Innehållsförteckning för September/October 2024 från Writer's Digest

“Did you … Did you just kiss me?” He sounded puzzled, and maybe a little out of breath. His lips were full and plump and … God. Kissed. There was simply no way Olive could get away with denying what she had just done. Still, it was worth a try. “Nope.” Surprisingly, it seemed to work. “Ah. Okay, then.” Carlsen nodded and turned around, looking vaguely disoriented. He took a couple of steps down the hallway, reached the water fountain—maybe where he’d been headed in the first place. Olive was starting to believe that she might actually be off the hook when he halted and turned back with a skeptical expression. “Are you sure?” —The Love Hypothesis, Ali Hazelwood (romance) “Watching you pretend to hate that nickname is the best…

Meg Medina grew up in a Cuban-American household dominated by strong women, notably her mother and aunts. She was a self-described “wild child” who loved to run and play, but was equally drawn to the quiet pleasures of reading. “Story is what attracted me,” Medina recalls. “My mother and aunts told a lot of stories because it was an oral tradition in my house. But it translated easily to a thirst for the tale.” That thirst has led Medina to a remarkable 16-year career writing for young people. Over the course of 14 publications that include picture books, novels, and easy-read biographies of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and author Pura Belpré, she has left an indelible mark as the understanding voice of the Latino childhood experience. Medina received the…

Using the following three items, write a story outline based on the genres listed below. Think about what you’ll change to fit the mood of each story. What tropes will you employ? What themes would you want to explore? 1 Fantasy 2 Horror 3 Romance 4 Mystery If any of these outlines calls to you, challenge yourself to write a flash piece based on the outline. Moriah Richard is managing editor of WD. Her Building Better Worlds column is a 2023 Eddie Awards winner.…

In 2008, I won first prize in a screenwriting contest sponsored by Creative Screenwriting Magazine. My prize package included entrée to the Creative Screenwriting Expo in Los Angeles, where my script would be reviewed by none other than William “All the President’s Men” Goldman. It was going to finally be my big break into the industry. Flying into LAX airport that November, I could see the devastation caused by weeks of raging forest fires. But even as my lungs burned from the smoke, and falling ash covered my clothes as I walked into the LA Convention Center, nothing could damper my excitement. After all, I was getting an audience with the man who penned Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The atmosphere inside the convention hall was subdued, largely due…

Kristin Graves The Garlic Companion (Cooking and Home & Garden, September, Storey Publishing) “Recipes, crafts, preservation techniques, and simple ways to grow your own garlic!” WRITES FROM: Alberta, Canada. PRE-GARLIC: I am a farmer with a vegetable subscription program that includes weekly newsletters and garden recipes. … Over time, I began to write articles for magazines with a wide range of topics from growing garlic to promoting women in agriculture. When I started writing my book, I was able to look back over eight years’ worth of my own content for inspiration. TIME FRAME: It took me four months to finish the first draft; it was the perfect winter project! My summers on the farm are quite busy and chaotic, but the winter season is enjoyed at a slower…

When spring came, the kids in my neighborhood trooped out to the five-and-dime and bought kite kits. Flimsy paper, balsa wood struts, no instructions, $0.15. We’d run home to put the kites together and hopefully swipe a ball of string from the junk drawer. My dad would notice what I was doing and insist that I attach a tail to my kite. The only stuff available was torn strips of rags, knotted together. Ugly! I was the odd kid out, carrying my kite to the playground with the rag tail looped over my arm. But when we started running to get our kites in the air, well, guess whose went up and up, while those of my pals rose a little, then spun out and crashed. I marveled at my…

THE CHALLENGE: Write a drabble—a short story of exactly 100 words, excluding the title—based on the photo prompt below. You can be funny, poignant, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story. CONTEST #132 132 TO ENTER: Email your entry to YourStory Contest@aimmedia.com with the subject line “Your Story #132.” Entries must be pasted directly into the body of the email; attachments will not be opened. Include your name and mailing address. Entries without a name or mailing address will be disqualified. NOTE: WD editors select the top six entries and post them on our website (WritersDigest.com/your-story-competition). Join us online in October, when readers will vote for their favorite to help choose three winners. Follow @WritersDigest on Instagram for Your Story updates. The winners will be published in a future…

I have been working at the CookeMcDermid Agency since 2010, and one of the initial tasks that I was assigned during my internship was, no surprise, reading and evaluating the “slush pile.” I don’t love the term slush pile, as it conjures images of agents and editors plucking hidden treasures from a mushy, dirty pool. And, while it is true that the majority of submissions that we consider will not be the right fit for us, that doesn’t mean that the wrong fits are unworthy of review, worth no more than “slush.” I much prefer using the term submissions stack. As a lifelong reader and book lover, I was thrilled to spend my time evaluating the submissions stack. I have fond memories of going to the World’s Biggest Bookstore in…

