Writing

The definitive source of information, insight, and advice for creative writers, from the nation's largest and most trusted organization for writers, Poets & Writers.

For half a century, writers at every stage of their careers have turned to the literary nonprofit organization Poets & Writers and its award-winning magazine for resources to foster their professional development, from writing prompts and tips on technique to informative interviews with published authors, literary agents, and editors. But never before has Poets & Writers marshaled its fifty years' worth of knowledge to create an authoritative guide for writers that answers every imaginable question about craft and career--until now. Here is the writing bible for authors of all genres and forms, covering topics such as how to:

-Harness your imagination and jump-start your creativity
-Develop your work from initial idea to final draft
-Find a supportive and inspiring writing community to sustain your career
-Find the best MFA program for you
-Publish your work in literary magazines and develop a platform
-Research writing contests and other opportunities to support your writing life
-Decide between traditional publishing and self-publishing
-Find the right literary agent
-Anticipate what agents look for in queries and proposals
-Work successfully with an editor and your publishing team
-Market yourself and your work in a digital world
-Approach financial planning and taxes as a writer
-And much more

Written by Kevin Larimer and Mary Gannon, the two most recent editors of Poets & Writers Magazine, this book brings an unrivaled understanding of the areas in which writers seek guidance and support. Filled with insider information like sample query letters, pitch letters, lists of resources, and worksheets for calculating freelance rates, tracking submissions, and managing your taxes, the guide does more than demystify the writing life--it also provides an array of powerful tools for building a sustainable career as a writer. In addition to the wealth of insights into creativity, publishing, and promotion are first-person essays from bestselling authors, including George Saunders, Christina Baker Kline, and Ocean Vuong, as well as reading lists from award-winning writers such as Anthony Doerr, Cheryl Strayed, and Natalie Diaz. Here, at last, is the ultimate comprehensive resource that belongs on every writer's desk.

It's been called ?possibly the most popular book on grammar ever published.? Now the witty bestseller that took the nation by storm is back in a revised, expanded edition with new dos and don?ts from top to bottom.
In this new Woe Is I, Patricia T. O?Conner displays the same fresh, irreverent humor that has charmed hundreds of thousands of readers. There are new chapters on spelling and pronunciation, and updates throughout. But you?ll find the same down-to-earth explanations in clear, plain English?the same sensible solutions to the grammar mysteries that bug even the best of us. O?Conner manages to unscramble the most complicated problems in simple, easyto- swallow language. So you won't encounter the kind of intimidating terminology that made you want to skip your high school English class. This funny, wise, and indispensable guide shows readers how to:
? avoid the persistent grammatical errors that tie everyone?even presidents!? in knots
? watch their tongues and learn to pronounce commonly mangled words
? correctly use dozens of much-abused words and phrases Whatever your problem?intimidated by possessives? puzzled over pronouns? clueless about how to say ?banal the updated Woe Is I provides witty, jargon-free answers to all your questions about the basics as well as the subtleties of grammar, style, and usage. No wonder "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution" called O?Conner's classic ?the best primer on English usage to come along since Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style."?