Writer's Digest February 2011 (PDF)

HOW TO WRITE BETTER

25 Ways to Improve Your Writing in 30 Minutes a Day
The best writers never stop striving for ways to write better. Here, five masters of the craft share their secrets for honing the essentials, one technique at a time. BY SAGE COHEN, DAVID CORBETT, JACK HEFFRON, DAVID MORRELL & ART SPIKOL

Better Starts for Better Stories
A good opening line is a powerful thing: It can grab an editor's attention, set the tone for the rest of the piece, and make sure readers stay through The End. Here are 10 ways to steer your story toward success. BY JACOB M. APPEL

Story Trumps Structure
Forget three-act structures, formulas for plot, and even beginnings, middles and ends. Write better stories by propelling your protagonist through a transformation your readers will never forget. BY STEVEN JAMES

It's All Relative
Depicting convincing relationships could just be the key to writing better characters. Try these 8 ways to do it. BY ELIZABETH SIMS

Laughing Matters
It may sound funny, but it's true: Humor is a great way to hook readers, no matter the subject. Here's how to write better nonfiction simply by lightening the mood. BY LEIGH ANNE JASHEWAY

THE WD Interview: Nicholas Sparks
For Nicholas Sparks, the secret to success on both bookshelves and the big screen is as simple as knowing that a good story just isn't enough. It has to be memorable, too. BY JESSICA STRAWSER


COLUMNS/DEPARTMENTS

INKWELL
EDITED BY ZACHARY PETIT

• Saving the Rejects
  
• Top Shelf
  
• 5 Fast Facts on Book Publicity
  
• You Can't Go Home Again
  
• Meet and Greet ‚Ä¢ Poetic Asides ‚Ä¢ Reject a Hit

ASK THE PRO: Deborah Werksman, Editorial Manager With Sourcebooks
BY JANE FRIEDMAN

BREAKING IN: Debut Author Spotlight
by CHUCK SAMBUCHINO

MFA Insider: The Real Story Behind Low-Residency MFAs
BY DAVID JAUSS

QUESTIONS & QUANDARIES: Novel-Pitching Lingo; Questions About Questions; Brief Author Bios
BY BRIAN A. KLEMS

YOUR STORY: Living in Terror
by Michael Fourman

STANDOUT MARKETS: Kitsune Books; Tin House
BY VANESSA WIELAND

CONFERENCE SCENE: Destination Events
BY LINDA FORMICHELLI


WRITER'S WORKBOOK: Writing for Kids & Young Adults

Plot for Young Readers with a Throughline
BY NANCY LAMB

How to Avoid Parenting Your Characters
BY SUE BRADFORD EDWARDS

7 Ways to Structure your Picture Book
BY ANN WHITFORD PAUL

PLUS:

• CONTRIBUTORS
• EDITOR'S LETTER
• ONLINE EXCLUSIVES
• READER MAIL