May/June2013 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Author Archives: Jessica Strawser
Bonus WD Interview Outtakes: Khaled Hosseini
In peaceful Kabul, Afghanistan, many years ago, there was a young boy who, like most young boys, loved his family, loved his country, and loved great stories. He was taken by his … Read more
4 Truths That Will Revolutionize Your Revision Process
Perhaps because I’m in the process of revising a novel manuscript myself, the advice in the May/June 2013 Writer’s Digest Guide to Pain-Free Revision really resonated with me as I pieced it … Read more
5 Unexpected Lessons From Inside the Iowa Writers’ Workshop
Ask any writer—at any level—what writing program he or she would most like to get a glimpse inside of, and chances are the answer will be the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. The first … Read more
To Plan or To Plunge? A New Way of Looking at the Outlining Debate
Few questions inherent to the writing process spark as much passionate back and forth among writers as this: To outline, or not to outline? In my years as editor of Writer’s Digest … Read more
3 Surprising Lessons About Publishing Today
With the newsstand release of every new edition of Writer’s Digest magazine, I typically share a few of the best tips relating to the issue’s cover theme here. But in compiling our … Read more
The Real Oscar Winner: Great Storytelling
Even before Quentin Tarantino proclaimed in his Academy Award acceptance speech for Best Original Screenplay (Django Unchained) that this would “be the writers’ year,” it was impossible not to notice all the … Read more
How to Start a Novel Right: 5 Great Tips
It’s said that in life, there are two types of people: those who look at the glass as half empty, and those who see it as half full. But for those of … Read more
Being Grateful for Little Moments of Magic: Thanksgiving Inspiration for Writing
Whenever I pull out my camera, my 1-year-old will invariably stop whatever he was doing that prompted me to snap a photo. Is he already perceptive enough, on some level, to become … Read more
Inspiration for Writers: How to Be More Creative
Ideas are everywhere. It’s what we do with them that matters. The latest issue of Writer’s Digest is dubbed The Big Idea Issue—and we’ve filled it with clever tips and simple strategies … Read more
Introducing Our New Advice Column for Writers: Funny You Should Ask!
Have you ever wished you could get advice on your writing life, your pursuit of publication, and everything in between, from an expert source would tell it to you straight, with good … Read more
Can Your Day Job Lead to Better Writing?
For some writers, a day job is a means to an end—and something they dream of one day quitting to pursue a dream of writing full time. (So much so that here … Read more
Get an Agent: 25 Literary Agents Looking for New Clients
Even if you’ve done your homework and prepared your query letter and other submission materials by the book, the task of finding out everything you really want to know about how to … Read more
Special Bonus WD Interview Outtakes: Patricia Cornwell’s Life of Crime
What does it really take to be the bestselling crime writer in the world? The mastermind shares all the gory details. Read more
Making the Most of Your Writing Time: Giveaway Winner
Thanks to everyone who commented on my post about ways to Make Your Writing Time Matter. Sure, finding time to write (and to write well) can be a frustrating struggle, but it’s … Read more
Popular Author Adriana Trigiani Explains How to Bring a Setting to Life
The secret to Adriana Trigiani’s success begins with an old family recipe: quality ingredients, attention to detail, and good old-fashioned hard work. Read more
Make Your Writing Time Matter
Who hasn’t daydreamed about what we could produce if only we had more time? More time to write; more time to feel inspired; more time to read; more time to devote to … Read more
Special Bonus WD Interview Outtakes: Chris Cleave
Sometimes it takes a test of guts to find out why it’s worth pushing yourself to extremes for the sake of a good story. Read more
Why “Show, Don’t Tell” Is the Great Lie of Writing Workshops
I’m honored and excited today to be bringing you a guest post by critically acclaimed novelist and writing instructor Joshua Henkin. I first discovered Henkin’s work years ago when I received an … Read more
How to Break the Rules of Writing
Here at Writer’s Digest (and despite the There Are No Rules moniker of this blog), we talk a lot about doing things by the book—from understanding grammatical and structural writing rules, to … Read more
Start Your Summer Right: 5 Creative Writing Tips
The first long weekend of cookouts, swimming and 90-degree days is behind us here in the Midwest, which can mean only one thing: The unofficial start of summer. New seasons have a … Read more
Ask a Literary Agent Anything: Here’s Your Chance!
Is there a question you’ve always secretly wished you could ask a literary agent? Maybe you want privileged information … or maybe you want real, tell-it-to-me-straight advice. Maybe something’s been bugging you … Read more
Writing Advice: 3 Reasons to Never Give Up, From Bestselling Author Lisa See
One of the best parts of my job as editor of Writer’s Digest magazine is that I frequently have the chance to speak with authors I admire as part of our ongoing … Read more
The Best New Advice for Getting Published
You can always tell when it’s officially springtime here at the WD offices. Everyone is smiling because of the sunshine. Everyone is sneezing because of the pollen. And everyone is buzzing about … Read more
Things to Write About: Great Places to Find Ideas
Look around and you’ll find there’s no shortage of interesting things to write about—whether you’re in search of blog topics or creative story ideas. But in spite of that, I found myself … Read more
Special WD Interview Bonus Qs: Lisa See
On her unpredictable path to success, this author found that a literary life can be the best kind of adventure—and a book can hold much more than just a good story. Read more
