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Crafting Better
CHARACTERS
GOOD, EVIL & IN BETWEEN:
LAYER ON THE CONFLICT
10 TECHNIQUES TO
ADD AUTHENTICITY
T H E W D I N T E RV I E W
Heather Graham
Corner
THE PROLIFIC POWERHOUSE
ON CROSSING GENRE LINES
Your Niche
SECRETS TO SUCCESS IN
TRAVEL & HUMOR WRITING
April Narby
REGISTER NOW
WritersDigestConference.com
24
CREATING THE PERCEPTION GAP
Your characters views of the world can do much
CHARACTERS
more than simply define who they are. Heres how
to use perspective to propel your plot.
BY JANE K. CLELAND
28
10 SLY TECHNIQUES
FOR ADDING
DIMENSION
TO CHARACTERS
Even the most carefully crafted characters can feel
flat on the page. Indulge in these cunningly creative
exercises to shade in your protagonist.
BY DEB NORTON
32
SINNERS, SAVIORS
& SYMPATHETIC
HEAVIES
The secret to compelling conflicts? Avoid
type-casting your heroes and villains. Use these
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT PHOTO GETTY IMAGES: VICTOR TONGDEE; GETTY IMAGES: WESTEND61;
approaches to find a better way.
BY DAVID CORBETT
36
KILL YOUR DARLINGS
GETTY IMAGES: MARCO PIUNTI; GETTY IMAGES: NISIAN HUGHES
INK W ELL
From full-time mother to famously prolific author, this 12 PLUS: 5-Minute Memoir: Rewriting My Own
bestseller turned an appetite for reading everything into History Jeff Guinn: Walking the Grounds
the ability to write anything. The Winners of the 2016 WD Poetry Awards
BY TYLER MOSS A Writers Guide to Iowa City (of Literature)
C O LU M NS
Never underestimate the great power of a great title. 5 0 FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK: Asking the Right
BY JACQUELYN MITCHARD Questions of Potential Agents
BY BARBARA POELLE
W R I T ER S WOR KBOOK
7 2 PLATFORMS OF YORE: George Orwell
ON THE COVER
N W 6 2 Standout Markets
55 TRAVEL WRITING WITH ST YLE 14 The Road to Jonestown Author Jeff Guinn
BY L. PEAT ONEIL 3 2 Good, Evil & In Between: Layer on the Conflict
2 8 10 Techniques to Add Authenticity
5 8 WRITING FOR CHILDRENS MAGAZINES 2 4 The Power of POV: Tips for Plot Twists
EDITED BY MICHELLE RUBERG 3 6 Too Many Players? How to Kill Your Darlings
5 5 Corner Your Niche
5 9 TICKLING THE FUNNY BONE 4 0 The WD Interview: Heather Graham
BY MARK SHATZ WITH MEL HELITZER
COVER IMAGE MARTI CORN
Writers Digest (ISSN 0043-9525) is published monthly, except bimonthly issues in March/April, May/June, July/August and November/December, by F+W Media Inc., 10151 Carver Road, Ste. 200, Cincinnati,
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WritersDigest.com I 3
Right Now at
Accomplished Accomplices
Bestseller Heather Graham is omnipresent in many
segments of the writing communityincluding the
International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of
America, Sisters in Crime and Horror Writers Association.
In these bonus outtakes from our WD Interview (Page 40),
Graham discusses the benefits of teaming up
both on and off the page.
In Brief
Read Lauren Schenkmans The Removal, the
grand prize winner in WDs 17th Annual Short Short
Story Competition (Page 48), and learn more about her
science-inspired approach to the creative life.
BLOG ILLUSTRATION FOTOLIA.COM: BLOSSOMSTAR; SURGEON TRAY GETTY IMAGES: PAUL TAYLOR; HANDCUFFED COMPUTER GETTY IMAGES: THOM LANG
Criminal Acts
In Sinners, Saviors & Sympathetic Heavies (Page 32),
David Corbett outlines the keys to character conflict in
the mystery, thriller and crime genres. In this companion
piece from our archives, he discusses the nuances of
writing for each one.
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Jessica Strawser
BACK ISSUES
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12. Writing Inch by Inch: From Draft to Polish
13. Short Forms: Microessays and Prose Poems
L
E R BY J U 16. The Epistolary Essay: Letters to the World
17. Portrait Essays: People in Words
18. The Essayist as Public Intellectual
19. Polemical Essays: One-Sided Arguments
20. Historical Essays: Past as Present
21. Humor Essays
22. Nature Essays
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24. Sharing Your Essays: From Blog to Book
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You've Got Mail
In the crowded world of social media, an e-newsletter gives writers
a direct line to readers.
BY DINSA SACHAN
J
ournalist Ann Friedman
started her e-newsletter,
The Ann Friedman Weekly,
after she lost her magazine
job. Formerly the executive editor at
GOOD, she was navigating the world
of freelancing and looking for a way to
keep her name fresh in editors minds.
Not only has it since helped her land
many assignments, but the newslet-
terwhich contains curated articles
she finds interesting alongside her own
original pieces, as well as GIFs and the
occasional product endorsement
to keep friends, family and dedicated nutritionist, its been helpful to show
has developed an impressive following
readers up to speed on their work. people that I have more to offer in the
of more than 25,000 subscribers.
For some writers, the newsletter general lifestyle realm.
Friedman isnt alone. Writers of all is the new blog. (Though the two can Fantasy novelist Suzanne Johnson
stripes are now turning to this once also work in tandemmany bloggers says her monthly newsletterwhich
written-off tool as a device to reach use newsletters to help circulate their includes blog posts, giveaways and
readers as directly as possibleright posts.) Ariane Resnick, author of news about her most recent releases
in their own inbox. And for those who The Thinking Girls Guide to Drinking, has been her most effective marketing
make it a priority, providing consistent, set up an email list because a blog tool. There are thousands of books
quality content to their subscribers, a seemed like an ineffective use of her published every month, Johnson
newsletter can pay major dividends. time. I was looking for a way to offer says. So how do you find true readers
PHOTO GETTY IMAGES: YAGI STUDIO
advice and recipes, Resnick says. and how do you keep them engaged
WHY TO LAUNCH AN But I dont enjoy blogging: You create between books?
E-NEWSLETTER content, put it out, and no one might A newsletter is a more targeted mar-
If youre a freelancer, an e-newsletter see it. She is also using the newslet- keting tool than a blog because readers
can announce your latest bylines to ter to expand her brand. Rather than are able to opt in (or out) of their own
your audience. Many journalists use it just being considered a chef and a volition. Even if your audience is small,
WritersDigest.com I 11
5-MINUTE MEMOIR
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Submit your own 600-word essay reection on the writing life by emailing it to wdsubmissions@fwmedia.com with
5-Minute Memoir in the subject line.
ENTER IN THESE
CATEGORIES:
YOUNG ADULT
SCIENCE FICTION/
FANTASY
HORROR
MYSTERY/
CRIME
THRILLER/
SUSPENSE
For the full list of prizes and entry details, visit
ROMANCE
writersdigest.com/writers-digest-
competitions/popular-ction-award
O
n the cover of Jeff the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in
Guinns true crime The Last Gunfight (which was actu-
bestseller, Manson, the ally an arrest gone wrong) and,
usual grizzled mugshot most recently, Jim Jones and Peoples
associated with the former cult leader Temple in The Road to Jonestown
has been replaced by a photo from (yes, I did hack my way into the
his younger years as a smiling, neatly jungle in Guyana, because the roads
coiffed boy. Its an arresting image to Jonestown had been overgrown
one that promises a fresh approach to but, by golly, we found it). The
an amply covered, troubled tale. task frequently involves finding key
Im always trying to figure out the sourcesoften reluctant witnesses
difference between mythology and unsought by previous authors.
real history, Guinn says. The myth For instance, after a long courtship
about Manson: Charles Manson is through registered letters and phone
Jeff Guinn
not now and never was insane. He calls, Guinn earned the cooperation
was a cunning sociopatheverything of Mansons sister and cousin. They or later youll find people who know a
he did was calculated, and to me, that eventually came to believe I was trying lot but have never sought the spotlight.
makes him even more terrifying than to write the truth and from there In researching 2010s Go Down
if he was a lunatic. they were very helpful, Guinn says. Together: The True, Untold Story
Guinn aims in his books to unearth For every nonfiction subject there of Bonnie & Clyde, Guinn tracked
the truth behind common perceptions. are always people who are popular down the outlaws descendants, hop-
His subjects have included Bonnie expertstwo or three people every- ing to hear some family lore. Buddy
and Clyde in Go Down Together body will go to again and again. But if Barrow Williams, the stepson of
(whose two-year crime spree was you actually go to where [the subject] Clydes youngest brother, had stories
as much a reign of error as terror), lived, to places they spent time, sooner to share, along with a particularly
WritersDigest.com I 15
No matter what you write, a bit of poetic license can be a valuable asset to any writers arsenal.
BY ROBERT LEE BREWER
P
oems about serious top-
ics such as war, hunger and This
world injustice leave me BY JAMISON COLE MCLEAN
Robert Lee Brewer is the editor of Poets Market and Writers Market (both WD Books) and
the author of the poetry collection Solving the Worlds Problems.
