February 2005

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

Break into romance: 5 ways to turn on an editor

By Russell Davis

A romance editor offers the top five reasons why a manuscript gets rejected in this popular genre.

Gay Talese, Part 2: A writer & a gentleman

By Ronald Kovach

Winning his subjects' trust is one key to the quality of Gay Talese's creative nonfiction. Talese also offers insights on capturing quotes and digging deeper in interviews.

Health insurance options for writers

By Robert Bittner

Affordable health insurance is an important topic for many freelancers. Here are some options.

Manuscript makeover: Breathe new life into rejected work

By Bill Nelson

A rejection of your article can actually be a great opportunity to improve it. Here's a checklist for revitalizing a manuscript.

Self-publishing: Six who succeeded

By Cal Orey

Considering self-publishing? You'll want to see what our six authors have to say about how to make it a successful experience.

24 tried-and-true formats for your nonfiction book

By Harvey Rachlin

You may want to frame your nonfiction book idea around one of the many tried-and-true formats, ranging from the how-to and almanac to "A beginner's guide..." and "100 greatest..."

Departments

Editor's notes

Civility pays literary dividend

By Elfrieda Abbe

Take note

Brian Jacques on writing for children, the world's most prolific writers--plus other literary notes, Dear Writer, and information on contests and conferences.

Get started

Finding the right spin

By Samuel Greengard

How to spin a single article idea a half-dozen different ways.

Breakthrough

Connecting with a new state--and market

By Jan Burns

The writer found success by studying a regional magazine--then giving it just what it wanted.

Syntax

Necessary niceties

By Arthur Plotnik

There are compelling reasons for a writer to observe the fine points of grammar--or at least the sensible ones.

Poet to poet

Elvis and Barbie join the poetry nation

By Lisa Verigin

Pop-culture references can enrich a poem, but if done wrong they can overwhelm or limit it.

Bottom line

Straight talk from book editors

If you're about to submit a fiction manuscript or nonfiction book proposal, you'll want to read what publishing insiders say they're looking for in your submission.

WriteStuff

Reviews of Ben Yagoda's The Sound on the Page: Style and Voice in Writing and Word Menu 2.2, a software reference tool

Market focus

Monthly checkup

By Lou Ella Hickman

The calendar year has a built-in list of health issues, such as National Arthritis Month, that can generate story ideas and provide important information to your readers.

How I write

Mark Haddon

For Mark Haddon, author of the hit novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, writing is a matter of constant revision.