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It's my wedding anniversary today--10 years. I used to write my wife poems and songs in our early years of dating. Now I've replaced those heart-felt lyrics with cleaning, cooking and making sure her water is filled before heading to bed--the poems of married couples with kids. Here's to many more years of my happy married life.
In other writing news, we have several valuable webinars coming up. Some are new, some are reboots of our most popular ones that the instructors were willing to teach again. Here's an upcoming list (be sure to click through for more details, as several come with critiques of your work):
Finally, the organizer of the Indiana Writing Workshop told me that the response has been so overwhelming that they've added 20 additional seats. (Which is good news!) I'll be instructing there throughout the day on October 24. Plus, there will be an agent panel and more. Sign up now before it officially sells out. Can't wait to meet you at this fun Midwest event.
Take care of yourself and your writing,
Brian A. Klems
Online Editor, Writer's Digest
Author, Oh Boy, You're Having a Girl: A Dad's Survival Guide to Raising Daughters
Twitter: @BrianKlems
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Frugal Book Promoter:
Get a free copy of Carolyn Howard-Johnson's classic marketing book, The Frugal Book Promoter. This book outlines the basics you need to run a successful, almost-free marketing and publicity campaign for your book. Download Now.
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13 Things You May Not Know About Literary Agents
(By Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner)
You've read lots of articles about literary agents, but here are 13 things you might not have heard yet as told by literary agent Rachelle Gardner (who is currently seeking new clients who write nonfiction and have already started building their writing platform, particularly in the blogging world). #1) We really hate how often we have to say "no" to writers. It's one of the most excruciating parts of our job! So don't imagine us gleefully rubbing our hands together and cackling happily when we send that rejection letter.
Read more ...
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The Zebulon, Pikes Peak Writers Fiction Writing Contest is Now Open! There are six categories, Great Prizes and VIP Judging by Publishing Professionals. www.pikespeakwriters.com/contest/
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5 Steps To Writing in Your Second Language
You have ideas for stories, but when As a fourteen-year-old girl in Sweden, I sat entranced in the classroom as my teacher told us that Joseph Conrad, a Polish émigré to England, wrote Heart of Darkness in English, his second language. I was completely blown away, both by the depth and the ambiance of the book, but also by the amazing feat that its author had written it not in his mother tongue, but in English. As I grew up and studied French, German and English, I enjoyed very much reading authors in their original language. Never, ever, would I have imagined though, that one day I would take up the pen and write and have published, in English, a book of my own.
Read more ...
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 Memo to Would-Be Book Banners: Bring It On
This week, Sept. 27-Oct. 3, is Banned Books Week, the literary community's annual celebration of the freedom to read whatever we damn well please. The event draws support from such sponsors as the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers, and attracts a host of support on Twitter and Facebook under the banner #bannedbooksweek.
Read more ...
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Your Weekly Writing Prompt
Hello! I'm Captain Jiggles: Unforeseen medical expenses arise, and you enter a bank to take out a loan. A bank teller explains that she has a "special new trainee" today who will help you in just a moment. Then a man in a full clown costume (wig, facepaint, oversized pants - the works) comes out and says, "Hello! I'm Captain Jiggles, the new loan officer, and I would be happy to help you now." Write this scene.
Post your response (500 words or fewer) in the comments below.
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Tweet of the Week
If you're on Twitter consider following me, @BrianKlems. I promise to share lots of good writing information, as well as amusing things. Here's this week's popular tweet:
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3 Things I Learned About Writing: Analyzing Go Set a Watchman
This reoccurring column takes the classic writing advice "good writers are good readers" and puts it to work, by looking at books across all time periods and all genres to find techniques that we can apply in our own work. This installment examines the most controversial book of this summer: Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman.
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Revision & Self Editing Online Course - SIGN UP NOW!
Every writer knows that the journey to publication is a long and hard road. Once you finish your first draft, it's time to start the arduous process of self editing and revision. When you take this online writing workshop, you will learn the methods of self-editing for fiction writers to ensure your writing is free of grammatical errors. You'll also dig deeper into how to edit a book with Write Great Fiction: Revision & Self-Editing by James Scott Bell. Use his self-editing checklist to keep you on track and take the time to perfect your work. After all, you only have one chance to make a first impression on an agent or publisher.
Read more ...
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WRITING CONFERENCES YOU SHOULD ATTEND:
WD staffers will teach at these upcoming writers conferences & events. Click below for the one closest to you. Most have agents attending as well whom you can pitch your book idea to. Check them out:
- Oct 9, 2015: San Diego Writers' Conference (San Diego, CA)
- Oct. 17, 2015: Books by the Banks Book Festival (Cincinnati, OH)
- Oct. 24, 2015: Indiana Writers' Conference (Indianapolis, IN)
- Feb. 19, 2016: Alabama Writing Workshop (Birmingham, AL)
- March 25, 2016: Tampa Writers Conference (Tampa, FL)
- March 26, 2016: Fort Lauderdale Conference for Writers (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
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