Fiction

Anne Tyler's Tips on Writing Strong (yet Flawed) Characters

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With a body of work spanning five decades, a Pulitzer Prize and membership in the Academy of Arts and Letters, Anne Tyler is a testament to the best kind of longevity—and the purity of the written word.

by Jessica Strawser

4 Tips for Increasing Intensity in Your Plot

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Plot is a crucial element in successfully writing fiction. Here are four tips excerpted from The Novelist's Essential Guide to Creating Plot to make sure your scene gives off the right intense impression.

9 Ways to Overcome Too Many Ideas Syndrome

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Don't let your creativity get in the way of your productivity. Here are nine tips for overcoming Too Many Ideas Syndrome.

Creating Characters:
4 Simple Exercises

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here are 4 simple exercises to help you invent characters for your fiction.

by Nancy Kress

How to Weave in Backstory to Reveal Character

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Creating characters’ backstories before you start writing is crucial because you’ll want to determine each one’s past experiences and the repercussions these experiences will have on your story before you begin. Here's a close look at the different ways you can introduce backstory.

by Rachel Ballon

7 Tips to Land The Perfect Title for Your Novel

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The trick to a great title is to find a happy balance between the all-too-forgettable and the truly over-the-top. You want to choose something that makes your readers think: What a fantastic title! Why didn’t I come up with it? Here’s how to do just that.

by Jacob M. Appel

5 Simple Marketing Tips from M.J. Rose

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Here are 5 simple ways to prepare yourself to develop a successful marketing campaign around the publication of your book.

by M.J. Rose

Announcing the Winner of the 8th-Annual WD Short Short Story Competition

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Most days Robert Brandt, grand-prize winner of the 8th-Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition, isn’t writing. Instead, he’s cutting. Stitching. Watching. Evaluating. Waiting. Running. Saving. And, sometimes, grieving.

by Kara Gebhart Uhl

How To Choose a Critique Club

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When joining a writing group, you have to make sure you’re in good company. Here’s how.

by Gigi Rosenberg

Writing Small, Not Small Writing

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Read Ridley Pearson's motivational essay on how writing short stories can get you geared up to write novels.

5 Quick Tips for Writer/Agent Negotiations

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just because you're excited someone wants to represent you doesn't mean you should let them take advantage of you. Beware of these red flags when negotiating contracts with agents.

by Howard G. Zaharoff

Conducting Research with Ridley Pearson

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this exclusive interview, Ridley Pearson, The New York Times best-selling author of 13 novels explains that well-conducted research into the kinds of characters you are writing is essential for writers.

A Fire Inside

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mary Feuer's short story follows an obsession that's dark, detailed and devastating—and worthy of this year's grand prize.

Steve Berry's 8 Rules of Writing

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

At the 2008 Maui Writers Conference, bestselling thriller writer Steve Berry says there are eight key rules that all writers must know and follow.

WD Live: Steve Berry, James Rollins and Brad Thor

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

WritersDigest.tv Video Exclusive: Bestselling authors (and friends) Steve Berry, James Rollins and Brad Thor talk about how they quietly began writing each other's characters into their own books, and how quickly fans caught on—much to Berry, Rollins and Thor's surprise.

Thomas Steinbeck: Like Father, Like Son

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Thomas Steinbeck on his debut story collection, the craft of writing, and growing up Steinbeck.

by Jessica Strawser

Tips for Revising Your Manuscript

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

All I Used to Need Was Love

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Read this inspiring essay from bestselling romance novelist Debbie Macomber, who finds her writing needs aging gracefully as she does.

Gothic

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Gothic

We Sat in Darkness

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

From a batch of some 6,380 entries, Writer’s Digest editors selected Lee Hubbard’s “We Sat in the Darkness” as the grand-prize winner of the 9th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition. Read Hubbard's story here.

Russell Banks—Seeing Is the Goal

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Author Russell Banks points out to interviewer Paula Deimling the importance of communicating character point of view in fiction.

Women's Fiction Forecast

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Is chick lit on the way out? Don't bet your Blahniks. Instead, the genre has branched out into surprising new arenas, offering great opportunities for aspiring novelists—and even nonfiction writers.

