November 2008

The Writer

The essential resource for writers

Join thousands of successful writers when you subscribe to The Writer magazine. Each month The Writer is full of features you can use to improve your writing, including before-and-after examples of improved writing, more literary markets than ever before, practical solutions for writing problems, selected literary magazine profiles, tips from famous authors and hands-on advice.

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Features
A great ear for gritty fiction
By Chuck Leddy
For Richard Price, a master of dialogue and urban realism, a story begins when he feels compulsively drawn to something
pg. p. 20
Archive: A novelist is a storyteller
By Barbara Delinsky
A bestselling author offers key ingredients for keeping readers spellbound
pg. p. 24
10 signs you need a new agent
By Harvey Rachlin
The author of 11 books suggests how to know when it's time to move on
pg. p. 26
How to find the structure of your memoir
By Catherine McCall
The author of a poignant family story offers some lessons learned in organizing memories
pg. p. 28
When memories differ
By Joseph Taylor
Was a family friend a kind old man—or a louse? How one writer wrestled with a thorny issue
pg. p. 31
Write for readers, not your subjects
By Kurt Chandler
To make it real, write initially as if the latter are 'blind or dead,' and worry later about offending people, this author advises
pg. p. 32
When not to publish
By Angela Lam Turpin
What would make a writer turn down a six-figure advance for her memoir? The answer gets at one of the sensitive challenges of this genre
pg. p. 34
MFA grads find nonteaching jobs on campus
By Erika Dreifus
You can have a fulfilling career—and arguably more writing time than professors have
pg. 36
Learn to lie (Excerpt from "Naming the World," edited by Bret Anthony Johnston)
By Mark Winegardner
An exercise in concrete detail puts you to work untangling a 'mangled' story opening
pg. p. 19
Departments
Take Note
Making cents of book deals
By Chuck Leddy, others
pg. p. 8
Get started
Tips for no-pain networking
By Susan Johnston
pg. p. 13
Breakthrough
'I can do better than that' became her mantra
By Barbara Nefer
pg. p. 14
Off the cuff
A writer's field notes on setting
By Peter Selgin
Our author reflects on the search for meaning in place, for where we belong
pg. p. 15
Freelance Success
Sell more reprints, make more money
By Kelly James-Enger
How to find and approach fresh markets for your previously published articles
pg. p. 39
WriteStuff
Book reviews
By Erika Dreifus
The Art of Column Writing: Insider Secrets From Art Buchwald, Dave Barry, Arianna Huffington, Pete Hamill and Other Great Columnists by Suzette Martinez Standring
pg. p. 41
Market focus
Writing for Jewish magazines
By Ligaya Figueras
Many viewpoints and topics appeal to avid Jewish readers
pg. p. 42
Literary spotlight
Memoir (and)
By Melissa Hart
Edgy new journal welcomes memoir in all formats
pg. 44
Market Listings
Graduate programs (MFAs, MAs)
By Compiled by Martha Lundin
How I write
Kevin Brockmeier
By Zoie Clift
pg. 58
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