In this episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast, Gabriela Pereira talks with screenwriter and author Doug Richardson, and shares an inside look at the process of adapting a novel for the big screen. In this interview, they discuss the differences between writing a novel and a screenplay, the role of a screenwriter on a movie set, and how to manage relationships with directors, producers, and actors. 

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion or writing style—whether you write for the page, the stage, or the screen—the Writer’s Digest podcast is for you.

Today I have the pleasure of hosting Doug Richardson on the show!

Doug cut his teeth writing some pretty awesome movies including Die Hard 2 and Bad Boys, before entering the world of novel writing.

His Lucky Dey books exists between the gutter and the glitter of a morally suspect landscape he calls Luckyland—a.k.a. Los Angeles. He has also adapted several of his novels into screenplays.

Now listen in as Doug and I discuss the process of taking a story from novel-form to the big screen.

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by Writer’s Digest magazine. Do you want to write a book or get published in 2019? Writer’s Digest can help. For almost 100 years, WD has featured practical technique articles, tips and exercises on fiction, nonfiction, poetry and the business side of writing and publishing. Subscribe to Writer’s Digest magazine at writersdigest.com/subscribe.

In this episode Doug shares:

* The differences between writing a screenplay vs. writing a novel.

* An inside look at the process of bringing your book to the screen.

* The ups and downs of working with actors.

* How to navigate the sticky situation of being a writer on a movie set.

* Dealing with bad notes and criticisms on your screenplay.

Listen in to hear Doug talk about all these things… and more!

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About Doug Richardson

Doug Richardson cut his teeth writing movies like Die Hard 2, Bad Boys, and Hostage. But scratch the surface and discover that he thinks there’s a killer inside all of us.

His Lucky Dey books exist between the gutter and the glitter of a morally suspect landscape he calls Luckyland—a.k.a. Los Angeles—the city of Doug’s birth and where he lives with his wife, two children, three big mutts, and the dead body he’s still semi-convinced is buried in his San Fernando Valley back yard.

Links and resources

* To connect with Doug check out his website at dougrichardson.com.

* Learn even more about how to adapt your book for the big screen from author Howard Kaplan in his interview on DIY MFA Radio.

* Want more insight into the differences of screenwriting and novel writing? There are some DIY MFA interviews that will help. Listen to this episode with author and screenwriter Drew Chapman for insights into writing novels vs. writing for TV and films. And for tips on how to think outside the box and use multiple forms of media to tell your story, check out this interview with author Jay Swanson.

 

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion —whether you scratch your words with quill pen on parchment or click away at your computer keyboard—the Writer’s Digest podcast is for you.

Today I have the pleasure of having Elizabeth Sims on the show!

Elizabeth is the author of the Rita Farmer Mysteries, the Lambda and GCLS Goldie Award-winning Lillian Byrd Crime Series, and other fiction, including the standalone novel Crimes in a Second Language, which won the 2017 Florida Book Awards silver medal.

Elizabeth is also an internationally recognized authority on writing, and has written dozens of feature articles on the craft of writing for Writer’s Digest magazine, where she’s a contributing editor. Her instructional title, You’ve Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams (from Writer’s Digest Books) has been specially recognized by NaNoWriMo and hundreds of other websites and bloggers, and her own weekly blog, Zestful Writing, has been included in several top-100 blog lists.

Now listen in as Elizabeth and I discuss the advantages of using old school writing implements, and how to balance these tools with those of the digital age to advance your writing career.

The Pen Is Mightier (Than the Word Processor)

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by Writer’s Digest magazine.

Do you want to write a book or get published in 2019? Writer’s Digest can help. For almost 100 years, WD has featured practical technique articles, tips and exercises on fiction, nonfiction, poetry and the business side of writing and publishing. Subscribe to Writer’s Digest magazine at writersdigest.com/subscribe.

In this episode Elizabeth shares:

* Pros and cons of the writer’s physical vs. digital toolkits.

* How writing tools have evolved over time.

* Balancing the quiet, deep work of writing with the flashy technology of today.

* Ways to say “no” gracefully, and guard your writing time.

