My news: I already have seven bylines! Target for 2009: 15, plus publish my own two-page story.
Now the review.
If you are a hardcore fan(atic) of this magazine, stop reading this right now! I mean, I'm not going to rip it to shreds or anything, it's just that I might point out a few things you may not like.
Birth: c.1920
Location: USA
For starters, WD is hugely popular, with author profiles and interviews, writing and stylistic queries, how-tos, software review, alerts on publishers looking for specific articles, market watch and writing competitions. Most of the how-tos are actually well-written and do send you rushing off to your MS to make corrections.
Cons: 50 per cent (My magazine won't let me write '%') of the mag is ads, several of which deal with self-publishing. The ad content is making the magazine look like a catalogue. No writing or editing exercises. Too much motivational content that sometimes borders on what one might call 'preachy'. I mean, it's all very well to get inspired to write, and they make it look very simple on paper, but actually doing the writing may not be that smooth.
Eight issues a year, for $19.96 ($29.96 for those outside the US). It's not all that expensive, but why just eight issues? There is considerable similarity in content in many issues. I wouldn't be tempted to renew after a year. Having said that, I wouldn't throw away copies I already have!
Writer's Digest has other publications, including an annual 'Writer's Market', a guide to querying, books on synopsis and much more. I love most of them (at least, the ones I got). Trust me, these are good.
Bottom line: I'd rate WD alongside The Writer, which is above every mag except the Writing Magazine.
Next blog: The Writing Magazine closes this review series.
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