September 2007

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
Nathaniel Philbrick on the pleasures and challenges of narrative history
By Chuck Leddy
The National Book Award winner describes his writing style and research process, how he evaluates book topics, and how he holds his readers' interest
pg. 18
Archive: Write a first draft to find your story
By John Dufresne
If you allow for spontaneity and surprise, a story will reveal itself to you in the writing
pg. 22
Errors of substance
By Peter Selgin
In isolating the most common fiction mistakes, our writer tells you how to find the singular events, fresh stories and telling details that boost your work beyond the clichéd and the routine
pg. 24
CSI ... I don't think so
By Lee Lofland
Mystery writers, take note: A retired detective describes the not-so-glamorous life of a crime-scene investigator
pg. 27
Step by Step: Get the emotion into your fiction
By Eric Witchey
Your characters' 'ABCs'--their particular agendas, backstories and conflicts--are essential tools for engaging the reader
pg. 28
10 ways to evoke emotion in prose
By Kathy Briccetti
A close look reveals the stylistic devices at work in some choice samples of nonfiction writing
pg. 33
Freelancing: Boost your odds of getting a byline
By Sharon McDonnell
Pick up on content and ad clues to take the mystery out of what kinds of freelance articles a publication wants
pg. 35
Freelancing: Score a job as a stringer
By Chelan David
How to get your first high school sports assignment--and win more gigs
pg. 37
Departments
Letters
Market listings
Publications, publishers, agents
Small and university publishers
pg. 47
Breakthrough
A writer’s success story
With confidence in her writing, a blogger lands an agent and a book deal
By Leslie Talbot
pg. 14
How I Write
Established writers share their writing practices
Yiyun Li
pg. 58
Get Started
Help for the new writer
Focus on emotions when writing love scenes
By Eileen Goudge
pg. 13
Literary Spotlight
The First Line
By Erika Dreifus
pg. 46
Market focus
Write around the world
By Sean McLachlan
10 tips to break into the booming guidebook market
pg. 43
Off the Cuff
Staying in touch with life's rhythms
By Marilyn Chandler McEntyre
pg. 15
WriteStuff
Book reviews, products and resources
How to be your own editor
By Chuck Leddy, Stacy Clamage, Steve Weinberg
Reviews of the Artful Edit by Susan Bell, BlockBuster Plots by Martha Alderson, and Magazines: A Complete Guide to the Industry by David E. Sumner and Shirrel Rhoades
pg. 40
Freelance Success
Secrets of six-figure freelancers
By Marcia Layton Turner
Top earners share tips on making the most of your time--and making more money
pg. 38
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