Pitching Articles: 5 Tips for a Successful Freelance Writing Pitch
If you want to make a living writing for your favorite publications, you need to perfect your freelance writing pitch. Here are a few things to keep in mind when pitching articles for magazines, newspapers and the web.
“How do you get into writing comics? Write a comic.” Eisner-Nominated Alex de Campi Talks Comics, Prose & Multidisciplinary Creative Work
Acclaimed comic book and graphic novel writer, columnist, and filmmaker Alex de Campi shares her secrets for getting into writing comics, working with comics artists, tackling multidisciplinary creative projects, and more.
The Lowdown on Libel: Understanding What Libel Means for Writers
When contemplating whether to pen something potentially controversial, your best defense is knowing when your work is protected and when it crosses the line. While libel laws vary from state to state, there are general principles you can rely upon.
How To Design a Professional Ebook for Free
Discover the three major steps and a slew of free tools to help you format and design an ebook from start to finish, no design skills necessary.
Learn from The Incredibles: How to Write Super Characters
The Incredibles 2, the sequel to Pixar's iconic superhero film, offers writers the oportunity to enhance our understanding of effective character development. Here are a few lessons from the movie that you can apply in your fiction.
Maximize Your Setting: Bringing Locations, Eras and Worlds to Life on the Page
When the reader can feel as if they are physically in your story's setting, they will be more inclined to let themselves experience what the characters are seeing and hearing. Here, author Curt Eriksen offers considerations for bringing the locations and eras in your fiction to life.
Case Study: How Self-Publishing Led Author Jonathan French to Hybrid Success
Jonathan French's approach to self-publishing played an important role in how editors and agents perceived his book, and persuaded French to reevaluate his perspective on how authors can, and should, break into print.
The Pros and Cons of Getting Published
Do you ever worry that getting published—that worrying about the business of writing—might sully the purity of your artistic expression and dampen your passion for the craft? Many writers struggle with the concessions required of the publication process, but you needn't fear them; it's all part of the experience.
Writing for Magazines: How to Land a Magazine Assignment
Writing for magazines is a lot like catching a fish. It requires the right bait, understanding the conditions, finesse with timing and most of all, persistence. When it all comes together, the time and effort are worth it when you net the big one.
Screenwriting Tips & Insights from Michael Zam, Writer of the Emmy-Winning Series Feud: Bette and Joan
In this interview, screenwriter Michael Zam offers screenwriting tips for beginners and veterans, and discusses his success with the Emmy award-winning FX series Feud: Bette and Joan, starring Susan Sarandon, Jessica Lange, Stanley Tucci and more.
The Writer’s Digest Podcast, Episode 5: Children’s Literature and Diversity in Publishing — Interview with Patrice Caldwell
In this episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast, hear from author, editor, and founder of People of Color in Publishing Patrice Caldwell, who shares an inside look at the importance of diversity in publishing today, the relevance of the mirrors and windows concept to literature, the reason people of color leave...
The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference: 4 Sessions to Help Refresh and Rejuvenate Your Writing
Tap into the wisdom of professionals and get inspired with Writer’s Reserve, a brand new writing track at the Writer’s Digest Conference to help you find inspiration and rejuvenate your writing. The latest addition to our other offerings at the Writer’s Digest Conference, our new Writer’s Reserve track is meant to inspire you—whether you’re...
How to Write Strong Scenes: 4 Key Questions to Evaluate Your Scene
The following is excerpted from the online course The Art of Storytelling 101: Story Mapping and Pacing by Terri Valentine, which explores style, concepts, characters, and how to write strong scenes. Learn more about the course and register at Writer’s Digest University. Practically speaking, scenes are the irreducible matter of novels. The...
Top Websites for Writers: 8 Great Publishing & Marketing Resources on the Web
Each year, we scour the web for our annual 101 Best Websites for Writers, a comprehensive collection of online resources for writers. This selection represents this year's publishing and marketing resources that are particularly helpful for authors looking to self publish or build their audiences and platforms.
An Illustrated Guide to Book Expo 2018
Bob Eckstein illustrated the happenings at the reimagined Book Expo 2018. Explore his observations here.
You’re Just Too Good to Be True: How to Make Your Protagonist’s Love Interest More Believable—Flaws and All
In crafting fiction across genres, a perfect love interest is a tempting trap—and a trope. Writing flawed characters, even when your character is head over heels in love with them, is a must. Here's how to make the object of your character's affection believable and lovable while avoiding clichés.
Writing Tips & Insights from Author Nic Stone
When we last spoke to Nic Stone, her poignant and timely debut novel, Dear Martin was newly launched. Mentored by Jodi Picoult, Stone shares what she's learned along the path to best-selling novelist, as well as her best writing tips.
#YouToo? 11 Tips for Writing Your #MeToo Stories
In this piece about the impact of the #MeToo movement on how and what women write, Leigh Anne Jasheway explores different ways writers can approach sharing stories of sexual harassment and assault.
Literary Devices: Exploring Anaphora Through the Poetry of Walt Whitman
What is anaphora? This literary device, which appears in biblical verses as well as the works of Walt Whitman, can be used to build up tension or energy in rhetoric, poetry and prose. Here, Aaron Bauer uses Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing" to explore anaphora.
Mud, Formula and Effervescence: 10 Rules for Good Writing from Poe Ballantine
Art will never be a science, and of the many stateable rules about good writing, not all will apply to every writer. Here, author Poe Ballantine offers the 10 rules of good writing that have worked for him.
Your Story #91: Submit Now!
photo from Getty | Credit: Image Source Prompt: Write a short story, of 650 words or fewer, based on the photo prompt above. You can be funny, poignant, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story. Use the submission form below OR email your submission directly to yourstorycontest@fwmedia.com. IMPORTANT: If you experience...
Top Websites for Writers: 7 Websites to Fuel Your Creativity
For the last two decades, we’ve scoured the web for our annual 101 Best Websites for Writers, a comprehensive collection of online resources for writers. This selection represents this year's creativity-centric websites for writers. These websites fuel out-of-the-box thinking and help writers awaken their imaginations.
Keeping the Writing Faith: Daily Writing Habits of Four Successful Authors
Four successful authors share their top daily writing habits that help them stay motivated when they need to get through that work in progress.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Discusses the Power of Reading, His Writing Process, and His YA Memoir Becoming Kareem
In this interview, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar discusses his new bestseller, Becoming Kareem, a heartfelt memoir for young adult readers, as well as his writing process, the importance of reading and civil rights.