May/June2013 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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There Are No Rules Blog by the Editors of Writer’s Digest
Get on the cutting edge of today’s publishing trends and how authors can succeed in a world of fast-paced technological change, guided by the editors of Writer’s Digest. You’ll get an inside look at the work, play, and passion of the publishing business and find practical tools for success.
HarperCollins Offers Contracts to Its Community Site Writers
This is a pretty big deal: HarperCollins has signed not one, but three authors who participate on their community site Authonomy. The news was announced on the Authonomy blog under the title … Read more
Get a Makeover for Your Nonfiction Book Concept
My most popular writing conference session in 2008 was all about creating high-powered nonfiction book concepts. Most people concentrate on writing the proposal, but don’t realize that without a salable and compelling … Read more
8 Articles/Posts All Writers Should Have Read in 2008
The eBook Problem and The eBook Solution (Booksquare)Read it for a basic understanding of the issues related to e-book publishing and distribution. When Kassia Krozser leads by saying that e-books will not … Read more
Cool Map of Digital Landscape!
While reading Mark Coker’s blog (for Smashwords), I stumbled upon this wonderful map of the digital publishing landscape. Even though it’s in Spanish, it offers an amazing visual of the new publishing … Read more
Using Twitter: Do You Have Tips?
After perusing this directory of publishing industry people on Twitter, I finally created a Twitter account for the Writer’s Digest community (@WritersDigest if you would like to follow, and @JaneFriedman if you … Read more
Information on Writer's Digest Webinars
New in 2009, Writer’s Digest is launching a series of webinars (which you may have seen me post about last week). Each webinar has a specific benefit or focus, like how to … Read more
E-Queries Are Outperforming Snail Mail Queries — in Professionalism and Author Platform
This past week, Kelly has been reviewing a few months’ worth of snail mail submissions to Writer’s Digest Books. The stack was becoming so large it had nearly taken over her desk. … Read more
Will You Be at the Presidential Inauguration? Write & Publish About It
The March/April 2009 issue of Writer’s Digest magazine (which will soon be available to subscribers and on-sale at newsstands) focuses on self-publishing, and includes mention of some innovative publishing models that are … Read more
My Favorite WD Book From 2008 (Or: The Last WD Book I Edited in Full)
Before I took on management of the Writer’s Digest brand community, the last book I fully acquired, edited, and released—as an editor—was Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz, from … Read more
Thanks to Everyone Who Participated in WD's First Webinar
Welcome to all the webinar participants from today’s free session: 5 Tips to Getting Published in Tough Times! Here are links to the sites I recommended in my presentation: Publishers Marketplace MediaBistro … Read more
Regular Posts in 2009 (A Promise)
Since my adventurous return from Thailand, I have been intensely involved in F+W responsibilities, preventing regular posts here. (Side note: F+W just unleashed a new corporate site, and it’s very cool!) In … Read more
Calling All Rejected Writers
Bill Shapiro, editor of the book Other People’s Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See, is at it again, this time planning to publish a collection titled Other People’s … Read more
On Being One of 100,000+ People Stranded in Thailand
For those unaware, I have been traveling in Thailand for the past couple weeks (clearly an ill-timed vacation). Few news reports adequately convey the magnitude of what has happened here in Thailand. … Read more
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jane will be back on Monday, but it’s been fun guest blogging here in her absence. (Special thanks to those of you who left kind comments on my posts!) As the WD … Read more
Sympathy [Revision] Pains
Sometimes it’s nice to know we’re in good company. Case in point: Check out this anecdote about what Toni Morrison considers a complete rewrite. As if I wasn’t already geeked out enough … Read more
An Unconventional Cure for Writer's Block
It’s a quiet week in the WD office, with many people already taking time off for the Thanksgiving holiday. So it’s hard to muffle our giggles over Write or Die, a tongue-in-cheek … Read more
Is Fiction More Powerful Than Truth?
Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded how influential writers really are. Fiction can be more effective at explaining global issues than factual reports, according to a recent study by a team from … Read more
How Long Is Your Wish List?
Hi, Writers, Jessica here, filling in for Jane while she’s out of the office for a couple of weeks. When she asked me to guest blog here on There Are No Rules, … Read more
5 Tips for Your Writing Career in a Difficult Time
Over at Writers on the Rise, I’m interviewed about the changes happening in the media industry. Here’s a brief snippet, but click the link for the 5 tips: Writers must be involved … Read more
Enter to Win Charming Illustrations by Daniel Wallace
To help promote our recent release, Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds (indispensable wisdom and cautionary advice for writers by the indubitable George Singleton), we are giving away two fabulous original illustrations (see … Read more
How Many Rejections Does it Take to Self-Publish a Book?
Q: I’ve submitted my manuscript and query letters to various agents and publishers and have received several rejections. I feel this book is pretty marketable. How many agent rejections and how many … Read more
NOT: How Can I Make Money? INSTEAD: How Can I Serve?
My colleague Amy Schell recently shared Seth Godin’s interview with the people over at Harper Studio. A couple wonderful snippets:If everything is free, how is anyone going to make any money?First, the … Read more
When Do the Old Rules Still Apply (in Life, Love, and Publishing)?
I’m a sucker for the quotations on Starbucks cups, what they call “The Way I See It”—which sadly will be no more until the holiday season ends (they’ve switched to the festive … Read more
Visit WD Headquarters and Get a Manuscript Critique
Writer’s Digest is offering a brand-new writing event this year (we’re calling it the WD Editors’ Intensive), hosted at our palatial estate headquarters, in the Kenwood area of Cincinnati. Many people have … Read more
Announcing the New Editor of Writer's Digest Magazine
When I first joined the Writer’s Digest community in 2001, I had the great pleasure of having Jessica Strawser as a colleague on Writer’s Digest magazine. Our paths diverged after a couple … Read more
