writer’s style is as personal as a signature, as memorable as a face, as individual as a name. The writer’s passion (or lack thereof) for the subject matter, as channeled through the act of writing itself, contributes greatly to the development of said style—and when it comes to travel writing, passion is paramount. You don’t just want to tell readers about a place: You want to take them there. A skilled travel writer demonstrates style in the opening hook that grips readers’ attention, in the artful descriptions that invite them along on the journey, as well as in the inspiring, funny or contemplative ending that ties the story together. Along the way, clever turns of phrase, allusions, metaphors, word usage, juxtaposition and other literary tricks help bring to life…

FOR YOUR WEB-FRIENDLY WRITING: The Rumpus ABOUT: “The Rumpus is a place where people come to be themselves through their writing, to tell their stories or speak their minds in the most artful and authentic way they know how, and to invite each of you, as readers, commenters or future contributors, to do the same.” FOUNDED: 2009. TRAFFIC: About 200,000 monthly total visitors. PAYMENT: “Each month, we set aside $300. All eligible contributors are able to opt in for payment at the end of the month, and the money is divided between those who opt in. We know that this amount is not enough, and we are working toward being able to pay a standard industry rate to all feature contributors and book reviewers.” LENGTH: 1,500–4,000 words for…

STEVE BOISSON (“Jeff Guinn: Walking the Grounds,” Page 14) is a Los Angeles–based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Boston Globe, American History, Acoustic Guitar and many other publications. Taking inspiration from his subject this issue, Boisson strives to find new facts in otherwise “old” or amply covered topics. He is currently researching a biography of guitar composer John Fahey. DAVID CORBETT (“Sinners, Saviors & Sympathetic Heavies,” Page 32) is the award-winning author of the writing guide The Art of Character and five novels, most recently The Mercy of the Night. His short fiction has been selected twice for the “Best American Mystery Stories” series, and his nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, Narrative, Bright Ideas and WD, where he is a contributing editor. Visit him…

The one detail I most wanted to change about my memoir, I couldn’t: the death of my daughter. It was the primary element that editors wished I could change, too. And because I couldn’t, my manuscript received rejection after rejection. Each refusal felt like a personal confirmation that I’d failed—not just as a writer, but as a mother. I’d never planned to write a memoir. I was a Maine journalist, mom and would-be children’s author, crafting middle-grade fiction when my family met Ruth, a 1-year-old abandoned baby from Uganda who was in Maine for physical therapy. My husband, Dana, and I had often thought of adopting, and quickly fell in love with Ruth, who had cerebral palsy. Soon after, we became Ruth’s new host family. One night, I brought Ruth…

In the swirls of green smoke,There was a cello.And we danced broken steps acrossCobblestones to the twisted rhythm.This is how I fell in love with you. We were swallowed by the mountain’s jagged teeth,And the ash painted us like snowAs I carved caverns in your walls,Read the inscription on your chest.This is how I fell in love with you. I fell asleep beside you to the lullabies of babies crying,Crying for lives they would never know,That we could never give them.This is how I fell in love with you. You introduced me to your ghosts: dogs and shadows.Now, late at night, they haunt me tooExcept there is a farm boy and a gangster that follows them.This is how I fell in love with you. I woke up to your eyes…

Sarah Tolcser Song of the Current (young adult fantasy, June, Bloomsbury Children’s Books) “When her father is arrested for smuggling, Caro must dodge river pirates to deliver a mysterious cargo in exchange for his freedom.” WRITES FROM: New Orleans. PRE- SONG: I’d started writing adult fantasy about 10 years earlier, but drifted toward YA largely due to the focus on girls’ stories. TIME FRAME: I wrote a sketchy first draft in about four months, then spent the next four months rewriting it into a second draft that was actually readable. ENTER THE AGENT: My agent is Susan Hawk [of Upstart Crow Literary]. I queried her after she posted [a call for] something that sounded like my book in Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL) on Twitter. WHAT I LEARNED: The absolute…

Heather Graham remembers all too well what it feels like to be the only person who takes one’s writing seriously. Before selling her first novel, When Next We Love, in 1982, she was a stay-at-home mother of three stealing every minute she could to try her hand at genre fiction. As she typed away on an old typewriter (“It was missing an ‘E!’”), her mother-in-law would call, ask what Graham was up to, and say, “Oh good, you’re not busy.” But Graham kept on typing. “I was well trained into being a Dr. Seuss character,” she says. “I can write on a plane, in a train, going far, in a car.” Almost four decades later—with more than 150 novels and novellas to her name in categories ranging from suspense (the…

The 17th Annual WD Short Short Story Competition received more than 5,200 entries. Authors Debby Mayne, Gina Ochsner and Michael J. Vaughn served as first-round judges, and the WD editorial staff ranked the finalists. 1. “THE REMOVAL,” Lauren Schenkman, New York City 2. “NEARLY DEAD,” Nikki Chin, Closter, N.J. 3. “WARM-BLOODED ANIMALS,” Kathleen Lane, Portland, Ore. 4. “FACT SHEET,” Tamara Titus, Charlotte, N.C. 5. “MILLISECOND,” Sarah Wilson, Nashville, Tenn. 6. “BY WHATEVER MEANS,” Stephen Hunt, Battersea, Ontario, Canada 7. “27 JARS OF MUSTARD,” Joan Freitag, Springfield, Ill. 8. “BLUE SKY,” Richard D. Carlson, Elk Grove Village, Ill. 9. “ REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM ,” Sabine Sloley, Bellingham, Wash. 10. “ACCIDENTAL DEATH,” Stacy Whittemore, Lehi, Utah YOU COULD BE NEXT! Enter your short fiction (1,500 words or fewer) in the…

Mama keeps saying dogs can’t talk to humans, but only because she can’t hear Peggy talking to me. I know my dog’s barks. They change depending on what she’s trying to say. The one she sounds right now means Skip’s home. I look up from my newest crayon masterpiece to tell Vanessa I want to run outside to greet my brother. She’s not paying attention, though, with her eyes out of focus and a crayon dangling precariously from her fingers. Daydreaming, I guess. That’s one of the reasons I let Mama keep her around to babysit me. She lets her mind wander and says no one is ever too old for pretend or for animated movies. There’s no list of dos and don’ts. That’s why I love her so much.…

Writing for children does not mean “dumbing down” your regular writing. In fact, penning pieces for kids’ magazines requires a special set of skills. “[It’s] not something rookie writers do before ‘graduating’ to adult writing,” says children’s writer Fiona Bayrock, who specializes in nonfiction. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when crafting and pitching articles for young readers: GRAB THEIR ATTENTION FROM THE FIRST SENTENCE. Kids are a tough audience to impress. If you don’t interest them from the get-go, they’ll turn the page or put down the magazine and head for their video games or the television. “I probably spend five times longer on the opening paragraph than any other part of an article,” Bayrock says. “After the first sentence, I want readers to say something like,…

1 Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference Put your wanderlust into words at this long-running boutique gathering near the California coast. WHEN: August 10–13, 2017. WHERE: Book Passage bookstore, Corte Madera, Calif. PRICE: $650, including dinner Thursday; breakfast and lunch buffet on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; as well as a Sunday closing reception. WHAT MAKES THE CONFERENCE UNIQUE: Those focused on the niche travel market will find a genuine sense of intimacy between attendees and faculty. “Because it takes place in a bookstore, our conference feels different than [one] taking place at a convention center,” conference director Kathryn Petrocelli says. WHO IT’S PERFECT FOR: Travel writers and photographers. “Participants range vastly in experience, from those who are just dipping their toes into the field to well-published folks who are…