Here's a sampling of articles found in the December 2002 issue of Writer's Digest: Interview with Alice Sebold, 365 writing prompts to keep you writing all year, how to read in public with confidence, earn extra bucks from special events, how to beat the 7 freelance demons, writing clinic: fine-tune narrative voice. There are regular columns dealing with fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scripts, ask the lawyer, and so much more. All of the issues I've received (I subscribe) have been just as full as this one is.
If you are an aspiring writer, buy the magazine. Can't afford to go away to a writer's conference? This magazine is like a mini writer's conference that comes to your door every month to lift your spirits and inspire you. Reading this magazine will make you feel that your writing dreams just might come true.
I started out, back in my college years, reading back issues in the library. then I got my own subscription, and that probably dates back to maybe 1978-79. I may have missed a year here or there, but I've enjoyed Writer's Digest (WD) for 20 plus years. Becoming a writer can be a daunting process with plenty of moments when you are ready to give up.
If you're a subscriber to WD, then every month you get fresh ideas, techniques, tips and inspiration as well as plenty of leads on fresh markets where you can send your freelance writing, both fiction and non-fiction. It helped me to develop to confidence, skills and motivation to go on to sell articles to local Philly publications, then OMNI, Success, Family Health, the National Enquirer (medical and science, no gossip) and eventually, even wrote a cover article for.... you guessed it... Writer's Digest.
Okay, so I have some bias. But it was this publication that gave me so much motivation. If you are getting started, or want to give a gift to someone who has shown potential or interest in being a Writer, this is a great publication.
I don't think that most experienced writers will have read this far into this review because they all know about Writer's Digest. Yes they do have plenty of advertising. That's usually a sign of a strong publication. The one thing I'd like to see more of is openness to more freelance contributions, since recently, they've moved towards depending for a larger percentage of their content being provided by regular columnists. Since freelancing is so much a part of the entry process for writers, it would make sense for a publication for writers to walk the talk and support freelancers. On the other hand, WD has been around a long time and any business has a right to try out different strategies for success. I imagine the columnist approach allows for a more reliable and homogeneous content.