In my previous column, I explored the frequently used trope of a “fish out of water,” in which a protagonist is thrust (either voluntarily or involuntarily) into a place or situation that is at odds with what they’re used to. They might flail about at first, but for a satisfying story, they must deal with the strangers and resulting challenges they encounter. Whether their efforts are successful or not depends on if the story is a comedy (in the classic sense of a happy ending) or a tragedy (a sorrowful ending). Think Dorothy, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. However, another trope to consider, which is almost the inverse of “fish out of water,” is “a stranger comes to town.” Rather than the story being from…

Frontlist House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias (Mulholland Books, Thriller, August 2024) SYNOPSIS: For five childhood friends—Gabe, Xavier, Tavo, Paul, and Bimbo—their loyalty to one another knows no bounds, so when Bimbo’s mother, Maria, is murdered outside the nightclub where she works, there’s no question they’ll help Bimbo to find and kill the killers. However, they soon learn Maria had been going against the drug kingpin of Puerto Rico, and for them to exact revenge will require a level of violence they aren’t prepared for. Bimbo convinces them to continue their quest, even if it means damaging other relationships, putting the lives of other loved ones in danger, and the risk of making an unimaginable enemy. As they get closer to their target, Hurricane Maria builds strength off…

It may seem basic, but one of the things that still creates a sense of wonder for me is flying in an airplane. I’ve flown plenty of times, and I’ve seen diagrams of the elementary explanation for how the airflow works. Yet each time a plane takes off and I feel that heavy lift in my stomach, I always feel amazed that we (i.e., humanity) somehow got from drawing on cave walls to flying through the air at incredible speeds. It’s awesome—in the traditional sense of the word—to think of all we’re capable of. Similarly, when I think about all the stories that have been told through time—those that have been passed by word of mouth until there were means to write them down and all those that are published…

When I think back to experiences in my life that have inspired wonder, my mind goes to the visit my husband and I made to a minuscule bar in Brooklyn that accommodated three people: two patrons and the bartender. In fact, the visit made such an impression on me that, with the proprietors’ blessing, I used it as inspiration for my own tiny fictional bar in my Ann Kinnear Suspense Novel A Serpent’s Tooth. To bring to my readers the same sense of wonder I experienced, I asked myself, What made my visit wondrous? I identified four characteristics: mystery and exclusivity, a disconnect from reality and expectations, display of specialized elements or knowledge, and an immersive yet ephemeral experience. As writers, we can use these as guideposts to create a…

Promoting your book is one of the most important tasks for an author. Not just published authors—even unpublished authors! If you want people to read what you write, you need to know how to tell people why they will benefit from your words. As an author, promoting your work may not feel intuitive, natural, or easy. That’s completely normal. Many people avoid promotion for fear of making mistakes. Here’s my list of common mistakes authors make—so you can avoid them! MISTAKE #1: Waiting to do media until your book comes out. So many authors make this mistake. Don’t wait! It’s hard to get pitches greenlit if you don’t have any previous media to direct producers or editors to. And guess what? Getting an agent or a publisher is much easier…

It’s October of 2019, and I’m determined to write a short story for submission to a writing contest. I haven’t given myself much time to meet the deadline. My intention is to write about a mother and daughter living in Chicago in the 1960s—my own childhood turf and era. They are Yanktonai Dakota, removed from an extensive kinship network on a Sioux reservation in North Dakota. The mother is wildly engaging, exciting—her imagination transforms the most ordinary excursion into an adventure as the pair invent backstories for fellow pedestrians, and manifest voices for mundane objects like garbage cans, fire hydrants, streetlights. My desire is to honor the magic my own mother summoned on her good days, dazzling me with her gift for story, her ability to see life everywhere. In…

Choosing a literary agent to work with, to help shepherd your book into the world, is a big choice. As many of the agents and authors WD has spoken to over the years have said, these partnerships work best when built on mutual trust, work ethic, and enthusiasm for the writing. Consider those factors as you research which literary agents to query, whether from this list or through your own research. Think about the type of agency the agent works at—if getting your work adapted for the big screen is also a goal, does the agency have those connections? If you choose to expand to another genre or age category with a future project, is an agent equipped and willing to work on those projects as well? Remember, when you…

Wonder isn’t just for children or fiction; it’s a powerful tool in nonfiction that pulls readers into a universe of awe and amazement. From the mysteries of the cosmos to the intricacies of human DNA, infusing your books and articles with a sense of wonder can transform dry facts into a riveting read. Whether you’re detailing technological marvels or the unsung heroes of history, here are ways to pick topics that thrill, spin narratives that engage, and choose words that awe. Let’s uncover the art of making readers wonder—and keep them coming back for more. SELECTING YOUR SUBJECT Think of wonder as the secret sauce that turns routine writing into a page-turner. Subjects that drip with inherent interest—like the mysteries of space exploration, the alien world of deep-sea phenomena, and…