Kite Maker

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Rekha Rao of Pisa, Italy, took fifth place in The 8th-Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition.

Finding Strong Ideas for Teen Fiction

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How can you find and write convincingly about ideas that teenagers will enjoy? Find out from award-winning YA novelist K.L. Going how to succeed at writing for this burgeoning genre.

Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Stretching the Tension

2008 WD Popular Fiction Award Winners

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

William Rausch’s romantic short story of a college-aged couple in love is the grand-prize winner of WD’s Popular Fiction Awards.

by Kara Gebhart Uhl

Dialogue As Conversation

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this excerpt from Fiction Writer's Workshop, Second Edition, Josip Novakovich offers a lesson and exercises that teach you how to create distinct, conversational dialogue.

Thrillerfest 2008

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Each year International Thriller Writers lines up some of the biggest names in publishing for four days of learning, networking and pitching in New York City. ThrillerFest 2008 actually consists of three events. At ThrillerFest, avid thriller readers and writers can mingle with their favorite New York Times-bestselling authors, including James Patterson, Sandra Brown, Brad Thor, Kathy Reichs and Eric Van Lustbader.

The WD Interview: Anna Quindlen: Balancing Act

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As a full-time novelist and part-time columnist, Anna Quindlen's writing career is a study in symmetry.

William P. Young's Cinderella Story

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It’s the ultimate self-publishing dream: William P. Young’s novel went from photo-copied Christmas gift to chart-topping bestseller. Here’s how he pulled it off.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld

How to Break the Rules & Get Published

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

If you stay true to your voice, this successful romance writer says, you'll find those rules aren't etched in stone.

7 Ways to Develop an Affordable Marketing Plan

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

You’ve gained admission to the publishing world. But now you have to stand out to an entirely new group: your audience.

by M.J. Rose

On the Edge: Fantastic Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the longevity of the fantastic in narrative form, there's long been a stigma against blending it with literary fiction. But recently, readers have been eager to read contemporary fantastic literature—and publishers are taking note.

The 10 Commandments of Fiction Writing

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Guide your writing ways with these 10 rules thou must not break.

Open Your Action Scene With Gusto

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Learn how to build effective action scenes into your fiction

Who Said That?

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Know what to say when explaining who said what.

Literary Hot Spots: Miami

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Want to know where all the literary hot spots are in Miami? We've got you covered. This is part four of your essential guide to living the lit life in several U.S. destinations, including Boston, San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Seattle and more.

by Natalia Maldonado

The How's of Writing Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Jane Smiley — author of Moo, A Thousand Acres and The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton — credits The Grapes of Wrath as one of the novels that taught her about what makes effective fiction. How?

Your Novel Blueprint

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Turn your dream novel into a reality by taking some tips from the worksite and using this Story Plan Checklist.

by Karen S. Wiesner

Dirty Little Secrets

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Marsha Brantley of Cleveland , Tenn., took second place in The 8th-Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition.

Sarajevo Roses

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Kirk Barrett of Evanston, Ill., took 3rd place in The 8th-Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition.

Michael Crichton�s Top 5 Writing Lessons

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Karen Dionne, author of Freezing Point, reveals what her late hero, Michael Crichton, taught her about crafting solid fiction.

Reaction Shots

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Build characterization the easy way—through your characters' reactions to others in thought, speech or action.

Tips for Creating Fictional Characters

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Craft characters that initiate exciting action, react to tense situations and power the plot from beginning to end. Kress, award-winning author and Writer's Digest columnist, reveals the fundamentals of creating characters that keep readers spellbound.

How You Can Write Your Heart Out

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Your best writing comes straight from the heart, filled with truth, imagination and passion. Write Your Heart Out helps you better capture these qualities and use writing as an ongoing means of self-discovery and self-expression. Click below for suggestions about joining or starting a writer's response group to receive valuable feedback and perspective on your writing

Creating New Worlds

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bestselling fantasy author Terry Brooks writes about getting out to set a scene.

What is Suspense?

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What is Suspense?

