Weekly Round-up: Seasonal Writing

Every week our editors publish somewhere between 10 and 15 blog posts—but it can be hard to keep up amidst the busyness of everyday life. To make sure you never miss another post, we’ve created a new weekly round-up series. Each Saturday, find the previous week’s posts all in one place. 

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‘Tis the Season…

…for buying gifts, reflecting on the past, and making plans for the future. Check out our recommendations for observing seasonal traditions:

• If you’re still searching for the perfect gift for a writer, find the perfect present with our Holiday Gift Guide 2016.
• While reflecting on your personal growth over the past year, check out advertisements from past issues of WD and see how much we’ve changed in our 97 years.
• You may be planning a 2017 resolution to write more. Instead of making vague or unrealistic writing plans, prepare for the new year with purpose and self-understanding by writing your manifesto.
• Another way to understand and revitalize your writing habits is to track the way you spend your time and adjust as needed. Here are 9 Reasons for Writers to Keep a Time Log.

Author Insights and Practical Tips

Our names are part of our identities. Discover the complications involved in Naming a Newly Published Author. Then learn from someone else’s experience by reading 7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Sarah Maine.

When trying to add depth to your character, try applying this concept from HBO’s Westworld: Figure out your character’s cornerstone. You can also use internal dialogue to develop character and achieve multiple other effects.

Trying to make your readers laugh? Read Leigh Anne Jasheway’s advice on How to Add Humor to Your Novel During Revision.

Poetic Asides

The 2016 November PAD Chapbook Challenge is over. If you participated in the challenge, you have until January 15, 2017 to revise your poems and submit your manuscript for judging. Use these 4 Poetry Chapbook Strategies as you prepare your manuscript.

Looking for some inspiration to write new poems? This week’s poetic form challenge is to try out a landay, and our weekly poetry prompt is to write a “pop” poem.

If you already have a full stockpile of poems, read an interview with Amorak Huey, author of poetry collection Ha Ha Ha Thump, for some tips on the publication process for poetry.

Opportunities

This week, we have two new literary agents to tell you about. Maximilian Ximenez of L. Perkins Agency is looking for science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thrillers, and nonfiction in the categories of popular science, true crime, and arts and trends. Jen Hunt of The Booker Albert Literary Agency is looking for historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and steampunk/gaslight/dieselpunk, all preferably with some romantic element.

Finally, you still have a few more days to sign up for our agent one-on-one boot camp, How to Find and Keep a Literary Agent, starting on December 12. Spots are limited, so sign up while you still can!

The post Weekly Round-up: Seasonal Writing appeared first on WritersDigest.com.

from Writing Editor Blogs – WritersDigest.com
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