It seems that Jesse Q. Sutanto can write it all. She writes YA rom-coms that will make you chuckle while remembering the challenges that come with young love, and she writes YA suspenseful thrillers that will chill you to the core. Her adult contemporary fiction, the Dial A for Aunties series and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (which won the 2024 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original), will by turns have you laughing so hard you cry while also warming your heart with joy, and her adult suspense novels, I’m Not Done With You Yet and the new release You Will Never Be Me, make you question the veracity of everyone’s motivations around you. For Sutanto, who was educated in creative writing at the University of Oxford and now…

As an acquiring editor in Big Five publishing houses for more than three decades, and now as an independent editor, I have worked on many successful memoirs. Here are some takeaways that may be helpful as you are considering your manuscript: 1. TIMESPAN: Keep in mind that, unlike autobiography, memoir does not encompass birth to one’s current age. (Autobiography is more appropriate for former presidents, retired founders of major companies, or famous actors and musicians.) Memoir covers a specific time period in the author’s life; typically, one in which important growth and change occurred. Examples include Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, in which she writes about her journey hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail; or H Is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald’s account of adopting a goshawk while grieving for her father. 2.…

MONA SUSAN POWER is the author of four books of fiction: The Grass Dancer (awarded the PEN/Hemingway prize), Roofwalker, Sacred Wilderness, and A Council of Dolls (winner of the Minnesota Book Award, longlisted for the National Book Award and the Carol Shields Prize). Fellowships in support of her work include a James Michener Fellowship, Radcliffe Bunting Institute Fellowship, Princeton Hodder Fellowship, USA Artists Fellowship, Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Fellowship, and McKnight Fellowship. Power is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe (Yanktonai Dakota), born and raised in Chicago. She currently lives in Minnesota. RACHEL LETOFSKY is an agent at CookeMcDermid. She specializes in children’s literature, speculative fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, narrative-driven memoir, and quirky nonfiction for adults. Her clients include national and international bestsellers, and nominees and…

3 WAYS TO BRING WONDER TO YOUR POEMS At its best, poetry captures and provokes a sense of wonder unparalleled by other genres of writing. That’s because poetry is filled with rules underwritten by a master rule imploring poets to bend and break all rules. With this in mind, here are three ways to bring wonder to your poems. Leaps in Logic Years ago, I stumbled upon a copy of Robert Bly’s Leaping Poetry which looks at the leaps of logic made by poets from around the world. The gist is that many great poems involve quick leaps of thought and associations. (By the way, a great place to start your pursuit of world poetry is in The Ecco Anthology of International Poetry, edited by Ilya Kaminsky and Susan Harris.)…

Anumpa Warrior: Choctaw Code Talkers of World War I, Touch My Tears: Tales From the Trail of Tears, Tushpa’s Story (Touch My Tears Collection), the Choctaw Tribune series (5 books of 6), the Doc Beck Westerns series (9 books of 12), Third Side of the Coin (A Short Story Collection). Upcoming 2024 release: Lost Legacy (Doc Beck Westerns Book 10) (Historical Fiction, RockHaven Publishing) WRITES FROM: I live in East Texas, but I experience a flood of inspiration when I cross the state line into Oklahoma. … As tribal members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, my mama and I find ourselves in Oklahoma several times a year. WHY SELF-PUBLISH? For my Artist Leadership program with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, I proposed a book project that would…

Catherine Cho grew up in Kentucky and Virginia and studied English literature at New York University before moving to Hong Kong to study for a Juris Doctor degree at The University of Hong Kong. “Going to law school taught me to negotiate, to understand a contract,” Cho says. “I learned about persuasion and influence. I see myself as an advocate for my authors; I am lobbying for them, and it’s much more enjoyable to be fighting for things I believe in.” Cho then moved to New York to find a job in publishing. She worked at Folio Literary Management and moved to London to work for Curtis Brown U.K. and Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency. She started Paper Literary in May 2021. “I love the feeling of advocating for someone, and…

We typically associate wonder with science fiction, fantasy, or magical realism. Yet moments of wonder—an experience of amazement and awe that stills the mind and leaves us speechless—are all around us. Writers in any genre can captivate readers by using specific techniques to highlight the everyday wonder in daily life. Wonder is a distinctly nonverbal experience, which differentiates it from curiosity (and the verb to wonder). Curiosity engages the thinking mind; the experience of wonder briefly stops thought. Skilled writers can take everyday objects and processes and turn them into wondrous experiences for the reader. As you read the examples below, notice how each author uses not only a given technique, but also their specificity of word choice and use of sensory engagement to evoke a sense of wonder. The…

