Frequently Asked Questions

How often do articles come out?
We post a new article every week on Thursday. Occasionally we post a double issue that covers a two-week period of time.

Is there a print version of the magazine?
Many of our subscribers print out the articles before reading them, but we deliver all of our articles on our website.

What do I do if the print is too small?
In many browser programs, if you hold the control key down and then press "+", the print size will increase. and the "-" will make it smaller.

How can I print the articles?
When you become a subscriber, you will have a "view printable format" link to click on. Printing the articles and keeping a notebook of them will allow you to work with the articles from any location and at your convenience. Although articles remain on line, having a notebook that categorizes the articles by topic or by date can help you construct a valuable resource on writing.

How long will the articles stay on the site?
All of the articles published in the magazine since its inception (October 2002) are still available in the archives. We may change this at some point in the future, but we will give you ample warning if we choose to change this long-standing practice.

How can I search the archives?
Go to the "Recent Articles" page. The search option is in the left sidebar directly under the photo. Simply type in what you're looking for and click GO. The search is through our entire archive.

How can I suggest an article for Writing It Real?
Sheila is very interested in knowing what her readers are curious to know about writing and publishing and welcomes article topic suggestions at .

How can I see the most recent articles?
When you are logged in the first link below Magazine will be "Most Recent Articles".

Why are the articles categorized?
We categorize the articles so that you can browse them by topic. If you're looking for a book recommendation, you may want to browse the "Reading for Writing" category. Or if you're looking for a writing prompt, try "Instructional Exercises".

How do I subscribe?
Please visit our Subscription page for details on benefits and to complete the subscription process.

How can I give a gift subscription?
On our Subscription page choose the third button "gift subscription" to generate a certificate number for your giftees.

Why am I / am I not getting weekly article reminders emailed to me?
Writing It Real sends out weekly reminders to subscribers informing them about newly posted articles. We do this based on the preferences you stated when you registered. If you would like to change your email preferences, you can do so in Subscriber Services, which is accessible from the Writing It Real home page.

What if I forget my password and/or user name?
If you forget your password, click on "Subscriber Log-In" on the top of the Home Page, and then on the forgot-password link; then enter your username and submit the form. Your password will be emailed to you. If you also forgot your username please send us an email with the subscriber name and address and we will send the username and password to the email address to which they are registered.

How can I change my password?
This option is also available in Subscriber Services.

When does my subscription run out?
When you go to Subscriber Services, you will see your subscription expiration date at the top of the page.

How do I print out an article?
After you've signed in to Writing It Real, you'll find a link called "View Printable Format" above the title when you are reading an article. Clicking it will give you the article in a plain black and white window that will look good in print.

I am having trouble logging in; what should I do?
First be sure you haven't accidentally set up two or more accounts. Try to find your welcome email to remind you of your login name. If the system seems to log you in, but you sill can't read the article, you may have to empty your cache. This procedure is slightly different in each browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc.) but in Internet Explorer 7, go to Internet Options in the Tools menu, find the Browsing History section and click "Delete...". On the next screen, delete your Temporary Internet files. Restart Internet Explorer and log in again.

How do I get technical support questions answered?
For any issues you have, please send email to . We will email you back or phone you, so please indicate your time zone.

If you don't see your question in this list, please do email us at