March 2004

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.

Features
6 secrets of successful authors
By Sheree Bykofsky
How to get your book from the recipe stage into the publication oven. Authors who succeed at this share some common ingredients, says this literary agent.
7 ways to boost your creative output
By Eric Maisel
How do you deal with the bad writing days and the "bad life days" and still stay at it? A creativity coach offers writers seven ways to stay focused.
Novelist breaks the rules by mixing genres
By Sarah Anne Johnson
Do you need to start writing outside the lines? Perhaps you'll want to push--or even break down--the fictional boundaries after reading our interview with novelist/poet/children's writer Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
10 easy ways to get story ideas
By Debbe Geiger
Good, salable story ideas often come from simply keeping your eyes and ears open to the world around you. The writer offers you 10 ways to start clueing in.
Write a winning script: An expert keeps you on track
By Staton Rabin
A veteran story analyst for the film industry offers a list of the top 22 mistakes she sees that move screenplays into her "Pass" pile.
Hook an agent with the perfect pitch
By Andrew Zack
The queries that score with this literary agent pitch books that offer wide readership and inside knowledge, and have the flavor of a sales rep's "tip sheet."
Make the cut: Short-story editors tell you how
By Nan Leslie
Give your story a competitive edge: Top editors describe what makes short fiction appealing--and what gets it rejected.
Departments
Dear Writer
Some tips on building an author Web site that readers will want to come back to.
Breakthrough
Working up the writing ladder
By Thomas J. Ryan
Our writer, a Civil War buff, learned how to carve out an interesting writing niche in his retirement.
Off the cuff
Journaling for personal and professional growth
By Jennifer Matthewson
Detailed journaling is a way to preserve, reflect on and understand the moments of your life, the writer found.
Net//Working
Get the word out
By Moira Allen
The conclusion of a two-part column on how to start an e-mail newsletter, focusing on such key issues as formatting, attracting subscribers and making it pay.
Bottom line
When 2 writers are better than 1
By Kelly James-Enger
Collaborating on a writing project can offer some real benefits, but be sure to get your agreement in writing first.
WriteStuff
Reviews of Screenwriting: The 12 Stages of Story Development by Michael Chase Walker and Publicize Your Book! An Insider's Guide to Getting Your Book the Attention It Deserves by Jacqueline Deval.
Market focus
Sound advice on music writing
By Matt Melucci
Freelancing reviews, artist profiles, interviews and other music articles to print and online markets can offer an enjoyable way to link your love of music with writing.
Market update
Book auctions demystified
By Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Just what are book auctions anyway? What purpose do they serve and what happens at them? Here's an introduction.
How I write
By Philip Martin
Young Christopher Paolini's daydreams came true with his hit fantasy novel, Eragon.
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