''Writer's Digest'' is an American magazine aimed at beginning and established
writers. It contains
interviews, market listings, calls for
manuscripts, 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.
''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 "C ...
, 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
''Fraxinus quadrangulata'', the blue ash, is a species of ash native primarily to the Midwestern United States from Oklahoma to Michigan, as well as the Bluegrass region of Kentucky and the Nashville Basin region of Tennessee. Isolated populati ...
, Ohio.
Paid circulation 63000 per 2017 media kit, down from 69000 in the 2016 media kit.
See also
* ''
Writer's Market''
* ''
Writer's Digest Short Story Contest''
* ''
The Author & Journalist''
References
External links
''Writer's Digest'' magazineWriters Online Workshop, from ''Writer's Digest'' magazine''Writer's Digest'' Writing Conference, from ''Writer's Digest'' magazineBlue 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