Bob Eckstein is a writer and cartoonist for The New Yorker and The New York Times. His
latest book is Footnotes From the Worlds Greatest Bookstores.
WritersDigest.com I 17
A Writers Guide to Iowa City (of Literature)
The only municipality in the U.S. to hold the acclaimed City of Literature
accreditation, this sliver of the Midwest is a destination youd be remiss to y over.
BY JOHN PERAGINE
I
n 2008, Iowa City became just the
third place in the world to receive
the designation of UNESCO City
of Literature (after Edinburgh,
Scotland, and Melbourne, Australia).
It remains the only one in the U.S.,
though there are currently 19 oth-
ers around the world with this spe-
cial honorawarded by UNESCOs
Creative Cities Network based on
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: OLD CAPITAL BUILDING GETTY IMAGES: JORDAN MCALISTER; HAUNTED BOOKSHOP, IOWA WRITERS' HOUSE, KURT VONNEGUT HOUSE KATE PERAGINE
literature, drama and/or poetry play-
ing an important role in the city and
hosting literary events and festivals
which promote domestic and for-
eign literature. While many people
know Iowa City for its famous writers
workshop, much more is happening
in this bastion of reading and writing.
Here are five reasons to add Iowa
City to your travel bucket list:
4. THE IOWA WRITERS HOUSE This City of Literature is a must-visit Vising editors and agents oer networking and
pitching opportunies.
Native Iowan and independent for aspiring writers and passionate Aordable, comfortable lodging available on
writer Andrea Wilson returned to her readers alike. WD campus.
Learn more and Register at
home state in 2014. Settling in the www.antiochwritersworkshop.com
Midwestern literary mecca of Iowa John Peragine is a ghostwriter, book coach Presented in partnership with University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
City, she soon noticed that while the and freelance journalist in Davenport, Iowa.
WritersDigest.com I 19
Poetry
Awards
DOES YOUR POEM HAVE ALL THE RIGHT LINES?
If the answer is yes, enter the Writers Digest 12th Annual Poetry Awards for a
chance to pocket $1,000 and see your poem in the pages of Writers Digest.
Enter your best poem32 lines or fewerin the style of your choice.
Mary C. Moore
KIMBERLEY CAMERON & ASSOCIATES
Kara Gebhart Uhl (pleiadesbee.com) writes and edits from Fort Thomas, Ky.
WritersDigest.com I 21
BREAKINGIN
Debut authors: How they did it, what they learned and why you can do it, too. BY BAIHLEY GRANDISON
Sarah Tolcser
Song of the
Current (young
adult fantasy, June,
Bloomsbury Childrens
Books) When her father is arrested
offers from both agents and pub- 2009 when this idea of two child-
for smuggling, Caro must dodge
lishers within one to two months of hood friends came to me. I knew [it]
river pirates to deliver a mysterious
submitting. But I think what really was going to become a novel. TIME
cargo in exchange for his freedom.
happened is: When I was ready, I FRAME: I wrote more than 300 pages
WRITES FROM: New Orleans. PRE- just knew. WHAT I WOULDVE DONE just to get to know my characters
SONG: Id started writing adult
DIFFERENT: [Been more aware of and the plot. Once I knew the story
fantasy about 10 years earlier, but parameters.] I had to work for I wanted to tell, I got rid of more
drifted toward YA largely due to months with my agent cutting the than half the writing. It took me
the focus on girls stories. TIME book down from 120,000 words to a about four years to finish. ENTER
FRAME: I wrote a sketchy first draft
more attractive length. ADVICE FOR THE AGENT: I sent my novel to many
in about four months, then spent WRITERS: [The rule that real writers
agents and received many rejection
the next four months rewriting it write every day] doesnt always letters over two years. I self-published
into a second draft that was actu- apply, and thats OK. NEXT UP: The
ally readable. ENTER THE AGENT: this book in 2015, and received over-
sequel to Song of the Current, and Im
My agent is Susan Hawk [of Upstart whelming positive feedbackand
drafting a new, unrelated YA fantasy.
Crow Literary]. I queried her after interest from a Turkish publisher.
WEBSITE: sarahtolcser.com.
she posted [a call for] something I went looking for an agent again.
When I approached Priya Doraswamy
that sounded like my book in Amita Trasi
of Lotus Lane Literary to represent
Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL) The Color of Our
on Twitter. WHAT I LEARNED: The Sky (mainstream ction, me for translation rights, she read my
absolute biggest learning experience April, William Morrow)
book andsuggested that we try to
is how slow publishing is. You will A sweeping, emotional sell it in the U.S. WHAT I DID RIGHT :
wait months for edit letters, journey of two childhood friends I went through many, many drafts
contracts, pretty much everything. in Mumbai, Indiaone trying to [and] had good critique partners,
WHAT I DID RIGHT: I wrote four escape the brutal world of human editors and proofreaders along the
or five books before Song of the trafcking and another on a mission way. ADVICE FOR WRITERS: The rule
TRASI PHOTO SAMEER RAO
Current, realized they had unfixable to rescue her. is, there are no rules. That, and let-
issues, and put them aside without WRITES FROM: The Woodlands, ting my intuition guide me through
querying them. When you look at Texas. PRE-COLOR: I was attending the entire process, has served me
my story, it seems like everything the Moniack Mhor residential writing well. NEXT UP: Im working on a sec-
happened quicklyI had multiple retreat in Inverness, Scotland, in ond novel. WEBSITE: amitatrasi.com.
several [unsold] novels and screen- takes. The other wonderful part was abbiwaxman.com. WD
plays. TIME FRAME: This book took how much my editor, Kate Seaver,
seven years to finish. I wrote a draft, helped me improve the book. She Baihley Grandison is the associate editor
got an agent, rewrote it, rewrote it also sent me a coffee mug with the of Writers Digest.
This isnt a how-to book about writing. Its a book about how to
AVAILABLE AT
be a writer. How to prepare yourselfholistically, mentally and
spirituallyto take on a project that exists entirely in your head. WritersDigestShop.com,
GARTH STEIN, INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN AND A SUDDEN LIGHT and other fine book retailers.
WritersDigest.com I 23
THE
PERCEPTION
GAP
Your characters views of the world
can do much more than simply dene
who they are. Heres how to use
perspective to propel your plot.
BY JANE K. CLELAND
I
f youre like most people, when you believe something,
you assume its true. It rarely occurs to us that we
might be wrong, just as it rarely occurs to us that
other people, as fair-minded and principled as we are,
might look at the same events or facts and reach different
conclusions. Yet it happens all the time (and not just in
politics). I call this dichotomy a perception gapand you
can capitalize on its potential to reveal meaningful infor-
mation about your characters and develop deliciously
intriguing plots.
PHOTO GETTY IMAGES: MARCO PUNTI
WritersDigest.com I 25
CREATING BELIEVABLE PERCEPTION GAPS
I know what I saw. MARK SONDRA After their mothers death, two siblings
I hated spending summers I loved spending summers inherit the beachfront cottage where
here, just like Mom did. One here. So did Mom. She they spent summers as kids. Mark says he
look at her face and you glowed the minute we doesnt want it; he just wants the money.
could tell she felt as if shed arrived, as if a light inside Sondra wants to use the house as a week-
been sentenced to a prison of her had been switched end retreat. She cant raise the money to
term. She came only because on. I know just how she buy Mark out, but she refuses to sell.
Dad wanted to be able to feltsummer back home
brag to his friends about his was boring.
summer cottage. I felt like I
was in jail, too, stuck in the
middle of nowhere, away
from my friends.
I know how I feel. JENNIFER TRACIE At the time Jennifers husband is murdered,
I love my husband. Hes kind I hate my husband. He hits she is meeting with her priest about the
and loving. If he sometimes me. He kicks me. I stay upcoming spring fundraiser. When Tracies
loses his temper, well, its because Im afraid that if I husband is killed three days later, she is at
understandable. It only hap- leave, hell kill me. Hes told the library discussing Italian cooking with the
pens when Ive screwed up me he will, and I believe him. reference librarian. Since both men were shot
or otherwise done some- as they left work for the day, the police look
thing to set him off. to see what they have in common. Eventually,
they discover that both Jennifer and Tracie
had placed calls to the Domestic Violence
Hotline several times during the past year.
Further, they got to know one another during
group counseling sessions in the months
before their husbands were murdered.
I know what I like. CHUCK TOM After graduating college, Chuck and Tom
Chuck insists that he can Tom is embarrassed that he join a major ad agency as interns, deter-
differentiate vodkas in mixed cant differentiate vodkas in a mined to prove their writing chops. Chucks
drinks, so he always orders mixed drink, so he lies about arrogance gets him red. Toms humility
the most expensive brand. it, saying he can. He always gets him promoted.
Hes stubborn and arrogant orders the most expensive
about it. brand. Hes modest about
his alleged ability.
I listen to my gut. Which of your characters Which of your characters How can this perception gap inform
trusts his gut? Describe an doesnt trust her gut? your plot?
incident where that convic- Describe an incident where
tion comes into play. that conviction comes
into play.
