The January 2011 issue of Writer’s Digest is all about partnering with other writers to boost your own writing career, and, as usual, it’s chock full of great information.
Eileen Cook's new book, THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK, comes out in January 2011.
But this latest issue has something else it in: Help for Writers!
I partnered with my friend and fellow author Eileen Cook to write an article on the theft of ideas. Eileen and I both had books come out the same year with striking similarities: main characters who were part of evangelical families but who were struggling with their faith; a Midwest setting; college decisions; protagonists named Emma. The list goes on. There’s no way Eileen or I could have stolen the other’s work, and this kind of thing happens all the time with writers, actually. But some writers let it stop them in their tracks. In Writer’s Digest, Eileen and I explore ways that this kind of simultaneous discovery (a term coined by Malcolm Gladwell) can actually help, not hinder, writers.
Cool, right?
If you pick up a copy, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the piece. But even more, I’d love to hear about situations where you’ve written something, only to find that either there’s something else on the market very similar to it.
2 Comments
OMG! I actually subscribed and this was my first issue. The first thing I did was take a pen and start writing what I was thinking. I never thought I would be able to share it with someone who might actually “hear” me! Um, yes, that’s the article.
“Stop, Thief!” I’ve already run into things like this! “Of all the cities in the United States, you had to pick that one?!?” I actually said this to a published author!
I’ve also had the fear that one of the main plot points in my story was, at one time, all the rage and I think it have been too overdone over the years. But, but, but, it’s just too necessary. Hey, maybe we can revive and old fad!
I know! You read my mind while you were writing this! I just wanted to share that this article helped me to relax and breathe just a little. Thanks!
You can tell Writer’s Digest that your article made me love them! Good job!
Hi Evelyn! I’m so glad you liked the WD article. Some of the coincidences out there with books are truly mind blowing. I hope you’ll keep working on your novel and, yes, “revive an old fad.” Because you know what they say: nothing ever goes out of style, it just pauses before coming around again. Best of luck to you — thanks for stopping by!