Writer's Digest January 2018 Digital Edition

Writer's Digest, January 2018, Volume 98, No. 1

Our “Write Your Novel in 2018!" issue is the perfect resource to spur motivation and inspiration in the new year. January is a time for writers to establish steadfast goals and resolutions, committing (or recommitting) ourselves to those passion projects yet to be actualized. And what better way to provoke that can-do attitude than with tried-and-true tips from the experts at WD?

FEATURES: Write Your Novel in 2018!

Making it Matter Even fiction with all the right bones won't come to life without heart. These 10 approaches will help keep the pulse of your story strong. by Deb Caletti

The Art of the Paragraph The beauty of your story begins at the live level. by Fred D. White

Gotcha! Let's Do the Plot Twist The best turns take readers for a loop,while making them feel it was bound to happen all along. Here's how to become an expert at framing the unexpected. by Jacquelyn Mitchard

What Would You Do? Sticky wickets, tight corners and tough spots make for great stories,and compelling characters. Here's how to give yours the best kinds of difficult choices.by David Corbett

Should You Go There? Politics and religion might not make for polite dinner conversation, but the topics can add depth to your fiction,ifhandled with care. Here's how to proceed.by Elizabeth Sims

Pay It Forward 10 established authors share their most anticipated reads for the coming year. Compiled by Tyler Moss

OTHER FEATURES

The WD Interview: Andy WeirThe Martian author discusses stellar success, his gravity-defying hit, and the rigorous research behind his brand of sci-fi,including his latest. by Tyler Moss

WRITER'S WORKBOOK: Applying Poetics to Prose

The Poetry of Flash Fiction by Lucy A. Snyder

The Power of Purposeful Details by Rebecca McClanahan

INKWELL

Quality Control With diverse characters in demand, the publishing trend of hiring sensitivity readers sparks passionate discourse. by Mandy Howard

PLUS:

• 5-Minute Memoir: The Fine Line Between Magic and Lying
• Poetic Asides: Rimas Dissolutas
• Going Global
• The Identity List
• Ever-Afterword
• Inside Voices
• Worth a Thousand Words

COLUMNS:

MEET THE AGENT: Megan Close Zavala, Keller Media. by Kara Gebhart Uhl

BREAKING IN: Debut author spotlight. by Baihley Grandison

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK: Heeding Strict Word Counts; Navigating Legal Quagmires. by Barbara Poelle

YOUR STORY “Mr Grim. by Konstantinos Kalofonos/ital>

STANDOUT MARKETS: Dial Books for Young Readers; Essence, The Verge, Carve Magazine. by Tyler Moss

CONFERENCE SCENE: AWP Conference & Book Fair; Georgia Conference on Children's Literature; Southern California Writers' Conference. by Don Vaughan

POTPOURRI FOR THE PEN