May/June2013 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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How to Write Poetry, Writing Poetry
No matter what form of poetry you write, you’ll find insights and advice here for improving your skill and word usage, enhancing your creativity, and mastering every form of poetry.
April is Poetry Month – Ready for Our Poem-A-Day Challenge?
Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? I have never considered myself to be a poet, but I’ve learned that writing poetry can be fun. That’s why a couple of years ago I participated in Robert Lee Brewer’s Poem a Day challenge. It was one of the best decisions I ever made as a writer–and I think it’s something you should consider doing too. Read more
Why Julia Cameron Plays By Her Own Writing Rules
Alcoholism. A turbulent Hollywood marriage. Writer’s Block. For the author of The Artist’s Way, the path of the writer has never been a walk in the park. Read more
3 Tips for Consistent Tone
If you find yourself having a difficult time sustaining one tone over a long work, try these three tricks. Read more
How to Be an Online Critique Geek
Can a virtual critique group really be as good as meeting face to face? If you make the most of the format, it could be even better. Here’s how. Read more
Literary Journal Submissions 101
To submit your latest short story, essay or poem, you’ll need a cover letter—which is much different from a query. Use these tips from inside a creative writing program to help your letter make the grade. Read more
Historical Fiction Spotlight: Paula McLain
Paula McLain’s latest book is the bestselling The Paris Wife, a fictional account of Ernest Hemingway’s first marriage and upstart years in 1920s Paris, told from the point of view of his … Read more
How to Cook Up a Poetry Jam (Guest Post by Daniel Ari)
Please welcome Daniel Ari, who has offered up a guest post on how to start a poetry jam. Ari has been putting writing jams together since he was an undergrad. In the … Read more
Poetic Form: Qasida (Guest Post by Ren Powell)
Please welcome Ren Powell, whose most recent book is Mercy Island, New and Selected Poems–available through Phoenicia Publishing or Amazon. She is an associate editor with Poemeleon and blogs at http://tribeofmadorphans.com. In … Read more
Interview With Poet Robert Lee Brewer – Guest Post by Walt Wojtanik
There’s something a little silly about being interviewed on your own blog. However, Walt Wojtanik made it a fun experience, which is part of the reason he was chosen as the 2010 … Read more
How to Celebrate National Poetry Month: Guest Post by Nancy Posey
Please welcome our own Nancy Posey as she discusses ideas for celebrating National Poetry Month in April (outside of participating in the Poetic Asides April PAD Challenge). As many of you may … Read more
7 Reasons Why You Should Be in a Writing Group: Guest Post by Bruce Niedt
Please welcome our very own Bruce W. Niedt as a guest blogger today. Bruce is a beneficent bureaucrat and New Jersey native whose poetry has appeared in dozens of online and print … Read more
How to Create Animated Poetry: Guest Post by Sheila Moore
Please welcome today’s guest blogger Sheila Moore, who is a published author, avid poet, writer and reader. Sheila’s poetry chapbook, Shaping Time, is available for purchase on her poetry blog, She’s Writing… … Read more
16 Ways to Not Win a Poetry Contest: Guest Post by Miriam Sagan
Please welcome our guest blogger Miriam Sagan, who has read thousands and thousands of poems submitted to a variety of national and local poetry contests over the past decade. She has retired … Read more
Guest Post Guidelines
Guest posts are a great way to share your voice with a new audience while promoting your blog, book, and/or whatever else you have going on. If you’re interested in sharing your … Read more
Productivity for Poets: Guest Post (and Book Raffle) From Sage Cohen
Sage Cohen is the author of Writing the Life Poetic and The Productive Writer. In fact, this post is part of Sage’s virtual book tour promoting The Productive Writer. Anyone who asks … Read more
Special Guest and Book Give-Away Tomorrow!
Tomorrow, Poetic Asides will have a special guest on the blog: Sage Cohen! If you’re not familiar with Sage, she’s the author of Writing the Life Poetic, which is one … Read more
10 Essential Rules of Poetry
If you write poems, then you’re a poet. Simple as that. But if you want to be more than an unknown versifier who hides poems in a shoe box, here are 10 guidelines for making your mark.
by Robert Lee Brewer
2010 Poetry Award Winner: JAVELINA
Karin Bradberry’s “Javelina” took first place in WD’s 5th Annual Poetry Awards competition, taking home $500 in prize money. Read her winning entry here.
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Winners of the 2010 WD Poetry Awards
Karin Bradberry’s "Javelina" took first place in WD’s 5th Annual Poetry Awards competition, taking home $500 in prize money. The online contest, which pulled in nearly 3,350 entries, was open to poems of any style that were original, unpublished and 32 lines or fewer.
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Simile vs. Metaphor: Smackdown!
The title to this post makes it sound like I’m going to have similes breaking chairs across metaphors’ backs. Maybe metaphors will pin similes. As if. Similes and metaphors both have their … Read more
Poetry Workshop: 014
Okay, I haven’t tackled one of these poetry workshops in a while, so let’s look at a poem from Khara House. Here the original draft: Our daily bread, by Khara E. House Pull one … Read more
Quality v. Quantity: Do they need each other?
Now that I’m escaping from the vacuum of National Poetry Month and another successful April Poem-A-Day Challenge, I find myself wondering about the relationship of quantity and quality in writing. Is there … Read more
How to Organize Your Story Ideas
The best ideas can start out running wild—but you’ll need to train them onto the page if you want to write that novel you have inside of you. Here’s how.
by N.M. Kelby
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Publishing 101: What You Need to Know
Here’s your step-by-step guide to the publishing process–how it works, why you need to know and how you can play an influential role in your book’s success.
by Jerry D. Simmons
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How Poeming Is Like Dating
We’ve been discussing the composition of poetry on Twitter today. It sounds like many poets (including myself) tend to treat writing poetry like dating. Start off for funAt first, it’s just an … Read more