Nominate The Write Conversation for the 28th Annual Writer's Digest Best Sites for Writers

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

It's holiday tradition time for The Write Conversation!

I'm once again asking for your help—and it's an early Christmas present for all of us who pour out our knowledge here and share it with you. If you are enjoying this site and find it valuable, please, please take a moment and nominate us for the Writer's Digest 28th Annual Best Sites for Writers!

They are accepting nominations until December 15, 2025 (but don't wait to nominate us)! So be sure to spread the word and give us a shout-out in the process.

Here's a link to the page on the Writer's Digest Website, explaining the process:

Writer's Digest 28th Annual Best Sites for Writers

If you want to go directly to the nomination form:

Just click on this link to nominate The Write Conversation—and any other sites you love. It's a HUGE gift to nominate a website/podcast/blog—and a great way to say thank you!

No matter whether we make the list or not, I KNOW we have the best community of any blog on the internet! 

TWEETABLE

Nominate The Write Conversation for the 28th Annual Writer's Digest Best Sites for Writers from @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Edie uses the truths God has taught her as an author, photographer, and blogger to encourage others. She’s learned to embrace the ultimate contradiction of being an organized creative. As a sought-after speaker, she’s empowered and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others call on God’s strength during challenging times, often using creativity to empower this connection. She also knows the necessity of Soul Care and leads retreats, conferences, and workshops on ways to use creativity to help strengthen our connection with God. 

She and husband Kirk have been married 43+ years with three grown sons and four grandchildren. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can often be found with their big black dog hiking the mountains.

Lessons Learned after 15 Years of Blogging

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Can you believe it? Writer's Digest Magazine just announced their 26th Annual 101 Best Websites for Writers List. Thanks to all of you, we made the list again! The Write Conversation has been on the list since 2017. I'm humbled and excited by the inclusion.

It's hard to believe this blog began just over 15 years ago. 

Would You Please Nominate The Write Conversation?

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

It's that time of year again. Writer's Digest is accepting nominations for the top writing blogs. We'd be so honored if you'd nominate us again this year. 

Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference

Edie here. Today I’m excited to share the information for another Writer’s Digest conference—October 28-30, Los Angeles, CA. This one is Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference. Beyond the opportunity to learn from the best and network with professionals, Writer’s Digest is offering readers of The Write Conversation at special $25 discount. To receive the discount, use this code when you register: TWC16

Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference

For more than 90 years, writers have turned to Writer’s Digest for friendly, encouraging and authoritative insights about how to write better and get published. And attending the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference is like stepping into the magazine’s pages; attendees leave inspired, more confident in their abilities and with a greater understanding of the current publishing landscape, including self-publishing opportunities. From the first sentence to the book’s marketing plan, this event is the opportunity to build a better book from the ground up, from the first sentence to the marketing plan.

Learn from the Experts

Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference boasts a lineup of speakers that includes New York Times bestselling authors—including Garth Stein and Christopher Rice—plus Pulitzer Prize-Winner, Jane Smiley. They’ll join a host of literary agents and industry experts at this uniquely positioned event—one of the few focused exclusively on the craft and business of novel writing.

Who Attends Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference?

Writer’s Digest’s reputation attracts a uniquely dedicated group of writers. Most have been writing for years and many have already published. They want and expect relevant information to further their writing careers—and this event gives it them, no matter what stage of their journey.

Get What You Need

Whether you need help with the broad strokes of your novel or guidance for fine-tuning your nearly finished manuscript you’ll find sessions offering what you need across multiple tracks. Mix and match among Craft, Character, Storytelling, Genre Studies and more. Your picks, your weekend, built your way.

Do What You Love

Fuel up on the creative buzz of being around hundreds of other writers. Make new friends and meaningful connections; the event offers plenty of chances to mingle, including the Halloween-themed Cocktail Reception. Come dressed as your favorite character or literary figure!

Be Inspired By the Best

The final roster is still coming together, but the speaker lineup off to a stellar start—with keynotes including New York Times bestsellers Garth Stein (The Art of Racing in the Rain; A Sudden Light) and Christopher Rice (A Density of Souls; The Vines), plus Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times bestseller Jane Smiley (A Thousand Acres; Moo) sharing their writing inspiration.

You’ll get your best price when you register by October 27. Hope to see you there.

