''Writer's Digest'' is an American magazine aimed at beginning and established

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, ...

s. It contains

interview An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers.Merriam Webster DictionaryInterview Dictionary definition, Retrieved February 16, 2016 In common parlance, the word "interview" ...

s, market listings, calls for

manuscript A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand – or, once practical typewriters became available, typewritten – as opposed to mechanically printed or reproduced i ...

s, and how-to articles.

History

''Writer's Digest'' was first published in December 1920 under the name ''Successful Writing''. It changed name to ''Writer's Digest'' with the March 1921 issue. By the late 1920s, it shifted emphasis more from literary-quality writing to the rapidly growing

pulp magazine Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 to the late 1950s. The term "pulp" derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. In contrast, magazine ...

field, which offered the widest opportunities to freelance writers. Its most important competitor was '' The Author & Journalist''. An important feature in WD from 1933 forward was the New York Market Letter, edited by Harriet Bradfield, which gave timely updates on editor needs in the magazine field. As the pulp field collapsed in the 1950s, ''Writer's Digest'' shifted emphasis to famous writers and quality fiction. Until 2019, it was owned by

F+W Media F, or f, is the sixth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ef'' (pronounced ), and the plural is ''efs''. Hist ...

. The magazine is published eight times per year. F+W Media, facing near-term liquidity issues with only about $2.5 million in cash available and $105.2 million in outstanding debt, filed on 10 Mar 2019 for protection under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code, citing in various documents a perfect storm of secular industry decline, poor investments, and even mismanagement. Apparently their attempts to transition focus to online from print sales was poorly done. Their users forum had not worked well for some time, and the number of users had dropped way down from previous times. ''Writer's Digest'' was bought by the Active Interest Media subsidiary of Cruz Bay Publishing and/or PRH (Penguin Random House) after bankruptcy of F+W, according to various sources. Penguin Random House acquired the book publishing assets of F+W Media, which include the ''Writer's Digest'' catalog. Cruz Bay got several magazines from F+W, including ''Writer's Digest'', for $200,000, beating out enthusiast publisher Madavor Media. ''Writer's Digest'' also sponsors several in-house contests annually, including the ''Writer's Digest'' International Self-Published Book Awards and their Annual Writing Competition for

short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest t ...

. ''Writer's Digest'' partnered with book publisher BookBaby, the sister company of

CD Baby CD Baby, Inc. is an online distributor of independent music. The company was described as an "anti-label" by its parent company's Chief Operating Officer Tracy Maddux. The CD Baby music store was shut down in March 2020 with a statement that " ...

, in August 2014, to create a self-publishing division called Blue Ash Publishing, to provide instruction and education alongside book publishing and printing services. Blue Ash Publishing takes its name from the home office of the ''Writer’s Digest'' editorial team located in Blue Ash, Ohio. Paid circulation 63000 per 2017 media kit, down from 69000 in the 2016 media kit.

References

External links

''Writer's Digest'' magazine

Writers Online Workshop, from ''Writer's Digest'' magazine

''Writer's Digest'' Writing Conference, from ''Writer's Digest'' magazine

Blue Ash Publishing
{{F W Media Eight times annually magazines published in the United States Literary magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1920 Magazines published in Cincinnati Self-publishing

History

See also

References

External links