Write Your Novel in 2011!

8 Ways to Write a 5-Star Chapter One
Those first few pages have an important job: to whet your readers' appetites for more. Here's how to make sure your opening chapter delivers. By Elizabeth Sims

Hooked on a Feeling
To craft compelling characters, you need to tap into what drives them. Use this foolproof method to bring the emotion of your story to life. By David Corbett

3 Secrets to Great Storytelling
If you think you've heard all you need to know about what drives a plot, think again. Here's the real stuff the best stories are made of. By Steven James

What to Do When Your Novel Stalls
Sooner or later, we all get stranded in the middle of our manuscripts. Use these 6 steps to jump-start your story so you can keep on driving. By John Dufresne

THE WD INTERVIEW: Harlan Coben
Award-winning writing, quick-witted characters and the kind of suspense every reader craves—his books may be classified under mystery or thriller, but Harlan Coben seems to have it all. And he's willing to share his secrets. By Jessica Strawser

Joining Forces
Partnering with other authors can give you leverage for your career—and a whole host of other benefits besides. Here's how to do it. By Marie Lamba


COLUMNS/DEPARTMENTS

INKWELL:
Edited by Zachary Petit

• Stop, Thief!
  
• 5 Steps: How to Create a Free Author Website
  
• Bob, The Column • Top Shelf
  
• Reject a Hit
  
• Undo
  
• Poetic Asides

ASK THE PRO: Daniel Lazar, Agent With Writers House
By Jane Friedman

BREAKING IN: Debut Author Spotlight
By Chuck Samuchino

MFA INSIDER: On Finding Your Mentor
By Dinty W. Moore

QUESTIONS & QUANDARIES: May vs. Might; Public Domain Sources; Exclusive Reads
By Brian A. Klems

YOUR STORY: Paradise
By Bradley Woodrum

STANDOUT MARKETS: Cleis Press and Viva Editions; The Sun
By Vanessa Wieland

CONFERENCE SCENE: Craft-Intensive Events
By Linda Formichelli

WRITER'S WORKBOOK ON Outlining

CHOOSING THE BEST OUTLINE METHOD FOR YOU
By Sarah Domet

ORGANIZING AND DEVELOPING IDEAS
By Laura Whitcomb

USING YOUR OUTLINE TO WRITE A FIRST DRAFT
By Karen S. Wiesner

PLUS:

• CONTRIBUTORS
  
• EDITOR'S LETTER
  
• ONLINE EXCLUSIVES
  
• READER MAIL