WritersDigest.com I 27
10
SLY TECHNIQUES
for
ADDING
DIMENSION
to
CHARACTERS
BY DEB NORTON
C
haracters are tricky. Even when youve
given them a story arc you love and
mapped every thrilling moment of their
harrowing-but-transformative journey
PHOTO GETTY IMAGES: MATT JEACOCK
WritersDigest.com I 29
Appallingly messy? Is she a secret hoarder? Look for Who can she trust? Who happily trash talks her at the
skeletons in the closets and beyond: drop of a hat? Choose one of the prompts below and write
as quickly as you can for six minutes. Again, resist the urge
the trunk of your characters car
to stop and reread or to self-edit. Just keep your pen moving.
desk drawers
Ask what your character:
medicine cabinet
purse, wallet or backpack is like when hes mad
pockets of coats that havent been worn in a while was like when she was younger
pockets of pants she wore yesterday is good at
storage unit is bad at
top closet shelf needs to do to fix his life
back of the underwear drawer. takes too seriously
doesnt take seriously enough
FOLLOWING THE MONEY has going for her
You can tell a lot about a person from his choice of has working against him.
products. Are his cleaners additive-free, organic and Ask if your character:
compostable, or rubber-glove and gas-mask-requiring
germ-annihilators? Does he buy only the brand thats on has any blind spots
sale, regardless of whether its what he really wants? Does is making good choices
he own 14 kinds of cologne, or one signature scent? is reaching her potential.
Set the timer for four minutes and list everything that
might fill your characters shopping bags on a day set EAVESDROPPING
aside for stocking up. Dont stop at the supermarket In the 10-week workshop I teach, participating writers
consider the farmers market, the big-box store, the drug spend a full week practicing eavesdropping in the real
store, the garden center, the boutique around the corner, world to gather dialogue. Overheard chats can be rich
with mischief, hidden motive, power status plays, sexual
even the items he checks out at the library.
tension and subdued pain, and can teach the observant
writer a ton about how people actually speak.
When were at a loss for putting Give this technique a twist and eavesdrop on your
words in our characters mouths, thats own characters. This is especially helpful in my own
writing when I find Ive gone rigid with tension trying to
often when its time to stop thinking come up with something nuanced yet revealing, lyrical
and start listening. yet natural for my character to say.
When were at a loss for putting words in our characters
When youre done, read through your list and under- mouths, thats often when its time to stop thinking and
line five products your character uses every day. Choose start listening. Dont try to control it. Just write what you
one and observe your character using it. Set the timer for hear and then read it over to see what you can discover.
six minutes and write what you see. Does his manner of speech change when he talks to his
kids? What is he holding back? Why did he use that word?
GOSSIPING Try the following locations for six-minute eavesdrop-
Talking about loved ones behind their backs is not recom- ping missions:
mended in real life, but in the fictional realm, it can be a the booth behind your character as she takes her
character-development bonanza. Catch your characters mom to lunch at her favorite diner
friends, co-workers and family at a party, in the break the adjacent barstool as he tries to get a date with
room, or at a reunion and get them talking. You might an attractive stranger
develop entirely new perspectives on your characters the bathroom stall as she and a friend freshen their
relationships, choices, issues and untapped potential makeup in front of the mirror
including things your character doesnt even know herself. the next cubicle as his boss gives him a second warning.
WritersDigest.com I 31
SINNERS,
SAVIORS
&
SYMPATHETIC
HEAVIES
Weaving the Character Web
in Mystery, Thriller & Crime Fiction
BY DAVID CORBETT
O
ne of the great joys of the mystery, crime and thriller
genres is their wealth of intriguing, morally ambigu-
ous and just plain transgressive character types.
That bounty comes with a risk, however: A
type, by definition, is a character confined by his identity, and
thus generally incapable of change.
Avoiding the trap of generating types instead of characters
requires looking beyond their surface characteristics and under-
standing their dramatic function, especially vis--vis the other
characters in the story. Such characters, after all, derive from real
people in the world: cops and criminals and their various asso-
ciates, loved ones, enemies, competitors and so on. The deeper
your understanding of true-life crime and criminal justice, not to
mention how it affects and insinuates itself into society at large,
the more convincing and compelling your portrayals will be.
PHOTO GETTY IMAGES: PEOPLE IMAGES
WritersDigest.com I 33
deliver on those expectations in an unexpected way
THE CRIMINAL AS HERO something thats impossible to do if you dont know what
In this sub-subgenre, the hero, who is himself a they are in the first place.
criminal, in many ways resembles the deant individual The genre were discussing here has three principle
villain. But he possesses some redeeming virtue subgenres, each with its own distinct conventions:
loyalty, compassion, honesty, courage. His crimes typi-
MYSTERY/DETECTIVE: The crimealmost always a
cally involve property. If violence occurs, it is usually
murderis covered up by the perpetrator, with the
incidental (as this preserves reader empathy).
cover-up often more important than the crime. This is
As with the deant individual villain, the criminal
the most cerebral (and often least violent) of the crime-
hero perceives society or authority as corrupt: craven,
related genresthink: puzzlewith a theme premised
self-interested, greedy, shallow or largely faceless and
on the need to base justice in truth.
conformist. In contrast, the criminal is deep, uniquely
talented, and unable to adapt to the compromises, pet- CRIME: The story centers on a battle between criminals
tiness and tedium that typify the world around him. and the lawthink: prizefight. The most dramatic of the
In the particular form known as the caper, a group subgenres, its thematic premise asks: What are the limits
of uniquely gifted criminals joins together to pull a heist of individual freedom, social responsibility and official
(again, a crime of money or property, not violence). authority? What is a good life in an unjust world?
Each member of the crew must be capable enough to THRILLER: This is a hybrid form, mixing elements of mys-
improvise once the plan inevitably goes bad. tery and horror, with the hero under relentless attack
In noir, a morally compromised hero strives for a last while trying to stop or solve some devastating crime. The
shot at the brass ring. Empathy is created through our most emotional of the subgenres, its thematic premise
identication with the hero as a little guy up against a asks: How can we survive in a dangerous world?
powerful system or simply inescapable bad luck.
The distinctions among these subgenres require emphasis
of different characteristics of the protagonist and
the opponent:
behavior, impulsivity, risk-taking, selfishness, callousness
and remorselessnessnot to be confused with sociopathy, The mystery/detective hero tends to be more of a
in which empathy and a moral code exist, but only for those seeker or a scientist. The mystery villain often pos-
within a well-defined group, e.g., a gang or crime family). sesses both superior intelligence and great charm and
verbal skilland is primarily a deceiver.
EVIL DEEDS VS. EVIL NATURE: The villain may commit The crime hero resembles a bare-knuckle fighter. The
crime without a totally corrupt soul, instead motivated by: crime villain is typically a master criminal; if not, he
is nonetheless supremely motivated and singularly
Afiction, often from a childhood victimization so
fierce, clever or determined.
devastating and inescapable it shattered all sense of
The thriller hero, given the emotional states the
trust, connection and hope
subgenre demandspanic, horror, dreadmust
Devotion to a cause, as terrorists or revolutionaries are.
be vulnerable not just physically but psychologically
Desperation, in which the character feels the crimi-
and even morally. The thriller villain, like the mon-
nal act is the only way out of a terrible dilemma
ster in the horror genre, must be capable of inspired,
Compulsion, often in the form of obsession or even
relentless, malevolent attack: psychological, emo-
delusions (hearing voices, etc.) tional, physical.
Glamour, where the criminal acts provide status and
exhibit daring and courage. INVOLVING SECONDARIES
The crime genres afford a multitude of fascinating sec-
UNDERSTANDING ondary characters, which fall into two large categories:
GENRE MATTERS those who assist the hero or villain in one or more of her
Genre fiction is not formulaic, but there are conventions, levels of struggle (internal, external, interpersonal), and
and they relate to reader expectations. Your job is to those who impede her progress.
BETRAYERS: Perhaps the most intriguing and gratifying Each secondary role serves to expose some fundamental
subgroup, these include: trait of the hero or villain. Their best use is to force one or
the other main character to reassess himself, his world, his
The corrupt cop: He may be compromised (black-
task or his morals. WD
mailed), he may be greedy, he may be a sociopath
with a badge. David Corbett is a contributing editor at Writers Digest, as well as
The rat: When an ally of the villain turns against him, the award-winning author of ve novels and the writing guide The
its usually for self-serving reasons. Art of Character.
WritersDigest.com I 35
KILL YOUR
DARLINGS
If your plot isnt working, there may
be too many cooks in the proverbial
kitchen. Heres how to make all your
characters counteven if it means
bidding some of them adieu.
BY JEFF SOMERS
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT PHOTO GETTY IMAGES: VICTOR TONGDEE; GETTY IMAGES: WESTEND61;
GETTY IMAGES: MARCO PIUNTI, GETTY IMAGES: NISIAN HUGHES
WritersDigest.com I 37
2. THE SNARK BAIT: Writing a character who effortlessly
comes up with the comebacks and wry observations
is the most seductive kind of Mary Suethe Lone
Snarker. Ask yourself objectively if a characters
entire purpose is to say witty, funny or perceptive
things for the other characters to react to. If yes, you
can probably give those lines to a character (or char-
acters) who actually has some agency in the story.
