Get Started: 7 steps to break into book reviewing
What you need to know, from a veteran book reviewer and member of the National Book Critics Circle.
By Chuck Leddy

Breakthrough: A guy finds his way into a top women's magazine
Our writer worked his connections well and tells what he learned in freelancing an article for a top Canadian magazine.
By Charlie Teljeur

Off the Cuff: An essayist finds her stride
In mastering the art of sculling, our writer learned that small adjustments can lead to emotional revelations.
By Jenny Rough

Interview: A gift for the short form
All of Antonya Nelson's tales of relationships and domestic life start out as short stories, but sometimes outgrow the container and become novellas and novels.
By Sarah Anne Johnson

Archive: Essentials of good suspense novels
Keep your readers on the edge of their seats with a clever plot that's skillfully executed
By Phillip Margolin

Step by Step: Tips on writing a biography
Here is a process for deciding on a subject and giving your manuscript interest and shape.
By Mary McVicker

Train your 'pet words'
Who's the boss? You are, and you'd better take control of your out-of-control word tics.
By Noelle Sterne

Special Section: Sell your work
How do you know when your writing is submission-ready? Have you probed for the right weaknesses? Our group of accomplished writers offers a final checklist for seven genres.

• Nonfiction books by Harvey Rachlin
• Novels by William Kowalski
• Short stories by Sharon Oard Warner
• Children's books by Mary Quattlebaum
• Freelance articles by Diana Burrell
• Personal essays by Barbara Abercrombie
• Memoirs by Gregory Martin

Interview: Making a story work
Two-time Edgar Award winner T. Jefferson Parker has found that saving material "for later" in a mystery novel often proves deadly to the creative process.
By Brad Schreiber

Defining 'small' in small press
What small presses are, and what they're looking for in authors, from an editor in chief. And read Carol O'Dell's sidebar about her experience with a small publisher.
By Dawn Carrington

Business Freelancing: Learn the ins and outs of PR writing
Public-relations professionals hire freelance writers for a host of lucrative assignments. Here are some expert tips on how to get in on the action.
By Robert W. Bly

Market Focus: Micro presses offer more opportunities
Putting art above sales, boutique presses embrace writers of experimental work.
By Lori A. May

Literary Spotlight: Alimentum
The spotlight is on the savory literary journal Alimentum, describing its tone and approach.
By Melissa Hart

Editor's Notes

Letters
Letters from our readers

Take Note
What Harper Lee taught me about writing and the writing life
What we can learn about writing from To Kill a Mockingbird, plus other literary notes, Stephanie Dickison's regular bimonthly column about the freelancing life, and an excerpt from a new writing book.
By Loretta Ellsworth, Susan Johnston, Lori A. May, Noelle Sterne, Barbara Diggs, Jeremy D. Bonfiglio

WriteStuff
Reviews of Globish: How the English Language Became the World's Language by Robert McCrum; Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions by Eric Maisel and Ann Maisel; and The Yahoo! Style Guide: The Ultimate Sourcebook for Writing, Editing, and Creating Content for the Digital World by Chris Barr and the senior editors of Yahoo!
By Chuck Leddy, Melissa Hart, Kristin Sutter

Markets
This month, a list of book publishers, plus information on conferences and contests and helpful tips from an editor at Juno Books, an imprint of Pocket Books.
Compiled by Martha Lundin

How I Write: Royce Buckingham
For Royce Buckingham, literary success grew out of his experiences with a troubled youth—as well as many years of working at his stories.
By Dave McReynolds