Spotlight On: Object Poems
Are you interested in writing poetry? There are many different types of poetry, but today’s writing tip spotlights object poems. Discover what an object poem is and see examples of object poems from The Poetry Dictionary, written by John Drury. What is an Object Poem? A poem about an inanimate object....
Break the Rules of Writing & Get Inspired!
The newest issue of Writer's Digest spotlights the art of breaking the rules. You'll learn ways to break out of your comfort zone, tools to help you create conflict within your story, and advice for getting the most out of writing conferences.
Avoiding Cliches in Writing
Don’t write another cliché novel or use clichés in your novel (here are some cliche examples)! Learn what to avoid from 179 Ways to Save a Novel by Peter Selgin. A writer’s job is to write stories—not to steal or borrow them and, with a coat of fresh paint, pawn them...
Writing a Mystery Novel: Creating a Villain & 5 Ways To Justify a Crime
Are you thinking about writing a mystery novel? Before you begin writing, create a plan or outline for your story. Then figure out what you want your villain to be like. What type of crime will he/she commit? Discover how a villain might justify a crime and the importance of planning...
Scene Structure: How to Write Turning Points
Are you in the middle of writing your story and wondering how to write a scene that indicates a turning point? Learn about turning points and how to show them within your story from Laurie Alberts, author of Showing & Telling. Turning points in the action or the character’s emotions must...
Defining Conflict: What Conflict Is and Isn’t in Writing a Romance Novel
Are you thinking of writing a romance novel or in the planning stages of writing one? Learn what conflict is and how to use it in your romance novel. Today’s tip of the day comes from On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels. What Is Conflict? Conflict is the difficulty between the...
3 Writing Critique Questions You Must Ask Your Prospective Critique Partners
Are you done writing your novel or book? Are you eager to share it with family and friends first before getting a professional manuscript critique? Learn what questions to ask your prospective reviewers with today’s tip of the day from the Novelist’s Boot Camp by Todd A. Stone, an award-winning author,...
Break into the Business of Copywriting!
Is your goal is to launch a new career for yourself as a copywriter or to improve your copywriting skills? Breaking into Copywriting, a new course from Writers Digest University, can fuel your creative desires.
Accomplish Your Writing Goals: Make a Schedule and Meet Your Deadlines
The most disheartening place to be and feel as a writer is stuck. And the most possible place to be is in motion—moving toward our goals. At every turn, we have a choice in how we negotiate the demands of our lives with our own expectations for our writing practice. And...
Writing a Novel: The Four Elements Of a Solid Story Concept
Do you want to write a novel? In addition to creating a solid plot, you are also going to need a strong concept for your novel. Wondering how to conceptualize your story? Todd A. Stone, author of the Novelist’s Boot Camp, shares essential elements for developing a story’s concept. Developing A...
Writing Strong Female Characters: Defining a Bitch
If you’re interested in breaking the mold with your character, there is no single criterion for a bitch. However, you might want to consider making several of her dominant traits negative or what society has typically not expected of females. For example, her traits might include being manipulating, selfish, cunning, power-seeking,...
Writing At Night: The Top 10 Challenges Writers Experience & How to Overcome Them
Are you someone who works full-time but dreams of becoming a published author someday? If so, today’s tip of the day is for you. Taken from Writer With a Day Job by Áine Greaney, you’ll learn how to overcome the challenges of daily life and ways to incorporate writing into your...
Become a Published Writer: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Published
Do you want to become a published writer, author, or freelancer? Buy The Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Published and get the tools you need to achieve your writing goals.
How To Develop a Story Idea Into a Book
The following excerpt is from The Art of War For Writers by James Scott Bell. In the book, you’ll find exercises, tactics, and strategies for fiction writers. Today’s tip of the day is Tactic #27: Test your premise to prove it worthy. Decide Your Book’s Premise Editors and agents are all...
Balancing Motherwood With Writing: The Benefits of Freelancing
If you are pondering whether or not you can launch a writing career and be a mom, today’s tip of the day is for you. Christina Katz, author of Writer Mama, shares these tips for freelance writing from chapter two. Freelancing teaches you valuable lessons about your business strengths and weaknesses...
Writing a Novel: From First Draft to Finished Manuscript
If you are writing a novel for the first time, or simply beginning a new one, From First Draft to Finished Novel can guide you along the process. Throughout the book, you'll discover novel writing tips, get step-by-step instruction, and improve your writing skills with editing and writing exercises.
Meet Your Writing Goals With Four Time-Management Tools
In order to succeed as a professional writer, you must be able to set and meet deadlines. If you are looking for time-management tools to help you stay on track with your writing goals, read today’s tip of the day from The Productive Writer by Sage Cohen. Meet Your Deadlines With...
4 Tips For Revising Your Work
No matter what type of writing you do–fiction, nonfiction, or freelance–you should expect to revise your work. Learn four essential tips for revising your work from Christina Katz, author of The Writer’s Workout. When you are a professional writer, you spend at least half of your time rewriting, likely even more...
Writing a Query Letter: The Best Way To Land Your Next Freelance Writing Gig
Are you new to freelance writing or perhaps having trouble selling your work to editors? Today’s tip of the day can help. Kelly James Enger, author of Writer For Hire, explains the importance of writing a query letter and gives an example of one. When you think successful freelancer, what skill...
An Agent’s Secrets to Selling Your First Novel
Discover insider secrets for selling a novel from literary agent Irene Goodman. You'll get pro tips on selling a novel, eight reasons why your novel may be rejected, and why it's important to know the genres of writing before you start writing.
4 Editing & Proofreading Techniques For Your Novel
Joseph Bates, author of The Nighttime Novelist, shares tips for editing and proofreading a novel or book. Creating A System For Editing & Proofreading Revision is really about seeing your book as a whole–recognizing patterns you didn’t notice before, and reconciling any disparate parts into a unified whole. The best way...
5 Wrong Ways to Start A Story
Your story’s opener is your one opportunity to capture an editor’s or agent’s attention. Learn how to avoid the critical mistakes (such as providing too much backstory) that lead to rejection and write a great beginning for your story. Today’s tip of the day, taken from Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs...
Writing Scenes: Stepping Forward, Falling Back
Author of The Breakout Novelist, Donald Maass, discusses writing scenes in today’s tip of the day. He explains the importance of setting goals for each scene with an example from George R.R. Martin’s book, A Storm of Swords. Most instruction in writing scenes begins with this sound advice: Send your character...
Practical Writing & Publishing Advice For Beginning Writers
The Beginning Writer's Answer Book covers everything from how to get started in writing to finding an agent and getting published. No matter what type of writer you are--fiction, nonfiction, or freelance--you'll find practical writing advice to help advance your career.