Making Money as a Writer: Passive Income-IFW Writing Contest
Author Jamie K. Schmidt explores opportunities for writers to get some extra cash in their bank account through passive income streams.
Would You Work for Hire? Should you?
For many writers seeking steady money for their writing skill, work for hire offers opportunities that are often easier to break into than traditional publishing.
Making Money as a Writer: Audio Books
Author Jamie K. Schmidt encourages us to consider audio books when looking for ways for making money as a writer.
Write for Money
Professional writers take on extra challenges, and often face extra limitations as well. So the decision to write for money is best made after careful consideration of what you’ll gain and what you may give up.
Contests Are More Than Winning
Beyond the possibility of winning, there are so many benefits for writers entering contests. Jan Fields shares what contests can do for you.
Connecting to Learn
Discover how connecting to learn with others can make a huge difference in your writing skills.
The Best Christmas on Mars
What can you hope to gain by entering a writing contest? IFW Instructor and contest judge Lynn Smith shares why entering a contest can improve your work.
Keep Learning, Never Stop
Don’t be a stagnant writer. No matter where you are at in the journey, you still have places to go and things to learn.
Making the Most of Writing Classes
Writing classes have considerable value for a writer, but there are things you can do to help the writing class do the most for you. Let’s look at four ways to make the most of writing classes.
Lights! Camera! Action! Creating Dramatic Action Scenes
IFW Instructor Kris Franklin illustrates how to build more tension in your story by showing and not telling.
With Writing, the Learning Never Stops
Whatever your writing journey entails, it always includes learning. To write is to learn. And every piece of writing you do will teach you something if you let it.
Types and Topics: Nonfiction That Doesn’t Get Old | IFW
A look at magazines published one, five, ten, and twenty or more years ago will reveal the same categories of nonfiction and many of the same topics. Why? Because they address universal needs and aim to help readers improve their lives.
Recurring Topics: Seasons
Seasonal stories, seasonal poetry and even a bit of seasonal nonfiction can be counted upon to appear in magazines and on publishers’ book lists every year. Jan Fields shares how to make this perennial topics feel new.
Remember the First Day of School?
Every year one event rolls around that is profoundly meaningful for children: the first day of school and these stories can offer a special opportunity for writers.
Writing for Holidays in Books and Magazines | IFW
Most publishers (including both book and magazines) produce some holiday pieces each year. Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of these opportunities.
Planning Ahead for Timely Submissions
What’s (Going to Be) Happening? Victoria Sherrow helps us plan ahead for timely submissions.
Mystery Elements: The Satisfying Ending
Mysteries are rarely open-ended because the very nature of how mysteries work requires closure to be successful. So let’s think about what makes for a good mystery ending.
Mystery Elements: Double Duty Dialogue
Dialogue is important in virtually every story you’ll ever write, but in mysteries that importance (and difficulty) is compounded by the use of dialogue in relation to clues.
Building Your Author Press Kit
Kelli Panique gives tips for what to include your author press kit to make it easy on you and your contacts.
Put on Your Mystery Thinking C.A.P.
Jan Fields shares her process for writing mysteries for readers of all ages.