Brian Klems’ The Writer’s Dig

Today was our annual Halloween costume and decoration competition, and the Writer’s Digest team once again put on a good showing. Our theme was “Dead Writer’s Society” and, as you can see, we all “morphed” into some of the greatest literary writers who now haunt the world as ghosts (friendly ghosts, I’m sure). Guess who I am. Read more

Over the coming month thousands of writers (including you, perhaps?) will take a stab at knocking out 50,000 words in just 30 days for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). But before the marathon hits, we wanted to do a short race–a super short race–and give you an opportunity to write The Shortest Short Story you can write. In fact, we’ll give away a prize to the best one. Here’s how it works. Read more

Your novel isn’t going to write itself (I mean, if it were, it probably would have finished itself a long time ago!). Here are the five things you need to stop doing immediately if you want turn yourself into someone who stops asking questions about how to write a manuscript and starts bragging to friends about how you completed your manuscript. Read more

Just as retail stores begin stocking shelves with holiday fare at least a month prior to the actual holiday, writers begin hearing about and preparing for National Novel Writing Month, fondly called NaNoWriMo, in September or October although the contest begins November 1. That’s all well and good for fiction writers who want to write 50,000 words in 30 days to “win” and who enjoy the build up, but what about the nonfiction writers left out in the cold? What’s a nonfiction writer supposed to do in November? Here’s what. Read more

Before you say yes to a ghostwriting gig, or even make a bid, you must know all you can about the project in question. Here’s a checklist of questions that you should consider asking potential clients. Read more

Big News: For the first time ever Writer’s Digest is packing up its writing and publishing knowledge and heading to Hollywood (no, they aren’t making a movie about us … yet). We’re bringing our Writer’s Digest Conference to the West Coast (why should only East Coast writers have all the fun?) and we want you there. Here’s the scoop … Read more

Thanks to everyone who read Jerry Jenkins’ tip on The Key to Successful Writing and participated in the contest. The winner of an autographed copy of The Breakthrough is … Read more

The climax is the ultimate test. The protagonist’s facing his/her ultimate fear, and usually requires a final challenge of the character’s growth or change. A deep understanding of the needs, wants and fears that drive the hero allows for the creation of an “ultimate” test, action or crucial symbolic “graduation” that is the best fit for that particular protagonist, genre and film. Choose wisely. Read more

A big congrats to YC Takahashi of Kennesaw, Ga., whose short story “The Shoes” won our August Write It Your Way competition. (The theme for the July competition was “New Beginnings.”) Her story ranked No. 1 out of nearly 160 entries. Enjoy YC’s story here below and don’t miss your chance to enter the upcoming Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition, which offers a grand prize of $3,000! Read more

If there were ever a day to buy that book on writing or sign up for a webinar or purchase our October Premium Collection or get the brand-new 2013 Guide to Literary Agents, today is that day. After a wonderful week of support, we’re giving everyone one last day to help us support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, where 30% of all proceeds of your purchase will be donated directly to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Here’s how it works. Read more

Bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins (Left Behind series) says there is one key to successful writing—and there’s no way around it. Read more

Here is one of the five finalists for the Write It Your Way August competition. Read it now (and the other finalists) and vote by October 1 to help us pick a winner. Read more

Here is one of the five finalists for the Write It Your Way August competition. Read it now (and the other finalists) and vote by October 1 to help us pick a winner. Read more

Here’s a simple breakdown explaining the difference between an author’s writing voice and writing style. Read more

Over on the Guide to Literary Agents blog, Merry Jones looks at How to Write a Great Opening Line. She shares what she considers eight of the best opening lines in fiction. But my favorite opening line isn’t on her list, and it’s one that sticks with me to this day. Read more