3. THE POLICE SKETCH: Can you imagine what all of your
characters look like? What their motivations and goals
are? You wrote them; if you draw a blank, so will your
readers, and they wont miss them when you surgically
remove those characters from the book.
4. THE COG IN THE MACHINE: If you look for action as
noted in No. 1, do you find a character who has pre-
cisely one active moment, in which she wanders over
to a Plot Lever and gives it a pull? If so, youll make
your story more powerful and efficient if you think of
a more elegant way to pull that lever.
5. THE CLONE DETECTOR: One of the easiest character
mistakes to make in a novel is simple duplication.
Having two characters with very similar attributes
too numerous, too similar or both, its easy for readers to often means they play similar rolesroles that could
get confused at some point about whos who. If your read- easily be combined into one, making your story
ers interest (or patience) flags, you might not get it back. more efficient and easier to follow.
STEP 2: Put out a hit.
UNNECESSARY CHARACTERS If youve identified a superfluous character or two, here
& HOW TO FIND THEM are a few simple strategies for getting rid of them.
If something seems amiss in your story, how can you tell
whether your horde of characters is at the root of it? 1. THE BLENDER: If your unnecessary character has, like
your most recent ex, a few good qualities, try com-
STEP 1: Put them to the test.
bining him with a character who actually matters,
Many new writers assume there are hard-and-fast rules
preserving what you liked about the useless character
they can absorb and apply to every project, consistently.
and getting rid of the rest.
They ask questions like, How many characters can I have
2. THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE: With a little anesthesia,
in a story? as if theres a fixed number that successful
grit your teeth and delete truly useless characters
novelists refuse to share, or an equation with 15 variables
outright. One way to figure out who can be surgi-
that will yield a precise figure. The truth is, every story is
cally removed is by walking through the final act.
unique, and so the magic number of characters is always
Whos not there? Whos not missed? You may have
different. But you can identify characters who are dead
intuitively left unnecessary characters out of the
weight in your narrative with a few tried-and-true tech-
resolution for the simple reason that they have no
niques, regardless of genre.
PHOTO GETTY IMAGES: MARCO PUNTI
WritersDigest.com I 39
Heather Graham
PASSION PROJECT
From full-time mother to
famously prolic author,
heres how one bestseller
turned an appetite for
reading everything into the
ability to write anything.
BY TYLER MOSS
40 I WRITERS
S DIGEST I July/August 2017
H
eather Graham remembers all too well what it feels The word prolic barely does your output justice. How
like to be the only person who takes ones writing in the world do you manage your time?
seriously. Before selling her first novel, When Next First off the bat, Im incredibly lucky. I absolutely love what
We Love, in 1982, she was a stay-at-home mother I do, and I think that makes it easy. Then, the funny thing
of three stealing every minute she could to try her hand at is, I think Im really grateful that I started writing when
genre fiction. As she typed away on an old typewriter (It I had young children, because it doesnt matter what the
was missing an E!), her mother-in-law would call, ask distraction isyou can keep writing. Youll hear this from
what Graham was up to, and say, Oh good, youre not busy. a lot of people who start out writing with children in the
But Graham kept on typing. I was well trained into house. Its like, Please dont interrupt me unless theres
being a Dr. Seuss character, she says. I can write on a blood! You really just get accustomed to working under
plane, in a train, going far, in a car. any circumstance.
Almost four decades laterwith more than 150 novels
and novellas to her name in categories ranging from sus- Still, thats impressive.
pense (the Cafferty & Quinn series) to historical romance You know, though, Im happy to be impressive, but a
(the Cameron Saga: Civil War Trilogy) to paranormal number of people [are, in that regardNora Roberts, for
(the Alliance Vampires series); more than 75 million example] ... I think some of that came from starting off in
books in print in 25 languages; and honors that include a real category [fiction]. Not just genre, but category. At the
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers time when a lot of us began, if you were going to make
of America (2003) and the ThrillerMaster award from the a living, you really did have to produce a tremendous
International Thriller Writers (2016)its safe to say she amount. I think the other writers who tend to be very
has, in fact, been busy. prolific are those who come out of newspapers, because
Her popular Krewe of Hunters series, which follows theyre used to, The copy must be on the desk by 5 oclock.
a branch of paranormal investigators for the FBI, is 20 I think its a matter of the discipline that you get into.
books deep (with three more Krewe novels due out this
year). Shes contributed to dozens of anthologies, and is Youve written in such a variety of genresromance,
interminably active in the writing community: Born and paranormal, thriller, historical ctionwhile many
raised in South Florida, she co-founded one of her home writers nd a niche and stick with it. Why such variety?
states first chapters of RWA in 1986, served as vice presi- I was an incredibly lucky child in that both of my parents
dent of the Horror Writers Association, and is one of the were readersreally avid readers. My mom was born in
original members of ITW. Dublin, and when they came to the States, they brought a
In addition to the Krewe of Hunters books, Grahams lot of Irish history books. I read everything that she had
2017 releases include two co-authored novels (The Rising, and just wound up falling in love with history. My dad
with Jon Land, and American Drifter, with actor Chad was a massive [Edgar Allan] Poe fan, so I had everything
Michael Murray); the romantic thriller Law and Disorder, written by Poe. I just had this wonderful, eclectic group of
about a kidnapping set in the Everglades; and A Perfect things coming at mefiction and nonfiction. I never read,
Obsession, Book 2 of her New York Confidential series particularly, a mystery or a romance or a sci-fi. I just read
in which criminal psychologist Kieran Finnegan and FBI anything. When I started out, I dont think I had the con-
special agent Craig Frasier investigate the Big Apples cept of, They must be shelved somewhere.
seedy underbelly. In fact, the first time I had written a historical, I had
At the San Francisco Writers Conference in February, been working on one for a long time with all these things
WD sat down with Grahamwhere she reflected on her that my mom had brought from Irelandit was based
humble beginnings, heaped praise upon her peers and on a true story. It had all these great battle scenes in it that I
shared hope for writers seeking to break through. had gotten out of my mothers books, and [my editors]
WritersDigest.com I 41
Heather Graham
WritersDigest.com I 43
Naming THE Baby
Never underestimate the great power of a great title.
BY JACQUELYN MITCHARD
PHOTO GETTYIMAGES.COM: JOHN LUND
WritersDigest.com I 45
Naming THE Baby
Atticus was apparently named after a Greek writer Theres a tree that grows in Brooklyn It would be
known for his ability to see all sides of a difficult question. considered beautiful except that there are too many of
The final title, unmatched in its blend of thematic conse- it. Dont overlook your antagonist, if hes a strong one:
quence and lyric rhythm, comes from a line in the story, Lauren Weisberger put hers front and center in titling
an admonition from Atticus never to use a Christmas The Devil Wears Prada.
rifle to kill a songbirdwhich in turn refers to the mis-
A COMMON PHRASE, MADE NEW: Consider the reclaimed
understood recluse Boo Radley.
power of In Cold Blood (Truman Capote), The Perfect
How, then, can we bring such eloquence and nuance
Storm (Sebastian Junger), The Grapes of Wrath (John
to the task of naming our own literary progeny?
Steinbeck), All Fall Down (Jennifer Weiner), Beat the
THE BEST APPROACHES Devil (Claud Cockburn), Cloud Nine (Luanne Rice),
Home Before Dark (Susan Wiggs) and a whole host of
Ideas for titles, much like ideas for stories themselves,
can come from anywhere. There are strategies, however, titles with biblical origins, including The Power and
that can help you shake the tree of your novel, essay or the Glory (Graham Greene), Inherit the Wind (Jerome
short story until the best representation comes loose. Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee) and The Sins of the
Here are a few of the most successful. Father (Jeffrey Archer).
A BORROWED TURN OF PHRASE: In titling Everything Is
A NAME WITHIN A NAME: There are so many terrific and
even iconic examples of eponymous titles: I, Claudius Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer used a phrase from
(by Robert Graves); Nicholas Nickleby (Charles Dickens); Milan Kunderas The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
Doctor Zhivago (Boris Pasternak); Anna Karenina (Leo Mark Haddon titled The Curious Incident of the Dog
Tolstoy); Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bront); Madame Bovary in the Night-Time after an adventure from Sir Arthur
(Gustave Flaubert); Dracula (Bram Stoker) and, more Conan Doyles Sherlock Holmes series.
recently, Elizabeth Strouts acclaimed Olive Kitteridge A line in a story can also be the source of a title, and
and My Name Is Lucy Barton; or even Yann Martels that line sometimes refers to something else. For example,
Life of Pi. In this tradition might also fall those name- J.D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye, referring to the
and-theme combinations such as Jude the Obscure protagonists wish to be a savior instead of a misfit kid, is
(Thomas Hardy), Anne of Green Gables (Lucy Maud taken from the Robert Burns poem Comin thro the Rye.
Montgomery) and the poignant Still Alice, Lisa Genovas Kazuo Ishiguros Never Let Me Go, refers to a pop music
contemporary tale of a midlife woman losing her mind, record that is beloved in the story by one of the doomed
but not her soul, to Alzheimers disease. young clones being reared as organ donors.