* Boxed sets, then and now, and how to use them to advance your writing career.

Listen in to hear Elizabeth talk about all these things… and more!

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About Elizabeth Sims

Elizabeth Sims is the author of the Rita Farmer Mysteries, the Lambda and GCLS Goldie Award-winning Lillian Byrd Crime Series, and other fiction, including the standalone novel Crimes in a Second Language, which won the 2017 Florida Book Awards silver medal. Her work has been published by a major press (Macmillan) as well as several smaller houses, and she’s written short works for numerous collections and magazines. She publishes independently under her personal imprint, Spruce Park Press.

In addition, Elizabeth is an internationally recognized authority on writing. She’s written dozens of feature articles on the craft of writing for Writer’s Digest magazine, where she’s a contributing editor. Her instructional title, You’ve Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams (Writer’s Digest Books) has been specially recognized by NaNoWriMo and hundreds of other websites and bloggers. Elizabeth’s weekly blog, Zestful Writing, has been included in top-100 blog lists, and she belongs to several literary societies as well as American Mensa.

Links and Resources

* To connect with Elizabeth check out her website at www.

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion— whether you write high-action superhero comics or a touching graphic memoir—the Writer’s Digest podcast is for you. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Tom Hart on the show!

Tom is a cartoonist, teacher, and has been the Executive Director of The Sequential Artists Workshop, a school and arts organization in Gainesville, Florida since 2012.

He is the author of several books, including the 2016 graphic memoir, Rosalie Lightning, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List. His books have also garnered many other accolades such as a nomination for best graphic novel in 2000, and made him an early recipient of a Xeric Grant for self-publishing cartoonists.

Tom’s most recent book, published in November 2018, is The Art of the Graphic Memoir, a survey and how-to book about creating a graphic memoir.

Now listen in as Tom and I discuss the inner workings of the comics community, and the various ways writers and artists can publish in this ever growing industry.

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by the Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition. Think you can write a winning story in 1,500 words or less? Enter the 19th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition for your chance to win $3,000 in cash, get published in Writer’s Digest magazine, and take a paid trip to the WD Annual Conference in NYC. Learn more and enter at WritersDigest.com/competitions.

In this episode Tom shares:

* The collaborative nature between author and artist.

* Why finding your cohort in the comics and graphics community is so important.

* Various publishing pathways for writers and artists.

* How self-publishing increases your skills and credibility in the comics world.

* An inside look at the Sequential Artists Workshop.

Listen in to hear Tom talk about all these things… and more!

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About Tom Hart

Tom Hart is a cartoonist and teacher and has been the Executive Director of The Sequential Artists Workshop, a school and arts organization in Gainesville, Florida since 2012.

His 2016 memoir, Rosalie Lightning, debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List and was featured on many Best-Of-2016 lists. His most recent book is The Art of the Graphic Memoir, a survey and how-to book about creating a graphic memoir.

His books have been nominated for best graphic novel in 2000, he was an early recipient of a Xeric Grant for self-publishing cartoonists, and has been on many best-of lists in the Comics Journal and other comix publications. He has been called “One of the great underrated cartoonists of our time” by From Hell co-creator Eddie Campbell and “One of my favorite cartoonists of the decade” by Understanding Comics author Scott McCloud.

Links and Resources

* To connect with Tom check out his website at www.tomhart.net.

* If you would like to learn more about the classes offered at the Sequential Artists Workshop head over to learn.sawcomics.org.

* And don’t forget to check out Tom’s latest book The Art of the Graphic Memoir, and Molly Bang’s book

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion— whether you write heartwarming bedtime stories about Jack the Ripper or historical romantic vampire fiction (Can you tell it’s our Halloween episode?)—the Writer’s Digest Podcast is for you.

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author Heather Graham on the show!

Heather is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today, bestselling author of over 200 novels and novellas. She has published works in a broad range of categories and genres including (but not limited to) suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction and Christmas family fare.

Her background is fascinating and varied, proving that there is no one pathway to publication. She started her career by majoring in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, doing backup vocals, and bartending, she decided after the birth of her third child to stay home and start writing.

