The Writer 03.2020

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FEATURES

March 2020
Contents Volu m e 133 Nu m be r 3

20

DEPARTMENTS

10 From the Front Lines

Finding your stride

The secret to good writ-

ing that never confuses,

bores, or leads the

reader astray? It’s all in

the timing.

BY YI SHUN LAI

12 Freelance Success

Writing with kids,

part III

It’s all about submitting

to the chaos. Here’s why

you should do that to

save your sanity.

BY PETE CROATTO

38 Literary Spotlight

The First Line

BY MELISSA HART

40 Conference Insider

Writers’ Police Academy

MurderCon

BY MELISSA HART

IN EVERY ISSUE

2 From the Editor

4 Take Note

42 Markets

47 Classified advertising

48 How I Write

14 Game plan
20 steps to promote your book
(or brand) in 2020.
BY MARIKA FLATT

20 Get your book in front of

a crowd

How authors can use speaking

and teaching engagements to

promote their work.

BY KERRIE FLANAGAN

26 Blogging in 2020: Waste

of time or a writer’s best

friend?

Thinking of starting a blog? Here

are 5 reasons you shouldn’t...and

3 reasons you should.

BY RYAN G. VAN CLEAVE

30 How to cure a case of

writer’s block

Feeling stuck in your manuscript,

craft, or career? Here are 15 of

the most common problems that

can stall a writer’s progress –

plus key strategies for overcom-

ing each one.

BY DANA SHAVIN

Cover: Eladora/Shutterstock (silhouette), tsaplia/Shutterstock (pencils)