A PLACE: From Charles Fraziers Cold Mountain to James A POETIC SUMMARY: Common wisdom has it that
A. Micheners Hawaii, many a story has been successfully titles should be no more than three words, but some
established by grounding the title in its location (regard- that defy this rule are golden. Among them: Requiem
less of whether that location is the storys central conceit). for a Heavyweight (Rod Serling), The Perks of Being a
This approach doesnt have to point to such plain geog- Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky), The Last Report
raphy as a town or a country. Consider these: Angel on the Miracles at Little No Horse (Louise Erdrich),
Falls by Kristin Hannah, The Hotel New Hampshire and Douglas Adams The Hitchhikers Guide to the
by John Irving, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, Mystic Galaxy and The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
River by Dennis Lehane, Tampa by Alissa Nutting and (come on!).
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.
PURE POETRY: Great titles that come from lines of
A COMPOUND STRUCTURE: A simple but, well, haunting poetry are a classic choice. No Country for Old Men
title is this one: The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley (Cormac McCarthy, with a nod to William Butler
Jackson. Another is Betty Smiths A Tree Grows in Yeats Sailing to Byzantium), Of Mice and Men
Brooklyn, the title deriving from a bittersweet epigraph (Steinbeck, inspired by Robert Burns To a Mouse),
some say was added only after the novel was completed: Look Homeward, Angel (Thomas Wolfe, drawing from
A DRIVING EVENT: These titles get right to the heart of title might not sell as well. A title is a
things: Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games, William creative decision, sure, but it may also
Styrons Sophies Choice, Willa Cathers Death Comes for
the Archbishop, Anne Tylers Dinner at the Homesick be the most potent marketing tool in
Restaurant, Erich Maria Remarques All Quiet on the
an authors quiver.
Western Front. A driving characteristic is a close cousin
of this technique: Charles Portis masterpiece, True Grit,
is named for that quality in people most sought by Until, of course, youre a big, established name with
narrator Mattie Ross when she sets out, at 14, to avenge many books to your credit. Or does it happen even then?
her fathers murder. Says Jodi Picoult of her most recent novel, Small
Great Things: Originally, it was Living Color, and
A RECOLLECTION: This approach works particularly well Random House didnt like it. I sent six alternatives,
for stories framed with a certain degree of nostalgia: which they also hated. Finally, someone at my U.K.
Richard Llewellyns How Green Was My Valley, Wilson publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, came up with the name,
Rawls Where the Red Fern Grows, Aimee Benders The which comes from a Martin Luther King Jr. quote, If I
Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Ann Patchetts State cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great
of Wonder. way. Its exactly what I was trying to get across in a book
A SERIES SETUP: If you know your book is to be the start about racismthat its systemic and institutional but its
of something more, youll want to be forward thinking both perpetuated and dismantled in individual acts.
in choosing your title. Recognize it as a precedent for Was she upset that the final title wasnt of her own
whats to follow. Stieg Larssons The Girl With the Dragon devising? Absolutely not. Its the perfect title, she says.
Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl The bestseller lists seem to agree. WD
Who Kicked the Hornets Nest and Sue Graftons A Is for
Jacquelyn Mitchard is the bestselling author of 11 novels for adults,
Alibi, B Is for Burglar, C Is for Corpse, etc. are just a cou-
among them The Deep End of the Ocean and her newest, Two If by
ple of the many series that follow a recognizable cadence Sea, now in paperback. She is also a professor of ction and creative
or pattern that was established from the first. nonction at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
WritersDigest.com I 47
Theory
THE
Everything
OF
hysics is not a common field of study for operation that affects much more than just his body.
aspiring writers, who often think of scientific Readers witness the procedure, in which negative
approaches as uncharacteristically left brain. But moments from the mans life take physical form as
30-year-old writer Lauren Schenkman says fiction and theyre extracted from his body like malignant tumors.
physics have more in common than you might think. As the story progresses, all involved begin to wonder
Theyre trying to get at the same questions, says what will be left in the end.
Schenkman, who has worked in both fields since her Schenkman wrote The Removal for a monthly
time as an undergraduatefirst cultivating a passion writers salon put on by a friend, in response to a pro-
for writing as a staffer for Science magazine, then vided prompt: only the essentials. Schenkman waited
earning a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from until the last minute to write the story, a departure
Cornell University. Physicists are fundamentally for the typically introspective and methodical writer.
trying to understand, What are the laws that govern the Before that, she says, I thought I had to sit there and
universe? Theyre probing the most mysterious, incom- frown really hard, and the words would come out
prehensible aspects of our existence. Writers are also perfectly formed. That doesnt lend itself to creativity
probing the most mysterious, incomprehensible aspects because the inner critic is on full alert. Now she tries
of our existencebut theyre getting at it a totally dif- to give herself permission to write whatever comes
MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS GETTYIMAGES.COM: ALES_UTOVKO
Short
feel less fear.
waste time wondering if youre a writer or if youre allowed Kathleen Lane, Richard D. Carlson,
Portland, Ore. Elk Grove Village, Ill.
to be a writerjust give yourself the permission slip.
4. FACT SHEET, 9. REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM,
Tamara Titus, Sabine Sloley,
SCHENKMAN PHOTO RICHARD SCHENKMAN
YOU COULD BE NEXT! Enter your short ction (1,500 words or fewer) in the 18th Annual WD Short Short Competition. The early-
bird deadline is Nov. 15, 2017. For more information or to enter online, visit bit.ly/short-short. To purchase an anthology of the top 25
stories from this years competition, go to writersdigestshop.com.
WritersDigest.com I 49
FUNNY YOU
SHOULDASK
A literary agents mostly serious answers to your mostly serious questions.
BY BARBARA POELLE
Dear FYSA, opening a new document on your Following that, ask what the
I received an offer of repre- computer or grabbing a legal pad agent is thinking insofar as the
sentation for my young adult novel. and writing every agents name and intensity of a round of revisions
When I notified the other agents who the primary reason you queried before shopping to publishers.
had the full manuscript that I was each one at the top. Again, no wrong answer here, just
withdrawing from consideration, I Next, take a look at how long something for you to compare, and
got an additional five offers! What each agent has been in practice and to consider which course you feel
would you advise I ask of the offering how many clients he represents. resonates as the right next step. You
agents in this situation? Well call the resulting comparison can also ask how many editors she
Sincerely, Full Dance Card bandwidth versus experience. A sees herself approaching on an ini-
newer agent with only a few years tial round of submissionsbut dont
Dear Happy Dancer, under his belt may have a greater ask which editors or which houses,
Well, first of all, if I am one of the bandwidth for more personal atten- as you can safely assume if youve
offering agents, I advise you to pick tion and editorial work, while an done your homework that the agent
me. I am delightful. agent with a robust and lengthy is not just sending to Bob Snodgrass
But really, thank you so much client list has the reputation that from Snodgrass Publishing & Hog
for this question, as this happens accompanies years of experience to Feed Inc. (although I heard Bob
more often than most authors realize. guide your career. Which is more was one of the underbidders on
When multiple agents make an important to you? (Hint: There is not 50 Shades). That would count as
offer on the same manuscript, there necessarily a wrong answer here.) another wasted question, and I
are indeed several questions you Next, lets take a look at subrights would open the drawer with the
should be asking the offering parties, management. How does the agent airhorn in it.
and yourself, in order to determine handle film, foreign, audio and Finally, do ask to speak to one
which one might be your best match. merchandising rights? There isnt of the agents current clients. Lets
I should note for others here that necessarily a good versus bad assume none of the clients are going
these questions should also be con- way to handle rights, as long as the to be like, Dude, she day-drinks and
sidered even if only one agent is agent has practices in place in order keeps calling me Gary. My name is
offering. After all, an offer isnt an to take advantage of said rights, as Rene. (Geez, Gary, why you trying
obligationits an invitation, right? well as examples of previous sales to play me like that on a referral
So invite them into a conversation! resulting from these practices. Dont call?) Ask about turnaround and
First, lets assume that each of merely ask, Do you think this can response times on reads and revi-
the offering agents is someone sell film and foreign rights?as the sions, about communication styles,
you chose for a particular reason, answer will be an obvious yes. Thats and about what, if any, support you
and not merely the result of a shot a wasted question, and since you can expect from other agency clients
of tequila and a handful of darts dont want to bombard the agent, and colleagues.
flung at the pages of the Guide to you get only three of those before I Then ask the client, What is
Literary Agents. I would suggest honk an airhorn over the phone line. your favorite thing about working
PHOTO TRAVIS POELLE
ASK FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK! Submit your own questions on the writing life, publishing or anything in between to writers.digest@
fwmedia.com with Funny You Should Ask in the subject line. Select questions (which may be edited for space or clarity) will be
answered in future columns, and may appear on WritersDigest.com and in other WD publications.
QUESTIONS? FEEDBACK?
W E RE H E R E TO H EL P !
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WritersDigest.com I 51
YOURSTORY CONTEST #79
Out of more than 300 entries, Writers Digest editors and forum members chose this
winner, submitted by Cassandra Goolsby of Denton, Texas.