Since that time she has been honored for her fabulous works with awards including, the Silver Bullet from International Thriller Writers, the Lifetime Achievement Award from RWA and received ITW’s prestigious Thriller Master Award in 2016.

On top of all her excellent writing, Heather has hosted several charity events on a regular basis.  She hosted the Vampire Ball and Dinner Theater at the Romance Times Convention, which raises money for the Pediatric Aids Society. And in 2006, she hosted the first Writers for New Orleans Workshop to benefit the stricken Gulf Region. This awesome annual event is actually happening right now as I record this intro!

Now listen in as Heather and I discuss the inner workings of the editorial process in publishing, and how all writers have the power to make a difference with their words.

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference, which is returning to Pasadena, CA on October 26-28, 2018. Come hone your craft, refine your characters, explore the future of publishing, and get the tools you need to advance your career as a successful novelist. For more info about this upcoming event check out novel.writersdigestconference.com.

In this episode Heather shares:

* Why writers need editors, and why editors need writers.

* Tips to carve out time for your writing in your already busy life.

* The benefits of writing groups, and the pitfalls to watch out for.

* When to listen to others’ critiques and when you need to trust your own intuition.

* How we can all make a positive change in the world through our writing.

Listen in to hear Heather talk about all these things… and more!

Return to the WD Podcast homepage.

About Heather Graham

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Heather Graham, majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, backup vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over two hundred novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult and Christmas family fare.

She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty-five languages. She has written over 200 novels and has 60 million books in print. She has been honored with awards from booksellers and writers’ organizations for excellence in her work,

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion— whether you plot your stories down to the tiniest detail or you write by the seat of your pants—the Writer’s Digest podcast is for you.

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author and National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) Executive Director Grant Faulkner on the show!

In addition to his work with NaNoWriMo, Grant is the co-founder of 100 Word Story and the Flash Fiction Collective. He is also the author of Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo, which is a book of essays on creativity.

His stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines, including Tin House and The Southwest Review, and his essays on creativity have been published in places such as The New York Times and Writer’s Digest.

Grant has also presented at several leading literary events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Conference, Book Expo America, and more.

Now listen in as Grant and I discuss the nitty-gritty of NaNoWriMo, and how to stay tenaciously relentless in your writing to reach your publishing goals.

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference, which is returning to Pasadena, CA on October 26-28, 2018. Come hone your craft, refine your characters, explore the future of publishing, and get the tools you need to advance your career as a successful novelist. For more info about this upcoming event check out novel.writersdigestconference.com.

In this episode Grant shares:

* The ins and outs of NaNoWriMo, what it is and how you can get involved.

* What some of the main obstacles to creativity are and how to overcome them.

* Why taking part in a writing challenge can be beneficial to writers.

* Techniques to help you prepare to write your novel.

* What to do after NaNoWriMo, what the next steps are and how to keep writing.

Listen in to hear Grant talk about all these things… and more!

Return to the WD Podcast homepage.

About Grant Faulkner

Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month and the co-founder of 100 Word Story. His stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines including Tin House, The Southwest Review, and the Gettysburg Review, and have been widely anthologized. His essays on creativity have been published in The New York Times, Poets & Writers, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer.

Grant has presented at events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Associated Writing Programs Conference, Book Expo America, the Chicago Humanities Festival, the Oakland Book Festival, the Bay Area Book Festival, Poets & Writers Live, the San Francisco Writers Conference, the Commonwealth Club, the Digital Publishing Innovation Summit, Writer’s Digest West, the Porchlight storytelling series, Litquake, Lit Crawl, the Mendocino Writers Conference, and the Arizona State Library Association’s YA Summit. Additionally, Grant is co-founder of the Flash Fiction Collective, a member of the Oakland Book Festival’s Literary Council, a member of the National Writing Project Writer’s Council, and a member of Lit Camp’s Advisory Council.

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion—be it shark thrillers written by marine biologists or upmarket literary novels about carts before horses—the Writer’s Digest podcast is for you.

