We’ve all heard the success stories—authors making over a million dollars a year because they promoted their books on social networks or bloggers supporting themselves and their families entirely through their blog. But how do we harness the awesome power of social media and use it to our advantage as a writer and author? And without getting overwhelmed by it all? You’re in luck, grasshopper. This issue is all about using social media to your advantage as a writer. MORE >>

Whether you are looking to boost your income or work on your craft, we know that education is an important part of a writer’s career. That’s why WOW! handpicks qualified instructors and targeted classes that women writers will benefit from. All of the courses operate online and are taught one-on-one with the instructor. The flexibility of the platform allows students to complete assignments on their own time and work at their own pace in the comfort of their own home. Visit the classroom page and check out our current line up of workshops: fiction writing, writing for children, screenwriting, creativity, memoir, personal essay, grammar, food writing, freelance writing, novel writing, finding a literary agent, blogging, social networking for authors, independent publishing, and more. MORE >>

The results are in! After careful deliberation our honorable guest judge, literary agent Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, has made her final decisions. Read the winning stories of the 750 words or less open prompt Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Contest. MORE >>

If you’re on Facebook, you know it’s hard to keep up with the rules for profiles, pages, groups, events, contests, and advertising. Not to mention, there’s the relatively new timeline format that everyone must get used to now. Here are some tips from authors who are in the thick of things and using Facebook to find and interact with readers. Darcy Pattison interviews authors Claire Cook, Susanna Reich, and Tara Lazar who share their best advice. MORE >>

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned writer or a newbie; it’s important to take a proactive approach with your publicity. These two articles will show you how to use social media to connect with movers and shakers, build an audience, and market yourself while staying safe online. In There’s a Reason They Call It Social Media, Jamie Anne Richardson shows you how to connect with the leaders in your field and build a platform that attracts readers. In Online Reputation Tips for Writers: How to Be Your Own Publicist, Therese Pope shows you how to manage your reputation online and market yourself strategically while helping others. MORE >>

As a writer, we already know you have great content, but do you have an audience of dedicated readers? Or an additional product you can sell to those readers to generate significant income? If you need help building an audience or making a living, these two articles will provide you with a great start. In How to Get Me to Your Blog and Keep Me Coming Back, Devon Ellington shares the key elements that attract new and repeat visitors to your blog. She also interviews author Lori Widmer and literary agent Marilyn Allen who share their best advice. Included is a list of actionable tips of things you can do to drive traffic to your blog today. And once you have a passionate audience, why not create an additional product you can sell to those readers to generate significant income? In Bloggers: How to Sell E-books on a Niche Blog, Steff Green, an expert blogger with four niche blogs, tells the story of how blogging about her gothic wedding naturally led to writing an e-book on the subject based on the questions she received from fans. She also shares tips on how to sell the e-book on your blog, market it, and how advertising worked for her. It’s an awesome story you can learn from too! MORE >>

Bloggers dream of creating a site where thousands of readers visit each day, leaving comments and soaking up knowledge. Many of these bloggers also plan to earn some cash from their hard work, so they’re building a community and a full-time income at the same time. This doesn’t happen very often—if you dream of your blog earning enough money to support you and your family, you have to put the work in. Even if you hope to earn a few hundred dollars each month from your blogging efforts, it’ll still be work. But it’s possible. Like freelancing, it helps to have your eggs in more than one basket by creating multiple streams of income through your blog. Margo L. Dill interviews bloggers Catherine Caine, Lewis Albanis, Kimberly Gauthier, and Steph Calvert who are doing just that. Learn from their monetization methods and try them with your blog! MORE >>

Blogging and social media paths are clearly intertwined. How can writers take advantage of the popularity of both mediums to boost readership and enhance their personal brand? LuAnn Schindler interviews four social media experts—Samara O’Shea, Krista Canfield, Josie Loza, and Shira Lazar—who share experiences and recommend ways writers can apply social media and blogging strategies. MORE >>

Writers, authors, novelists—let me tell you a secret: Blogging is something you do for yourself. Although you’re writing for that invisible audience on the other side of the screen, you’re still reaping some bonuses for yourself, too. Allena Tapia urges you to take a look at your blog in light of these ten benefits and see if you’re truly getting the most out of your blogging time. MORE >>

For writers promoting themselves and their work, it’s become impossible to ignore the marketing benefits of social media sites. Pinterest attracts more than a million visitors each day, and its greatest potential might be as a source of referral traffic. So how can you harness the power of Pinterest to direct traffic to sites that market your books, products, and services without alienating friends and potential customers with obvious sales pitches? Charlene Oldham interviews social media experts Nicole M. Miller, Morgan Siem, Michelle Shaeffer, and Dana Lynn Smith who show you how to build connections, gain followers, and boost your website’s traffic. MORE >>

Online markets that pay (and pay well) can be difficult to track down, which is why so many writers have fallen into the trap of writing for content farms. Well, no more! Krissy Brady interviews the editors of five websites and blogs to find out what they’re looking for. Learn how to pitch to Make a Living Writing, Renew Every Day, Sasee, She’s Self-Employed, and The Renegade Writer. Find out their pay rates, writer’s guidelines, what to pitch, submission etiquette, and more! MORE >>