M
ama keeps saying her before, but she looks to me like
dogs cant talk to one of those snotty cheerleaders in
humans, but only movies. I never liked those girls.
because she cant I drape my arm around Peggys
hear Peggy talking to me. neck. She doesnt pay any attention,
I know my dogs barks. They since shes so busy keeping an eye
change depending on what shes try- on Skip. He and the girl move closer
ing to say. The one she sounds right together. Shes pretty, I guess, but
now means Skips home. falsely so. Her eyes are painted almost
I look up from my newest crayon black, her hair bounces with artificial going, and wet, slimy and pointless
masterpiece to tell Vanessa I want to curls, and her clothes consist of less were the only ways I could picture
run outside to greet my brother. Shes material than a bath towel. Mama describing a kiss. Aiden ran off to
not paying attention, though, with says if I ever dress like that shell lock play ninjas before he got wind of
her eyes out of focus and a crayon me up in my room for a week. what I really wanted to do anyway.
dangling precariously from her fin- Vanessa is prettier. She may not Im 7 now, and know better than to
gers. Daydreaming, I guess. Thats be blonde or dolled up, but she be kissing boys for no reason.
one of the reasons I let Mama keep smiles a lot, and thats way more Skip shouldnt be making lips
her around to babysit me. She lets her beautiful than loads of makeup. with some strange cheerleader girl at
mind wander and says no one is ever The two stare into each others 18, especially one he isnt dating. He
too old for pretend or for animated eyes, then lift their lips together. ought to have more sense than that,
movies. Theres no list of dos and Youd better not watch this. I like I do. I make a note to give him a
donts. Thats why I love her so much. cover Peggys eyes with my hand, talking to when he comes inside.
Vanessa tells me Peggy does talk not bothering to look away myself. Peggys fur comforts me from the
in a way I understand. So I get up Its kinda interesting at first, but disturbing scene. I lace my fingers
to find Peggy without bothering to then they get to where they might through her curls, whispering, Im
rouse Vanessa from her musings. I eat the others face off. I decide its never gonna go off and do that stuff.
know she wont worry where Ive not worth watching and start pick- I have you, Peggy. Dogs are way bet-
gone, like Mama would. ing at a hole Peggy ate in the coarse ter than boys anyway. I dont need to
Peggy waits patiently for me green window seat cushion. Part of love one of them with you around.
on the window seat in the dining me wants to finish my newest crayon She nuzzles my hazelnut hair,
PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK.COM: SOFYA APKALIKOVA
room. Her gaze is fixed intently on mural for the refrigerator, but I cant assuring me of my position.
something, so instead of darting out leave Peggy to bear my brothers Ginny! Vanessa calls from
the door to see Skip, I pull myself grossness alone. the kitchen.
up next to her. Skip is speaking to I thought about kissing a boy Im in the window seat with Peggy!
a blonde girl standing outside his once. It took me 10 minutes to I yell back. Dont come in here.
flashy red convertible. She tosses corner Aiden Forestier under the She will, of course. And shes
her hair and reapplies lipstick that playground at recess. But then my gonna hate what she sees.
matches Skips car. Ive never seen vivid 6-year-old imagination started Shes Skips girlfriend, after all.
WRITE A SHORT STORY of 700 words or fewer based on the prompt below. You can be funny, poignant, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story.
83
CONTEST #83
submission form at writersdigest.com/
surprised to find your-story-competition or via email to
yourstorycontest@fwmedia.com (entries
himself feeling must be pasted directly into the body of the
GET
DIGITALLY!
WritersDigest.com I 53
The Only Writers Digest Event
Devoted Solely to the Novel
#NWC17 events
WRI TER S
N W
TRAVEL WRITING WITH STYLE
B Y L . PE AT O NE I L
WritersDigest.com I 55
WRITERS WORKBOOK
story is told from the writers point of view, in a natural imagined status as intrepid adventure writersa disin-
writing voice. But writer participation need not actively genuous approach that will alienate readers.
occur in every paragraph. First-person pronouns should Brisk, straightforward expository writing works best
be used sparingly. Some publications even prefer travel for travel feature articles. Then inject personal asides,
articles be written in second or third person. rhetorical statements, humor and other devices to make
In deciding which experiences to include in a story, I the story move along faster in an informal manner.
listen to my individual storytelling flow, my instinctive
THINK OF YOUR AUDIENCE.
inner voice that is the essence of my personal writing
Consider the tone of the article in relation to its subject.
style. Learning to narrow your focus and accurately select
Expand your word choice to a compelling, accessible
anecdotes to build a visually suggestive travel piece is a
vocabulary. Incomplete sentences are permissible if
matter of practice. It may be easy to say, Trust the inner
your intention is to whip up the pace and create a loose
voice, but sometimes we have to nourish that storytelling ambiance. Jargon and slang are occasionally useful, but
sensibility and encourage self-condence. remember the readers needs when you select similes
Here are some ways to do it. and metaphors. Consider the specic audience you are
FOCUS ON YOUR TONE. writing for. Not every reader is aware of television char-
Style is a matter of voice, but also tonethe type of feel- acters or video game worlds. On the other hand, it can
ing you intend to evoke from readers. Will you create be equally frustrating for a reader to encounter obscure
humor in the narrative by expressing self-deprecation? allusions to classical Greek myths or sports references.
Will the story touch a deep emotional nerve? Do you TAKE RISKS.
have cross-cultural bonds to develop? Is the piece stern What are your favorite metaphors? Do you rely on sports,
or serious: Is the story a microcosm of deeper issues military or business expressions to construct images
poverty, starvation, human rights abusethat you strive and convey secondary meaning? Consider whether this
to shine a light upon? An anecdote can amuse or offend, figurative language does justice to your topic. Stretch
depending on how the story is told. What is your attitude your imagination, and invent some new associations.
toward the place you are describing? Your biases and Compare music to mathematics, food to cloth, construc-
opinions about your experiences there will influence the tion projects to nature. Drive all over the open desert
writing style that emerges as you compose the essay or stretches of highway and cut through the clouds in the
article. Were you changed? Disappointed? Surprised? vast blue sky that is the art of writing. Just dont mix or
Establishing voice and tone early strengthens a piece. overuse metaphors, as I did in that last sentence.
Readers will want to stick with this voice because the tone Aim to employ gurative language as in the
is friendly or funny or smart. The words are cleverly cho- following examples:
sen, juicing the readers mind. Phrases that sound familiar
A woodpecker attacking a hollow tree sounded like a
resonate with readers, making them feel included. There
snare drum
is no singular way to pinpoint the right tone or voice for a
piece. The best you can do is to artfully convey the impres- Background choruses of gossiping tea drinkers echoed
sions derived from your own personal experiences. like a forest of cicadas
BALANCE EDGE AND ATTITUDE. By taking risks I mean stepping out of the no, not
Sometimes writers wonder how much voice is too much. the box, thats become a clich, as has out of the closet,
Usually, unless the writer is noisily whining or employ- off the grid, off the map, off the page. What would be
ing excessive sarcasm, an easy, conversational tone is an effective, fresh comparison to convey exploring turf
the best approach to please readers. Some contemporary beyond the well-known? Venturing out of the hard
writers invoke a mean or edgy tone, which can become drive? Off the deck? Maybe those phrases have become
off-putting in longer pieces. Others inflate their experi- hackneyed as well. Write sensibly, but write with surprise.
ences to create a greater sense of danger, or characterize Sometimes the right metaphor or simile strikes like a
encounters as risky or threatening to enhance their wasp sting (but never like lightning!).
Describe an episode from a recent excursion in your Five golfers, each of whom can strike the ball brilliantly,
city or a journey farther aeld. Then rewrite the are standing on the rst tee at Tour 18, staring at the
scene in several different tones and voices, using the face of a lighthouse straight down the fairway. The
basic information contained in your rst version or hole is supposed to look like the 18th at Harbour Town,
adding more details or anecdotes as you recall them. the great course at Hilton Head, only theres no ocean
Try some or all of these variations: along the left side of the fairway, just a swamp, because
Write the scene from the point of view of a were not in coastal South Carolina but rather suburban
building or a prominent statue. Houston, in what used to be an oil eld.
Cast the scene in a historical light, writing with the
vocabulary and style of that earlier period of time. When you cast about for an image to use in a compari-
Describe the scene as humorously as possible. son, strive for bold originality. Jolt a readers curiosity,
Try writing the travel episode as a war correspon- but remember to be fair to the reader and answer any
dent mightwith staccato short sentences and questions raised in the early part of the article, as in the
no pronouns. following example penned by Patricia Lee Lewis for the
Pretend you are reviewing the destination for Boston Sunday Globe:
a convention of sports coaches or foreign
language translators. Bankruptcy is an awful thing. In 1990, it became an
American brand of purgatory; many considered it a pay-
After youve written the scene from various points
back for an era of greed. For me, bankruptcy ushered in
of view, go over the text and highlight or underline
a time of personal grieving, searching and guilt. At least
sentences, phrases or words that show the particular
I hoped for another chance. And trail cooks spend a lot
style or perspective you were striving to create. Read
of time on their knees.
each version: Is the tone consistent? In the humorous
piece, does the reader feel that a funny person is In this excerpt, the question arises: What does bank-
telling the story? Does the version written with a ruptcy have to do with a travel article? The reader feels
historical perspective lose its tone because of con- curious about how the road from bankruptcy led to
temporary jargon?
being a trail cook. Note how humor lightens a potentially
difcult subject. The writer calls bankruptcy an American
MOVE BEYOND CHRONOLOGY. brand of purgatory and summons the same metaphor
Writing with style may involve shifts in time, perspec- with the phrase trail cooks spend a lot of time on their
tive and mood, although not so often that the reader knees. She answers the questions by the end of the story.
cant follow the story line. Alert readers to highlights Although a writers style may seem amorphous, it is
in the story by placing clues in the opening paragraph, always composed of measured elements. Selectivity of
and then fulll the promise with explanations later in content is a basic ingredient of a writers style. Originality
the story.
of voice and expression conveys style. And, of course, an
Engaging writing establishes a mood. Aim to do so
understanding of various writing techniques is crucial to
quickly. Readers are drawn into a piece when there is
style. In a way, style cant be taught because it is so individ-
something personal about the storyteller included close
ual. But a writer can experiment with phrasing, improve
to the start. That little familiarity serves an important
functionit takes the reader by the hand and whispers her vocabulary and absorb techniques used by other writ-
in their ear, Come along, youll have a good time if you ers. With practice, she can make the work truly her own.
read this.
You might use a comparison to establish an under- Excerpted from Travel Writing, 2nd Edition 2005 by
standing of what existsor what doesnt. In this example L. Peat ONeil, with permission from the author.
WritersDigest.com I 57
WRITING FOR CHILDRENS MAGAZINES
E DI T E D B Y M I CH E LLE R U BE R G
WritersDigest.com I 59
WRITERS WORKBOOK
Articles and Features, a light touch simply means a he reached in his breast pocket and took out a biscuit
relaxed writing stylebut not so relaxed that it reads and put it in the dogs mouth.
cute. Rejection slips from editors often mention that an I couldnt help saying, Troy, that was the kindest act
article could have used anecdotes to illustrate generaliza- Ive ever seen.
tions such as frugal, tough or fast thinking. Kind, hell, retorted Troy, I just wanted to nd out
where his head was so I could kick him in the ass.
In s ,
r s be Ultimately its more important for anecdotes to be
humorous than true. Humor writers shade facts and edit
or a . Y n true stories to save the punchline for last. When sto-
to ory ! a "# ries are made up, readers should not be clued with lines
like This story may be apocryphal, but (Few readers
$%&, ' )$t one-+/r at know the meaning of that word, anyway.)
d 1 a pi$e n 34e a 56 Some anecdotes are obviously ctional; others may
need a disclaimer. (But if you start with, One day, God,
789 . Jesus and Moses were playing golf dont bother using
a disclaimer.) For the most part, in humor, editors will
Anecdotes can appear as one-paragraph tales of simple
allot you some breathing room. Heres an example from
humor or as very short stories, rarely more than three
Nels F.S. Ferr:
paragraphs. Both types of anecdotes breathe life into any
article and can either precede or follow a generalization. Three baseball umpires were arguing. Said the rst, I
All anecdotes should: call balls and strikes exactly the way they come. (This
sound true, or at least be realistic man was an objectivist.)
describe a common situation Said the second, I cant do that. I call them
start with an attention-getting opening line balls or strikes the way I see them. (This man was
end with a witty one-liner. a subjectivist.)
But the third had ideas of his own. They are
Here are examples of short and long anecdotes. Note
neither balls nor strikes until I call them. (He was
how they both possess the characteristics mentioned above.
an existentialist.)
SHORT ANECDOTE
THE ONE-LINE JOKE
These days, ask a child a simple question, better be
One-liners are the backbone of humor writing. In print
prepared for a very honest answer. I was babysitting my
pieces, one-liners inject humor without detracting from
6-year-old granddaughter the other night, and when we
the message of the article or column.
sat down for dinner, I asked, Nyika, at home do you
Its important to remember that a joke is written dif-
pray before every meal? And she said, No, Grandpa,
ferently for the printed page than it is for a performer.
we dont have to. Mom is a great cook!
Columns and articles use a high percentage of clich-
LONGER ANECDOTE inspired aphorisms. The printed page also permits more
As I was walking across campus yesterday, I saw one of use of puns and double-entendres, because homonyms
my blind students, Troy, being led by his seeing-eye dog are more understandable in written form.
to the campus gate. Youll nd double-entendres and puns all over the
I followed closely behind because I was curious to editorial pages. Puns are also a staple of newspaper
see how the dog would get Troy safely across the street. headlines and photo captions. Within hours of learning
At the busy corner, they came to a stop when the light that a humpback whale had mistakenly swam 60 miles
turned red. Then, as soon as it turned green, the dog up the Sacramento River into the middle of California,
lifted his leg and urinated over Troys pants. editors were having a whale of a time penning humor-
I watched in amazement as Troy bent down and ous headlines. And when a luxury car fell into a giant
called the dog over and patted him on his head. Then, pothole in Columbus, Ohio, the South China Morning
It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have Urban legend claims that on his deathbed, actor Edmund
a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind Kean said, Dying is easy. Comedy is hard. It doesnt
people who apparently view it as some kind of recre- matter whether Kean actually said that or not
ational activity.
the meaning behind the quote is accurate. Comedy is
hard, and it takes years of practice, dedication and rejec-
It is a well-documented fact that guys will not ask for tion to be a successful humor writer. That said, dont be
directions. This is a biological thing. This is why it takes discouraged. Life is brief, and you might as well enjoy
several million sperm cells to locate a female egg, the journey. Therefore our final advice is simple: Think
despite the fact that the egg is, relative to them, the funny, write funny and have fun. WD
size of Wisconsin.
THE OVERSTATEMENT Excerpted from Comedy Writing Secrets, 3rd Edition 2016 by
Mark Shatz with Mel Helitzer, with permission from Writers
Russell Baker was a cynic who saw the world as it was. In
Digest Books. Visit writersdigestshop.com and enter the code
his column An Idea That Must Be Unfolded Now, Baker Workbook for a 10 percent discount on this and other books to
used exaggeration to describe umbrellas: help you hone your craft.
WritersDigest.com I 61
STANDOUTMARKETS
An exclusive look inside the markets that can help you make your mark. BY TYLER MOSS
The Rumpus
WHAT STANDS ABOUT: The Rumpus is a place where people come to
OUT & WHY: be themselves through their writing, to tell their stories
Founded by award- or speak their minds in the most artful and authentic way
winning
w author they know how, and to invite each of you, as readers, com-
Stephen Elliott, The menters or future contributors, to do the same.
Rumpus is dedi-
cated to fostering new voices: We want to introduce you FOUNDED: 2009. TRAFFIC: About 200,000 monthly total
to authors youve never heard of before and to provide visitors. PAYMENT: Each month, we set aside $300. All
perspective on books, lms and media that will make you eligible contributors are able to opt in for payment at the
look deeper. The platform has boosted the careers of end of the month, and the money is divided between those
writers from Roxane Gay (Bad Feminist)former essays who opt in. We know that this amount is not enough, and
editor for the siteto Cheryl Strayed, who penned the we are working toward being able to pay a standard indus-
advice column Dear Sugar from 2008 to 2012, and now try rate to all feature contributors and book reviewers.
serves on the advisory board. Under new ownership as LENGTH: 1,5004,000 words for essays. PUBLISHES: Essays,
of January 2017, The Rumpus makes up for its low pay reviews, interviews, music, film, fiction and poetry.
rate with high visibility and the potential for a post to go HOW TO SUBMIT : Submit to the appropriate category
viral. TM at therumpus.submittable.com/submit. DETAILED
GUIDELINES: therumpus.net/about/#writersguidelines.
Callaloo
WHAT STANDS OUT & WHY: ABOUT: The central purposes of Callaloo are to provide a
Callaloo has received prestigious publication outlet, in English or English translations, for new,
grants from such national agencies emerging and established creative writers who produce
as the Lannan Foundation and the texts in different languages in the African diaspora; and to
National Endowment for the Arts. At a serve as a forum for literary and cultural critics who write
time when the demand for diversity in publishing is gaining about the literature and culture of the African diaspora.
ground, this journal provides a venue for writers from
marginalized communities seeking to lend their voice to the FOUNDED: 1976. CIRCULATION: 1,600. PUBLISHES: Five
cultural conversation. Notable contributors include Jamaica issues/year. READING PERIOD: Year-round. PAYMENT:
Kincaid, Charles R. Johnson and Edwidge Danticat. Despite Contributor copies. LENGTH: No longer than 10,000
the small circulation, Callaloos history of accolades words; no more than five poems at a time. HOW TO
including the O. Henry Award in 2000 for John Edgar SUBMIT: Final, double-spaced manuscripts should be
Widemans story Weightmakes it a strong clip for any submitted in Word documents via the online manuscript
writers portfolio. TM tracking system at callaloo.expressacademic.org/login.php.
DETAILED GUIDELINES: callaloo.tamu.edu/node/208.html.