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing literary agent Barbara Poelle on the show!

Barbara has been an agent with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency for over 11 years, and represents a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, bestsellers, and debuts. The one things she’s always on the lookout for is quality storytelling.

Barbara also writes the column “Funny You Should Ask” (or FYSA) in Writer’s Digest magazine, which features her mostly serious—but actually hilarious—answers to author questions.

So listen in as we dig into what an agent’s role in the publishing business really looks like, and how a good agent-author relationship can be the best thing from your writing career.

 

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by indieLAB, an all-new, interactive event for entrepreneurial authors, freelance writers and independent publishers.For more info about this upcoming event check out indielab.writersdigestconference.com.

In this episode Barbara shares:

* What stumbling blocks writers run up against the most, and how to avoid them.

* Finding the right comp titles for your book.

* A query breakdown, the do’s and don’ts.

* The three questions to ask when you get the call from an agent.

* The weird and wonderful stages of the agent-author relationship.

Listen in to hear Barbara talk about all these things… and more!

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About Barbara Poelle

Barbara Poelle has been an agent with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency for over 11 years representing a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. Her client list is peppered with as many debuts as bestsellers, and she is always looking for quality storytelling. Barbara currently writes the column “Funny You Should Ask” in Writer’s Digest magazine, which features her mostly serious answers to author questions.

Links and resources

* To learn more about the Irene Goodman Literary Agency (and connect with Barbara) check out the agency’s website at irenegoodman.com.

* And if you’d like to query Barbara, email your query letter to [email protected]

* Need another example of how to craft the perfect pitch? Learn some techniques to make your hook even stronger from literary agent Mark Gottlieb in his interview on DIY MFA Radio.

* Want to gain an even deeper understanding of finding the right path for your book? There are some DIY MFA interviews that will help. Listen to this episode featuring author Jessica Strawser for an inside look on crafting your first novel and getting it out published.

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion—be it speculative stories with an ecological twist or weird tales that bend the laws of time and space—the Writer’s Digest podcast is for you.

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing writing and publishing power couple Jeff VanderMeer and Ann VanderMeer on the show!

Called “the weird Thoreau” by the New Yorker for his engagement with ecological issues, Jeff VanderMeer is a New York Times bestselling writer of several novels including Borne, which received widespread critical acclaim, and Wonderbook, the world’s first fully illustrated creative writing guide.

Jeff also co-edited several iconic anthologies with his wife, the Hugo Award winning editor and anthologist Ann VanderMeer.

Ann currently serves as an acquiring editor for Tor.com and Weird Fiction Review as well as the Editor-in-Residence for Shared Worlds, a Science Fiction and Fantasy writing camp for high school students.

She has edited several anthologies including The Big Book of Science Fiction and the upcoming The Big Book of Classic Fantasy with her husband.

Both Jeff and Ann will be speaking at the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference this August in New York City, and you can get a sneak peak at what they’re planning for their sessions in the episode.

So listen in as Jeff, Ann, and I chat about the art and science that goes into crafting and editing anthologies.

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by Writer’s Digest Annual Conference. For more info about the Writer’s Digest Conference this summer check out writersdigestconference.com. And don’t forget to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode to get $25 off your registration!

In this episode Jeff and Ann share:

* Why being “in the cracks” of the literary and genre fiction divide aids your career.

* Building an anthology the right way.

* The art and science of deep reading.

* Common pitfalls new writers make, and how to avoid them.

* The benefits of deemphasizing critique when teaching writers.

Listen in to hear Jeff and Ann talk about all these things… and more!

Return to the WD Podcast homepage.

About Jeff VanderMeer

Jeff VanderMeer is a New York Times bestselling writer who has been called “the weird Thoreau” by the New Yorker for his engagement with ecological issues. His most recent novel, the national bestseller Borne, received widespread critical acclaim.

His prior novels include the Southern Reach trilogy (Annihilation, Authority, and Acceptance). Annihilation won the Nebula and Shirley Jackson Awards, has been translated into 35 languages, as well as made into a film from Paramount Pictures directed by Alex Garland.

