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: Vote 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. Read the finalists below, then vote for the one you like best by selecting your favorite...
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.
From ER Doctor to Novelist: Meet Kimmery Martin, Author of The Queen of Hearts
An emergency medicine doctor-turned-novelist, Kimmery Martin, author of The Queen of Hearts, discusses her writing journey, what she's learned about writing and publishing, and what's up next.
5 Ways an Author Blog Could Kill Your Writing (and What to Do Instead)
Static author websites are great, and you’d be crazy not to have one. But starting an author blog is a different (and often tragic) story. In fact, your author blog might even kill your writing. There are hundreds of authors who started blogs, churned out posts for a year, and let...
Sitting Up With Tom Wolfe — A 1974 Interview
This extensive interview with author and journalist Tom Wolfe, who passed away on May 14, 2018, appeared in Writer's Digest in 1974, shortly before the publication of Wolfe's iconic book The Right Stuff.
Comedy Writers and Satirists of the #MeToo Movement
In this second in a series about the impact of the #MeToo movement on how and what women write, Leigh Anne Jasheway focuses on women who write and publish comedy and satire.
The Writer’s Digest Podcast, Episode 4: Deconstructing Humor — Interview with Laurie Kilmartin
In this episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast, author and comedian Laurie Kilmartin discusses writing comedy and jokes that keep your audience laughing, balancing the specific tug-of-war between writing for your job and writing for yourself, and combining humor and death in a way that’s both funny and poignant.
The WD Interview: Author George Saunders Talks Structure, Outlining and Lincoln in the Bardo
In this exclusive extended interview with short-form master George Saunders, the globally acclaimed author dishes on inventive structure, reveals why he’s wary of outlines and talks novel-length success with Lincoln in the Bardo.
The Introvert’s Guide to Writing Conferences
Attending writing conferences is a great way to learn about the craft, stay up to date on the publishing industry and meet new people. If you are introvert, this can seem intimidating, but with a little preparation and a shift in your mindset, a conference can be an incredible, life-changing experience.
Bad Advice Boogie: Show, Don’t Tell
One piece of advice that seems good but can do a lot of harm is the old classic "show, don't tell." Jeff Somers explains why.