September 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
Chilled to the bone
By Hallie Ephron
Tess Gerritsen's medical thrillers offer an irresistible recipe: 'a ticking clock, killer suspense, and characters who grab you by the throat'
pg. p. 18
Archive: The strange business of chemistry in writing
By David Delman
To stir reader reaction, you must begin with passion for your subject matter
pg. 22
Step by Step: Develop characters from the inside-out
By Shanna Swendson
Get at the core of what drives them and you'll create more compelling fiction
pg. p. 24
The midlisters--backbone of the publishing industry
By Sean McLachlan
They're not famous, nor are their titles, but they steadily turn out marketable books. Here's how they do it.
pg. p. 28
Keep it fresh: 104 worst creative writing clichés
By Randy F. Nelson
Avoid the stale 'land of babble' and covet originality
pg. p. 30
Keep it fresh: Of wicked stepmoms and dorky heroines
By Joelle Anthony
When our author immersed herself in young-adult novels, she kept finding a lot of the same threadbare elements
pg. p. 33
Keep it fresh: Give literary CPR to tired expressions
By Noelle Sterne
Unexpected twists on worn-out clichés can revive your writing--and make it fun!
pg. 34
Keep it fresh: Exploit the power of clichés
By Eric Witchey
Before you cross them out, consider the paths they may offer to better fiction and more powerful prose
pg. 35
Some seeds to start your fiction
By John Dufresne
To get ideas, think small and specific, says this accomplished author
pg. p. 37
Departments
Letters
Sestinas
By Various
pg. p. 7
Take Note
Is (more) product placement in books inevitable?
By Joy Lanzendorfer, others
pg. p. 8
Get started
What do readers love in a story? Let us count the ways
By Laura Yeager
pg. 13
Breakthrough
Networking, and more networking, did the trick
By Beth Groundwater
pg. 14
Off the cuff
Correct usage is often a judgment call
By John McIntyre
A veteran copy editor looks at how the ongoing grammar debate affects writers
pg. 15
Freelance success
How to make a book collaboration a win-win endeavor
By Kelly James-Enger
Working with a co-author can boost the careers of both parties
pg. p. 39
WriteStuff
A fond look back at great writers
By Erika Dreifus, Steve Weinberg
Reviews of 'The Lost Saranac Interviews: Forgotten Conversations with Famous Writers' by Joe David Bellamy and Connie Bellamy; and 'Keep It Real: Everything You Need to Know About Researching and Writing Creative Nonfiction' by Lee Gutkind
Market focus
Cover the film and TV industries
By Ligaya Figueras
6 strategies to turn your love for the screen into stories for Hollywood pros
pg. 43
Literary spotlight
The American Scholar
By Melissa Hart
Venerable magazine seeks work of intellectual passion
pg. 45
Market listings
Book publishers
By Compiled by Martha Lundin
pg. 46
How I write
Janette Turner Hospital
By Angela Rossmanith
pg. p. 58
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