Jeff’s nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic, Slate, Salon, and the Washington Post, and he has co-edited several iconic anthologies with his wife, the Hugo Award winning editor Ann VanderMeer. Jeff is also the author of Wonderbook, the world’s first fully illustrated creative writing guide.

Jeff served as the 2016-2017 Trias Writer in Residence at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He has spoken at the Guggenheim, the Library of Congress, and the Arthur C. Clarke Center for the Human Imagination. He is also going to be the closing keynote speaker at this year’s Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City.

About Ann VanderMeer

Ann VanderMeer is an award-winning editor & anthologist. She currently serves as an acquiring editor for Tor.com and Weird Fiction Review.

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion or literary interest, I am so thrilled to have you here. Welcome to the fifth episode of the Writer’s Digest podcast!

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author, editor, and founder of People of Color in Publishing Patrice Caldwell on the show!

You’ve likely already noticed a slight change of pace and change of tone with this interview. This is because the topic Patrice and I will be discussing today is one that I believe is deeply important, one that merits a certain level of depth and heft brought to the conversation. Today Patrice and I will be talking about diversity in publishing.

Patrice Caldwell is the founder and Fundraising Chair of People of Color in Publishing. This is a grassroots organization created by book publishing professionals, and that helps support, empower, and uplift racially and ethnically marginalized members of the industry.

Patrice is also an Associate Editor at Disney-Hyperion, and a writer of Young Adult fiction. So when it comes to writing and publishing books for young people, Patrice knows all about that.

Now, while Patrice and I do dig into many topics within the issue of diversity in publishing, it’s impossible to cover every nuance of this complex issue in just one interview. My hope is for this episode to help spark a longer conversation, where we can continue to discuss the many ways that we can help improve our industry and literary community.

Listen in as Patrice and I engage in an honest discussion about the need and importance of diversity in publishing, so that all kids and teens can see themselves represented on the pages of the books they read.

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by Writer’s Digest Annual Conference. For more info about the Writer’s Digest Conference this summer check out writersdigestconference.com. And don’t forget to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode to get $25 off your registration!

In this episode Patrice shares:

An inside look into People of Color in Publishing, what it is and how it works.

The mirrors and windows concept, and its importance in literature.

What questions we should be asking about diversity in publishing.

Why people of color leave the publishing industry and how to retain them.

What you can do right now to make our industry better.

Listen in to hear Patrice talk about all these things… and more!

 

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About Patrice Caldwell

Patrice Caldwell is the founder and Fundraising Chair of People of Color in Publishing—a grassroots organization created by book publishing professionals dedicated to supporting, empowering, and uplifting racially and ethnically marginalized members of the industry.

She is also an Associate Editor at Disney-Hyperion, a contributor to Publishing Crawl, Bustle, and Autostraddle, as well as a writer of Young Adult fiction. Her writing is represented by Peter Knapp at Park Literary & Media.

Links and resources

Connect with Patrice and learn more about her work at www.patricecaldwell.com, and visit her on Twitter @whimsicallyours and Instagram @whimsicalaquarian.

Visit this link to learn more about People of Color in Publishing and see the exciting work t...

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion—whether you love reading and writing humor or you only enjoy literature that is extraordinarily, deeply serious—the Writer’s Digest podcast is for you.

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author and comedian Laurie Kilmartin  on the show!

Laurie is a comedian, author, and Emmy-nominated staff writer for Conan. So I guess you could say she knows a thing or two about writing humor, and laughter has been her coping method through even life’s most difficult times.

In 2014, Laurie gained significant attention for live-tweeting…the death of her father. Then in 2016, her hour-long stand-up special “45 Jokes About My Dead Dad” was named one of the best comedy specials of the year and was featured in the New York Times’ year-end piece “A Year When Death Loomed in the Laughter.”

All this eventually led to Laurie’s new book Dead People Suck (also about her dead dad), that’ll have you laughing and crying at the same time.

So listen in as Laurie and I chat about the art of writing comedy, and how to use humor to tackle tough issues.

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by Writer’s Digest Annual Conference. For more info about the Writer’s Digest Conference this summer check out writersdigestconference.com. And don’t forget to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode to get $25 off your registration!

In this episode Laurie shares:

* The rules of humor, how to get a laugh every time.

* What makes something “funny,” by breaking down one of her own jokes.

* Writing performance comedy for yourself vs. for someone else.

* Balancing the specific tug-of-war between writing for your job and writing for you.

* How to combine humor and darkness the right way.

Listen in to hear Laurie talk about all these things… and more!

 

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About Laurie Kilmartin

Comedian and Emmy-nominated Conan staff writer Laurie Kilmartin gained significant attention in 2014 for live-tweeting the death of her father.  In 2016, her hour-long stand-up special “45 Jokes About My Dead Dad” was named one of the best comedy specials of the year by Vulture, Paste and Decider and was featured in the New York Times‘ year-end piece “A Year When Death Loomed in the Laughter.”

She previously authored the New York Times bestselling book Sh*tty Mom, and her new book Dead People Suck is available now.

Links and resources

* Connect with Laurie and learn more about her work at www.kilmartin.com.

* Check out one of Laurie’s routines here.

* Need another example of how to use humor to tackle a difficult topic? Learn about the role of humor in memoir from bestselling author and journalist Steven Gaines in his interview on DIY MFA Radio.

* Want to gain an even deeper understanding of finding the right voice for your writing? There are some DIY MFA interviews that will help. Listen to this episode featuring author Steven Rowley to learn how to sort through multiple voices from characters’ to your own inner critic. And for tips on how to juggle your personal writing with a demanding day job, check out this interview with Matthe...

Welcome, welcome, writers! From fiction to nonfiction, whatever your genre persuasion—whether you write personal essays in the voice of your cat or epic how-to articles about how to get bubble gum out of your kid’s hair—the Writer’s Digest podcast is for you.

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing a wonderful writer and dear friend Windy Lynn Harris on the show!

Windy Lynn Harris is a professional storyteller. Although she does write novels, she is a go-to person in the industry when it comes to writing and publishing short stories, personal essays and nonfiction articles. Her own short work has been published in numerous magazines such as The Literary Review and The Sunlight Press.

Windy is also the founder of Market Coaching for Creative Writers, a mentoring program that teaches writers how to get their stories on the page and into the hands of the right editors.

Listen in as Windy and I geek out about writing and selling short stories, personal essays, and nonfiction articles.

This episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast is brought to you by Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, where you can hear Windy Lynn Harris address topics like this in person. For more info about the Writer’s Digest Conference this summer check out writersdigestconference.com. And don’t forget to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode to get $25 off your registration!

In this episode Windy shares:

* Why short form helps flex your creative muscles.

* What differentiates short stories, personal essays, and nonfiction articles.

* The 5 steps to publishing short pieces.

* Which types of pieces to pitch before you write, and which ones you must write entirely before you submit.

* Common mistakes to avoid when submitting and producing short work.

Listen in to hear Windy talk about all these things… and more!

 

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About Windy Lynn Harris

Windy Lynn Harris is a professional storyteller. She writes novels, short stories, personal essays, and nonfiction from her desk in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. She’s a prolific writer, a trusted mentor, and a frequent speaker at literary events around the country. Her long list of short stories and essays have been published in literary, trade, and women’s magazines across the U.S. and Canada in places like The Literary Review, The Sunlight Press, and Literary Mama, among many other journals.

Windy is also the founder of Market Coaching for Creative Writers, a mentoring program that teaches writers how to get their stories on the page and into the hands of the right editors. She understands how to convert an idea into a polished piece of writing. Her book, Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays: The Essential Guide to Getting Your Work Published (Writer’s Digest Books), has become the industry’s go-to manual for writers of all skill levels. She teaches the craft of writing in person and online.

Links and resources

*

Connect with Windy and learn more about her work at www.windylynnharris.com.

*

Need a boost to start writing short fiction? Learn about StoryADayMay from its founder Julie Duffy in her interview on DIY MFA Radio.

*

Want to gain an even deeper understanding of writing and selling short form work?