TWEETABLES

Learn from the experts and mix& match the program track that’s right for you at #WDNWC16 in LA.http://bit.ly/1WNEhdP (Click to Tweet)

Build a better book from theground up in LA this fall. #WDNWC16 http://bit.ly/1rwsQKw (Click to Tweet)

A special offer from Writer’s Digest for the Readers of The Write Conversation

Edie here. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you know how important writing conferences. You also know that I’m a HUGE fan of the magazine, Writer’s Digest. 

So you can imagine my excitement when Writer’s Digest contacted me and offered the opportunity to pass along the opportunity for you to save money on their premier writing conference. I wish I could join you there this year, but I’ll definitely be there next year!

Thursday Review—Writer’s Digest

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

Have you ever felt left out? Ever been told you should do something if you want to succeed—but you can't?

If you've ever contemplated a writers conference with a non-existent bank account, three small children, or a work schedule with zero vacation, then you know what I'm talking about.

If you've been writing for any length of time, you know about conferences. You know you should find a way to get to one, preferably every year. You know your career will benefit.

But you can't go. You can't afford it. You can't leave your kids. You can't get off work.

But could you spare $20?

That's right. $20. The price of two movie tickets. The price of four frappuccinos. The price of five gallons of gas (I know, depressing isn't it).

For $20, you can subscribe to Writer's Digest. Think of it as a little mini-conference that comes to your mailbox eight times a year.

Don't believe me? Let's think about what happens at a conference.

1. Networking - I'll grant you that you aren't going to get the same person-to-person networking from a magazine that you'll get at a conference, but each issue will expose you to new genres, new publishers, new authors, new agents, new websites and new ideas. The May/June issue lists the 101 Best Websites for Writers. You'll find websites for agents, online writing communities, writing advice, specific genres and much more.

2. Classes - Sure, you want to take classes in your field, but you also want to broaden your horizons and take a few classes in areas you know nothing about. Writer’s Digest meets both requirements. The February issue included the article "25 Ways to Improve Your Writing in 30 Minutes a Day" - hmm, sounds like a workshop title to me. If you're a fiction writer, the May/June issue's "Writer's Workbook" focuses on backstory. If you're more the freelance article type, the focus is on Food, Wine & Travel writing. It's fascinating.
  
3. Inspiration/Motivation - Conferences are like pep rallies for writers. So much encouragement, so many new ideas, so many reminders of why you write—you feel exhausted and exhilarated all at the same time.

I'm not going to pretend that reading Writer's Digest will make you want to grab some pompoms or put on some college football fight songs as you write. But, there’s something about having a magazine with the title Writer's Digest landing in your mailbox—with your name on it.

It's a little reminder.

I may not be at my favorite conference this year.
But I am a writer!

What about you? Do you subscribe to Writer's Digest? How has it helped you?
Don't forget to join the conversation!

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. On her blog Out of the Boat she writes about faith and family while her blog Perpetual Motion documents the joys and challenges of loving and rearing a child with special needs. A graduate of Clemson University, Lynn lives in South Carolina where she writes, reads, knits, takes care of three amazing children, one fabulous man and one spoiled rotten Boston Terrier.

Thursday Review, The Writer's Digest Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy

I’m a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy. I cut my teeth on Star Trek—literally. One of my earliest memories involves sitting in my daddy’s lap watch the original TV series. I also love the classics—all the Narnia books and Lord of the Rings.

So it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that when I picked up my pen to write a novel I chose science fiction as my genre of choice. The book isn’t published, but the manuscript did win an award this year in the My Book Therapy Frasier Contest. One of the books that I really enjoyed as a resource was The Writer’s Digest Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy.

This book has gotten mixed reviews, but I found it to be a good investment. One of the complaints is that it’s just a reprint of previous books by the same authors. In some cases that is true, but all that means is instead of consulting several books, I just have to look at one to find what I need.

It has extensive chapters on world building and how to make a world scientifically viable. It also has great chapters for those writing fantasy. It discusses ancient cultures and how they can be incorporated into the world you’re developing. It even has a blueprint of an ancient castle.

One thing missing from this book is any mention of J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter. That oversight has been attributed to many things and really the reason doesn’t matter. I wish it had been discussed, if only peripherally. Other than that one missing component, I was very pleased with my investment and don’t hesitate to recommend it if you’re considering writing in one of these genres.

Let me know what you think.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie