I picked up this magazine while (yet again) browsing the magazine aisle of Barnes & Noble. It’s been some time since the last issue of Poets & Writers came out and I was curious to try out another magazine on writing.
One nifty aspect of this magazine is the “Take Note” section which holds little blurbs throughout that may be of interest to a writer. One is a few short paragraphs on using ellipsis to indicate a pause in dialogue (and what you could do instead). Another is a brief account of how one freelance writer keeps organized, yet another talks about “telling details” in Aimee Bender’s The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.
In this section the reader gets a quick look into writing tips, publishing news, and even technology. One interesting short article talked about “Autography,” a new technology that allows authors to “autograph” e-books through downloadable pages. Personally I think this totally defeats the point of getting an autograph, of being able to feel the indentation your favorite writer made with a pen right in front of you. Maybe I’m just a stick in the mud, but not everything can be replaced with a flashy new e-version.
Other sections offer slightly longer pieces (about one page) on topics such as “4 Tips for creating an engaging fantasy series character” and “Why we need pain to write.”
This publication also offers a list of publishers (listed alphabetically) that a writer might want to send their work to.
This magazine is very much for the beginner writer who wants a quick introduction to the world of writing. Designed for those with short attention spans, this magazine holds many different topics which all can be digested in a matter of minutes. Someone with more experience may find this publication to be lacking (it gives an overview of topics and some basic information, but doesn’t delve deeper into its subjects or offer much new information for the seasoned writer).
That said, it’s a great tool for someone looking to learn a little about a lot in one sitting.
Bent Shelf Book Reviews 