AFAR
ABOUT: The best travel adventures often happen when you WHAT STANDS OUT & WHY:
step off the beaten track or open yourself to the unexpected. Distinguished by its compelling
So, while other travel magazines tell their stories through storytelling
s and breathtaking photog-
itineraries, AFAR tells its stories through people, allowing raphy presented through the lens of
readers to explore authentic local cultures from the inside out. local people, cultural immersion, and
the authentic and unexpected, AFAR has been a nalist
FOUNDED: 2009. PUBLISHES: Bimonthly. CIRCULATION: for the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards Best
275,000. LENGTH: Varies. PAYMENT: $11.50/word. Travel Magazine every year since 2010, and won the honor
EDITORIAL INTERESTS: The front-of book section, Wander, twice. Named Adweeks Hottest Travel Magazine in 2013,
is all about curious things happening around the AFAR was also a nalist in 2014 for a National Magazine
worldeverything from offbeat destinations and fresh Award in the General Excellence category. About 60 per-
takes on places you already know to unusual experiential cent freelance written, this well-paying market is wide open
adventures, both intentionally and domesticallythat to new writers with strong story ideas. TM
are told with enthusiastic, colorful, often first-person
reporting. HOW TO SUBMIT: Email queries to editorial@
afar.com. DETAILED GUIDELINES: about.afar.com/about/
guidelines-and-terms/writers-guidelines.
Homebound Publications
ABOUT: We are a small press with big ideas. As an inde- WHAT STANDS OUT & WHY:
pendent publisher we strive to ensure that the mainstream Homebound books have received
is not the only stream. It is our intention to preserve con- numerous honors, including the
templative storytelling. In all our titles, our intention is to Foreword Review INDIES Book of the
introduce new perspectives that will directly aid humankind Year, Nautilus Book Awards, Benjamin
in the trials we face at present as a global village. Franklin Book Awards and Saltire
Literary Awards. The indie publisher places a high value
FOUNDED: 2011. PUBLISHES: 1520 books per year. on its relationship with authors, involving them in the book
IMPRINTS: Hiraeth Press, Owl House Books. ADVANCE: design process and ensuring theyre satised with the nal
Royalty only. ROYALTY: Up to 15 percent on fiction, non- product. Most encouragingly, Homebound has this to say:
fiction; 20 percent on poetry books. RESPONSE TIME: 46 We would rather work with a rst-time author who is full of
months. DESIRED THEMES: spirituality, personal growth, passion and drive than a well-established author who has
Buddhism, sustainable practices, environment, travel lost her or his enthusiasm for the craft.TM
and more. HOW TO SUBMIT: Send creative nonfiction,
essay collections and travel writing via the form at
homeboundpublications.submittable.com/submit. For
consideration, unsolicited fiction must be entered in the
Landmark Prize for Fiction; unsolicited poetry must be
entered in the Homebound Publications Poetry Prize.
DETAILED GUIDELINES: homeboundpublications.com/
inquires/submissions.
Tyler Moss is the managing editor of Writers Digest.
WritersDigest.com I 63
CONFERENCESCENE
Events to advance your craft, connections and career. BY DON VAUGHAN
BOOK PASSAGE FACULTY MEMBER JEFF GREENWALD DANA KELLY; KILLER NASHVILLE MOCK CRIME SCENE MICHAEL R. HICKS; MIDWEST WRITERS GAIL WERNER
and Sunday; as well as a Sunday
closing reception. WHAT MAKES
THE CONFERENCE UNIQUE: Those
focused on the niche travel market HIGHLIGHTS: At 12,000 square feet, Killer Nashville
will find a genuine sense of intimacy Book Passage contains a spacious International Writers
between attendees and faculty.
Because it takes place in a book-
event room, a vast patio and a host Conference
of smaller meeting rooms where Walkin after midnight takes on a
store, our conference feels different attendees will be able to choose whole new meaning when crime
than [one] taking place at a conven- from a wide range of craft sessions.
writers gather in Music City, U.S.A.
tion center, conference director Topics include writing effective
Kathryn Petrocelli says. WHO ITS ledes, photographing food and
WHEN: August 2427, 2017. WHERE:
PERFECT FOR: Travel writers and wine, and crafting personal essays.
photographers. Participants range Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville
Half-hour consultations with
vastly in experience, from those South Cool Springs, Franklin, Tenn.
faculty are an additional $95, dur-
PRICE: $375. Includes Friday and
who are just dipping their toes ing which attendees can discuss a
into the field to well-published concept or receive feedback on a Saturday networking luncheons with
folks who are looking to make work sample or proposal submitted faculty, plus agent/editor roundtable
continued contacts, Petrocelli in advance. IF YOU GO: Escape into pitch sessions. Activities available
says. HOW MANY ATTEND: 7590. Muir Woods National Monument, for an additional fee include break-
FACULTY: Writers Don George a stretch of old-growth redwood out intensives/workshops ($18 each),
(The Way of Wanderlust) and Tim forest 7 miles southwest of Corte critiques ($45 each), and the Guest of
Cahill (Lost in My Own Backyard: Madera with a peaceful atmosphere Honor Dinner and Awards Banquet
A Walk in Yellowstone National sure to spur your next travel writing ($95). See website for details. WHAT
Park); editor Elizabeth Harryman project. FOR MORE INFORMATION: MAKES THE CONFERENCE UNIQUE:
(Westways magazine); photogra- bookpassage.com/travel-writers- Killer Nashville is driven by a pay-it-
pher Robert Holmes; and more. photographers-conference. forward ethos to empower the next
without soaking up some soulful (Harlequin/Harper Collins); and New York Times
storytelling in the form of live coun- many more. HIGHLIGHTS: Writers Best-Selling Author
try music. FOR MORE INFORMATION: looking to build their brand can of The Nightingale
killernashville.com/conference. take advantage of free social media Kristin Hannah
tutoring. The round-robin session
Midwest Writers Buttonhole the Experts will give WWW.WRITEONTHESOUND.COM
Workshop attendees a chance to pick the brains ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 20, 2017
WritersDigest.com I 65
C ON FE RE NC E GU IDE
literary agents. Attendees can also meet and and save: www.stockton.edu/murphywriting.
CONFERENCE GUIDE pitch literary agents and publishers looking for Contact:
JULY/AUGUST 2017 new talent with polished manuscripts. There Peter Murphy
Keep in mind that there may be more is an informative session with the "agents du Ph: 609/626-3594
than one workshop in each listing. jour" to help prepare for your actual meeting. info@murphywriting.com
These workshops are listed alphabeti- Writers also enjoy a Keynote Address lunch on www.stockton.edu/murphywriting
cally by state, country or continent. Sat. & Sun. Open to all levels of literary and
Unless otherwise indicated, rates include screenwriters. Early registration discounts and NEW JERSEY
tuition (T) only. Sometimes the rates also financing available. See website for details.
include airfare (AF), some or all meals (M), Contact: ANNUAL PUT YOUR HEART IN A
accommodations (AC), ground transpor- Lillian or Tony N. Todaro BOOK CONFERENCE, sponsored by New
tation (GT), materials (MT) or fees (F). P.O. Box 2267 Jersey Romance Writers (NJRW), is October
When you find workshops that interest Redondo Beach, CA 90278 1314, 2017. The conference will take place
you, be sure to call, email or check the Ph: 310/379-2650 at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel. The
website of the instructor or organization info@wcwriters.com conference offers workshops with noted
for additional information. www.wcwriters.com/aglawc
authors, educators and trade professionals
All listings are paid advertisements. from all aspects of the publishing industry.
2017 MENDOCINO COAST WRITERS
Feature speakers include: Eileen Dreyer, Nancy
CONFERENCE, Sponsored by Poets &
Writers and The Community Foundation of Herkness, Kristan Higgins, Elizabeth Hoyt and
ARIZONA Mendocino County, August 35, 2017, at Damon Suede. There will also be Pitch sessions,
Mendocino Middle School, Mendocino, CA. Published Author Retreat, Editor/Agent panels
WOMEN WRITING THE WEST 23RD The Mendocino Coast Writers Conference is a and a Trade Show, along with many networking
ANNUAL CONFERENCE, sponsored by vibrant gathering that offers morning workshops opportunities. For more information, go to:
Women Writing the West, October 2628, in a wide range of genres and relevant to www.njromancewriters.org/conference.html
2017 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, differing experience levelsfrom a dedicated
Tucson, AZ. Women Writing the West, an emerging writers workshop to a juried-in master
organization that supports authors and other class. Afternoons are packed with craft seminars, NEW YORK
professionals in promoting the contributions pitch panels, one-on-one consultations, and
made by women to the history, culture and open mics; and every evening offers an WRITERS DIGEST ANNUAL
growth of the American West, invites all opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie and CONFERENCE, presented by Writers
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Ph: 877/436-7764, option 2
WRITER'S DIGEST NOVEL WRITING writersdigestconference@fwmedia.com
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Digest, October 2729 in Pasadena, CA. Back
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WritersDigest.com I 67
C LA S S I F I E D S : RE A DIN G N OTIC ES
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WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO ORWELLS TRUTH TELLERS:
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