Witness a collection of nonfiction that informs, illuminates, and captivates readers. These masterworks brilliantly fuse in-depth research with narrative eloquence, turning factual accounts into profound explorations of the human and natural world. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot marvelously intertwines the story of Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells with the evolution of medical science, creating a narrative rich in emotional depth and ethical questions. Skloot brings to life the astonishing impact of HeLa cells on medicine, wrapped in the poignant personal story of the Lacks family, evoking a deep sense of wonder and complexity. Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek discovers the natural wonders of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains with poetic grace and profound insight, making the familiar seem otherworldly and awe-inspiring. Dillard’s reflections delve deep…

THE CHALLENGE: Write a short story of 650 words or fewer based on the photo below. OK, let me just start by saying that I, Sam Brazinski, am not some weirdo perv. No way. Come on. I mean, I watch TV, and I know that there are some real freaks in this world. I am most def not one of them, OK? Jeez. Give me a break. I’m better than that. I came here to Fulton to play baseball. On scholarship. Pretty good for a kid from “da Region,” you know? My family couldn’t believe it—full tuition and books and all I had to do was throw a ball! Well, not just throw a ball—keep my grades up, too. Hey, I earned this—all those years of Little League with my…

Revisions grant us a large space where a quiet mind makes easy choices—or might that be a fantasy? Unfortunately, revision reality often messes with our minds. After all, we’re meaning-makers, and we struggle. Sure, beta readers and editors supply a needed step. But how can we identify our problem strategies before we enlist the help of others? PROBLEM #1: THE BULLDOZER APPROACH TO REVISING The Bulldozer Approach to Revising has the finesse of galloping cows. A bulldozer lowers a wide blade and shoves … everything. Bulldozers aren’t known for intricate moves—and, alas, revision is word surgery. A cluttered, distracted mind indicates the Bulldozer Approach. Is-that-first-line-good-comma-check-OMG-a-POV-slip-second-use-of-“looked”-that’s-wordy. … If we revise using this method, we’re shoving a zillion craft, grammatical and punctuation rules against our words. The Bulldozer Approach can feel like…

After nearly 25 years of working in publishing, I still get caught up in the wonder of the publishing process. It’s still a thrill to receive unsolicited ARCs in the mail and see a new byline for something I’ve written. Even though I’ve been through so many publishing cycles and worked through so many editorial calendars, I still consider myself one of the luckiest people in publishing, because I think publishing is so wonderful and filled with wonder—and surprises! Of course, there are sometimes bad surprises, but publishing can surprise in a good way as well. “I think the biggest surprise during the whole publishing process is how enthusiastic the entire team is for my book,” says Dana Elmendorf of her experience with publisher Mira Books on her novel In…

Writing and publishing advice for picture books, middle-grade, and young adult storytelling. Childhood is a mystery. One moment our imaginations know no limits, and the next, that burning sense of wonder begins to fade. New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Warga’s new book explores that in-between stage of adolescence, where being oneself is sometimes the hardest, most mysterious quality of life. In A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, we follow Rami who, while at the museum where his mother works, believes he sees a ghost roaming Cherry Hall—the same hall in the museum where a painting was recently stolen—and the ghost herself looks alarmingly like the figure in the missing painting. Rami’s mother is an unfair suspect in the case of the missing art, so with the help of…

Writing instruction on demand! More than 400 videos from industry professionals on everything from improving your craft to getting published. SUBSCRIBE NOW! TUTORIALS.WRITERSDIGEST.COM VIDEOS INCLUDE: 5 TYPES OF SHORT FICTION TO TRY - RAN WALKER 6 UNIQUE EDITING IDEAS YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER TRIED - AUDREY WICK WRITING A PITCH VS. WRITING A SYNOPSIS - AMY COLLINS HOW TO GET STARTED AS A FREELANCE WRITER - C. HOPE CLARK HOW TO GET STARTED (OR RE-STARTED) IN WRITING - SHARON SHORT…

Do you frequently question the quality of your writing? Are you gifted at blowing off positive feedback? Do you sometimes feel like a phony? If you find yourself nodding in agreement, you’re not alone. Imposter syndrome is a common struggle among writers, even the most successful ones. Telltale signs of this psychological condition include overwhelming self-doubt and persistent fear of being unmasked as a fraud. The distorted thinking can make the following seem almost plausible. • You’re afraid your publisher will list your autobiography as fiction.• You believe the occupation line of your new business card should be blank.• You feel unqualified to even get writer’s block. The moment you proclaimed yourself a “writer,” you invited self-doubt into your life. The clouds of self-questioning will hover over you throughout your…