How do you feel about...

[Risseybug]

Writer's Digest?? The holidays are coming up, and relatives are asking me what I want. I was thinking about asking for a subscription to WD, but I don't know anything about it.

Do you, writers out there, recommend it?

[James D Macdonald]

Writer's Digest is like Brides magazine. Everyone subscribes once. You should ask some questions about where you're going if you renew your subscription.

One good thing about WD: If an agent advertises there, you can cross 'em right off your list.

[stormie267]

Go to www.writersdigest.com (http://www.writersdigest.com) to get an idea of what is included in the issues. I say go for it--it's far better than getting rancid cologne. (That happened to me one year. I am still on speaking terms to that particular relative.)

[macalicious731]

One good thing about WD: If an agent advertises there, you can cross 'em right off your list.

A bit of an elaboration if you would, please, James?

[novelator]

I agree with James--once is enough.

Mari

[sc211]

Well, I got about three years before I ended my subscription, and I kept a lot of the interviews (James Lee Burke, Tracey Kidder, Stephen King, Evan Hunter, etc), which were the best part of it. (I wasn't on the web then, where you can get any interview you'd like.)

It's a good place to start, with information on the business of novel proposals and such, and you can also find a lot of information on their website and newsletter.

Three collections of their material worth checking out:

Make Your Words Work, by Gary Provost
A great beginning primer from his WD articles

Telling Lies for Fun and Profit, by Lawrence Block
A collection of hard-earned words from his own column

The Writer's Digest Guide to Good Writing
A best-of collection of 75 years of their articles. My favorite part is 28 pages of quotes in the middle, including those from Louis L'amour, Allen Ginsberg, Isaac Isminov, John D. MacDonald, Henry Miller, and Tom Clancy. You can get it pretty cheap, and it's worth it just for that section.

Finally, you might want to check out their book club - there's some great selections there. 4 books for $12 plus shipping ($20).

Have a great Christmas.

[Risseybug]

Ok, thanks. Even though my first book is on it's way to being published, I am still pretty new. I guess one year couldn't hurt, especially if I'm not paying for it :grin

[stormie267]

I guess one year couldn't hurt, especially if I'm not paying for it As I said, go for it! Nothing to lose, maybe something to gain.

[vstrauss]

Every agent who advertises in Writers Digest is a crook--without exception. Ditto for the contests, which are all for vanity anthologies.

- Victoria

[ShinyPenguin]

I've never subscribed (to Writer's Digest *OR* Brides) I read a few WDs and never really like them. I do subscribe to the Writer magazine (www.writermag.com) and have been happy with it.

[Jamesaritchie]

I think Writer's Digest was once an extremely valuable magazine. I also don't think this has been true for at least ten years. Many libraries carry it, and it might be a good idea to find one that does and check out a couple of dozen copies before deciding.

Unfortunately, I find it to be a magazine that can suck in new writers, but I not only don't think it's any good now, I think much of the adiice for fiction writers found therein can be dangerous.

[ChunkyC]

Don't rely on one source of information exclusively. However, there is some good stuff in WD if you exercise a little judicious reading. I've read many things in there that were later echoed by folks on this forum or in other places. When you get corroboration from multiple sources, it's likely you're getting decent info. Look for articles by people who have a track record like sci-fi author Nancy Kress. But if you see an article by someone you've never heard of with a title like "Gestalt the Publishing Industry in Ten Easy Steps", I'd probably skip it.

[tammay]

I agree, Laura - The Writer is for me a much higher quality than WD. About 15 years ago (dating myself here...) WD wasn't as bad but somewhere in the mid 1990's something in the quality went down (at least in my eyes).

Tam

[Writing Again]

One of the things I like about the library: If I see one article I would like to read in a magazine I can check it out and read that one article.

If I pay for it I feel like I should read ever word to make it worth while.

Luckily my library carries both The Writer and Writer's Digest. Now if I could just talk them into carrying LMP.

[stormie267]

But remember: The original poster asked if it was worth asking for WD as a holiday gift.

[Writing Again]

You have a point Stormie, not sure I have a good answer.

On a personal basis I would be more apt to make a wish list on a place like Amazon or seek a gift certificate to a bookstore.

[Jamesaritchie]

I'd agree about The Writer. I think it's infintely better for new writers than is WD.

[Risseybug]

Well, thank you so much for all your input. The lovely thing about the holidays is, you can get more than one gift :grin . I might ask for The Writer too, or instead.

Thanks again!

[veingloree]

I would prefer the writer or perhaps Mslexia (if you don't take it too seriously).

[Dhewco]

Okay, I'm going to have to buck the trend here and say I enjoy the Writer's Digest. I have found good tips in there. I don't read the classifieds at all so I wouldn't know about whether any of them are okay. Isn't Jenna Glatzer, an editor for WD, a regular poster here? I've always found her columns in WD helpful.

Everyone should read it and make their own decisions. But try not to let yourself be automatically biased against WD by the comments here. Go into it with an open mind.


David

[Lori Basiewicz]

Isn't Jenna Glatzer, an editor for WD, a regular poster here?

David, Jenna is more than a regular poster. She is AbsoluteWrite; this is her board.

[pdr]

If you're fairly new to writing professionally then 'Writer's Digest' is helpful and would be a useful Christmas present. I still it useful for me as far as learning about markets in the USA.