August Writers' Magazines

Great articles and advice abound in this month's issues of Poets & Writers, The Writer, and Writer's Digest:

My favorite living poet, Billy Collins, is on the cover of Poets & Writers' September/October issue. His new book, Ballistics, releases September 9th. P&W looks at Collins' career and life, and how he succeeds by focusing on his readers.
Even if Mr. Collins doesn't make you dive headlong into this issue, P&W is always worth a look. Besides the cover story, this issue contains articles on making your own chapbooks, getting an agent, and 100 Writing Contests with Upcoming Deadlines.

After you've made your chapbook by hand, you'll need a website to promote it, and that's what Writer's Digest promises this month: a how-to for turning a website into a wonder. They also show off the winner and finalists of their website contest, and we can all visit and learn from those sites. I have friends whose only website success so far has been to even try -- that puts them ahead of me!
Writer's Digest also offers an interview with Isabel Allende, advice from Debbie Macomber, and more get-an-agent tips.

The Writer for September drew me in with a screaming cover story on 104 Worst Cliches. This list-type article hit the heads of many a nail. But what really impressed me was the magazine's willingness to follow that story with one on exploiting the hidden power of cliches! They present possibilities positively.
There's also a good interview with Tess Gerritsen, tips for successful collaborations, and overall, the you-can-do-it push I always get from The Writer.

We have all of these magazines here at the library (although I'm going to buy P&W; Billy's really my guy, poetically) and I hope you come and enjoy them.