WD Presents: A Virtual Conference, Opportunities for Publication, and More!

There's always so much happening in the Writer's Digest universe that even staff members have trouble keeping up. As a result, we decided to start collecting what's on the horizon to make it easier for everyone to know what's happening and when.

This week, we're excited to announce our Annual Science Fiction & Fantasy Virtual Conference, opportunities to be published, and more!

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On August 27 and 28, our WDU Annual Science Fiction & Fantasy Virtual Conference will provide expert insights from SIX award-winning and bestselling authors on the finer points of how to write within the science fiction and fantasy genres. Spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft from six different published authors, then (if you choose) pitch your novel via query letter to a literary agent specifically looking for material in these genres. The agent will provide you with a personalized critique of your query—and maybe ask to see more.

Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live writing conference without ever having to leave your home!

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Write the opening line to a story based on the photo prompt at the link below. (One sentence only.) You can be poignant, funny, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story.

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We're currently accepting submissions for our "For All Ages" column—a 1,200-word, guest-written column about the craft of writing and the business of publishing for children, middle grade, and young adult readers (though we argue those books can and should be enjoyed by adults as well). Topics should be specific and written by those with experience in that area. Examples include: rhyming or page turns in picture books, advice for setting up school visits to connect with readers, using accurate and contemporary language and references for YA, etc.

Click here for the full submissions guidelines and how to submit your work.

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Did you know? Amazon sells nearly 50% of all print books and over 70% of all e-books in America. These facts present a major wake-up call for authors. If you want your book to reach its full sales potential, then you must learn how to sell more books on Amazon. Failure to grasp this reality means dire consequences for your book sales.

It doesn’t matter if you’re self-published or traditionally-published…if you write fiction or nonfiction…if you’re a first-time author or an experienced veteran. Today, success for every author hinges upon selling more books on Amazon.

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This course will consist of six two-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures (text-based) and recommended reading, along with a writing assignment related specifically to your memoir, which will be submitted to your instructor for private review at the end of the first week of each session. During the second week of each session, work will be posted for group review and feedback to class members who choose to participate. Throughout the course, you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing exercises.

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Any middle-grade book author will tell you that writing an effective book is more challenging than reading one! Take this online course and learn the essential elements of writing for kids and how to break into children’s publishing. Throughout this 8-week course, you can expect to read lectures and complete weekly writing assignments. Plus, you will read The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb and learn how to write a middle-grader’s book. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll be able to write the middle-grade book you’ve always wanted.

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If you want to learn how to write a story, but aren’t quite ready yet to hunker down and write 10,000 words or so a week, this is the course for you. Build Your Novel Scene by Scene will offer you the impetus, the guidance, the support, and the deadline you need to finally stop talking, start writing, and, ultimately, complete that novel you always said you wanted to write.

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If you’ve thought about becoming a copy editor but you’re not sure how to go about it, this is the course for you. It’s also a fitting course for college students who want to work for the school newspaper, creative writers who want to self-edit their manuscripts, teachers needing to brush up on the real-world basics for their English courses, and businesspeople striving to sound as competent and together on the page as they possibly can.

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Short stories are a well-loved and popular form of fiction. When you take this online course, you will learn how to write short stories that will delight and entertain your readers. In addition to weekly reading and writing assignments, you’ll also read Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular by Rust Hills.

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In this course, you will work with a published article writer to develop, research and write two articles suitable for publication in magazines you've identified as appropriate markets. You will get feedback from your instructor on your first and second draft of both your articles.

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