Writer’s Digest

Lisa Lenard-Cook, author of Mind of Your Story, says that memorable fiction doesn’t arrive by magic, but if you work at writing—and rewriting—you can learn to make what’s on the page match the picture in your head. Read more

The Screenwriting Formula

It’s a common misconception that formula films are bad. Bad films aren’t formulaic—and that’s the problem. In this guide, beginning scriptwriters will learn how to structure their screenplay by using seven critical elements (The Formula) so that every other element falls into place perfectly, creating a salable, high-concept movie. Read more

Attend the 2008 BEA/WDB Writers Conference

Register for Writer's Digest Book's daylong writing conference, presented in partnership with BookExpo America (the largest trade show in book publishing!), on May 28 in Los Angeles. Read more

Tips for Revising Your Manuscript

Revising is often perceived as frustrating and overwhelming, but Write Great Fiction: Revision & Self-Editing by James Scott Bell gives you the guidance you need to revise like a pro.

In this excerpt from chapter fifteen, discover why it's so important to do a careful first read-through of your manuscript before you start the revising and editing. Read more

WGF: Revision & Self-Editing Author Q&A

Find out why Christy Award-winning novelist and Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure author James Scott Bell thinks setting a personal writing quota is so important, and much more. Read more

Bulllies, Bastards & Bitches

With Jessica Page Morrell's Bullies, Bastards & Bitches, you'll be able to tap into your story’s dark side by creating realistic and memorable anti-heroes, villains, antagonists, and difficult protagonists. Read more

Defining and Developing Your Anti-Hero

Anti-heros are the bastards of fiction—those bad guys readers love to hate and hate to love. Find out whats makes a memorable anti-hero tick in this excerpt from Bullies, Bastards & Bitches by Jessica Page Morrell. Read more

Challenging the Limits of Memory

In this excerpt from Writing Life Stories, Bill Roorbach teaches you how to pay attention to and translate your memories and how to overcome your resistance to remembered places and events. Read more

Writing Life Stories

In Writing Life Stories, award-winning author and teacher Bill Roorbach offers innovative techniques that will trigger ideas for all writers of memoir, personal essay, and other types of creative nonfiction. This completely revised and updated second edition—which includes dozens of new lessons and exercises—will teach you to see your life more clearly and show you why real stories are often the most compelling ones. Read more

Q&A: WDB Author Alicia Rasley

Alicia Rasley, author of The Power of Point of View, is a writing instructor, editor, and RITA Award-winning author. Her advice: Expect as much from your writing as you can. If you "get it right" in your first draft, your standards are too low. Read more