The WD Interview: George Pelecanos

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Having scribed detective novels and written for HBO’s “The Wire,” George Pelecanos knows what it takes to get down and dirty for his own brand of social crime fiction.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld

The WD Interview:
Brad Thor

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brad Thor hit No. 1 with his seventh novel, The Last Patriot, but it came at a cost. Read on to find out why Thor’s passion keeps him writing—even in the face of death threats.

by Maria Schneider

Banking on Book Clubs

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What this thriving editor is looking for in her new imprint aimed at women.

by Kara Gebhart Uhl

Megan McCafferty's Bookshelf

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here are some of bestselling author Megan McCafferty's favorite reads.

A Guiding Hand: Sandra Brown on Her Mentor

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sandra Brown talks about her mentor, Mary Lynn Baxter. Brown has published 65 suspense and romance novels, 54 of which have made The New York Times bestseller list. Baxter is a bestselling romance author with more than 13 million books in print.

Writing a Literary Masterpiece: The Quick and Easy Way to Heaven

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Writing a Literary Masterpiece: The Quick and Easy Way to Heaven

Sophomore Superstar

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"I only publish a book when I feel it's the best thing that I can do, then that's it. I don't think about the steppingstones," says Jeffrey Eugenides, author of Middlesex (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)

10 Disciplines for Fiction Writers

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Good writing takes practice, and practice makes perfect! Use this disciplined approach to write your very best.

Remembering Tony Hillerman

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Novelist (and friend of WD) Tony Hillerman passed away this weekend, just a few weeks before his annual writing conference. As a tribute to his dedication to the writing profession, here's a WD interview with Hillerman from our January 2000 issue.

Sub-Genre Descriptions

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Here's a breakdown of some of your favorite fiction genres.

Inside the Mind of Cory Doctorow

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Can technology bridge the gap between science fiction and social activism? Broad-reaching author Cory Doctorow says it can—and that taking risks online can reap rewards in print.

by Christina Katz

The Popular Fiction Report

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What’s hot in Mystery/ Crime, Romance, Horror, Thriller/ Suspense and Science Fiction/ Fantasy? Find out in this comprehensive genre-by-genre market report.

PLUS: A breakdown of fiction sub-genres and their definitions.

Fiction: Point of View

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How many times have you heard this around the workshop table: “Why don’t you consider a new point of view?” (Actually, the term used more often is “POV” because it sounds a lot cooler, I suspect.) Everyone then agrees that a new POV might help matters, including the writer, who knew something was wrong and is now relieved to have a likely suspect.
by Steve Almond

Mining Your Novel for Gold

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Got an unsold novel languishing in a drawer? There's hope for it yet—here's how to pull short stories from those pages, which can get you published and ignite more interest in the novel itself.

Publish Your First Book After 50

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Who says publishing is a young person’s game? Here are an agent’s tips for writing and publishing well into your golden years.

By Scott Hoffman

Build the Thrill

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

17 ways to add surprise to each page of your novel and keep your readers hooked.

Defining and Developing Your Anti-Hero

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

On The Edge: The Power of Titillation

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Now that the erotica trend is climaxing, writers—and readers—are wondering what constitutes erotica and what that label really means.

The WD Interview:
James Rollins

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

James Rollins publishes two books per year—one fantasy, one thriller—and finds his latest book garnering comparisons to The Da Vinci Code.

by Maria Schneider

The Hustler

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After 13 months of hand-selling his book from town to town, Christopher Paolini is vaulting to publishing stardom with a marketing savvy beyond his years.

Imagery and Your Novel

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Suggestions for creating powerful imagery from novelist James V. Smith, Jr.

3 Tips for Writing Successful Flashbacks

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Most writers try to avoid flashbacks, but if you just can't resist sending your readers back in time, fiction columnist Nancy Kress has some advice. Kress explains what makes a flashback work, and how to perfect your own time traveling techniques.

On The Edge: Boomer Lit

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It's difficult to imagine that those 1960s doe-eyed children who brought the world’s attention to Vietnam War protests and love-ins are old enough to qualify as senior citizens. But they’ve finally matured—and so has the fiction being written by and for them.

By Jordan E. Rosenfeld

Chick-Lit Rebel

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Melissa Bank, bestselling author of The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, has been called a chick-lit pioneer, but she has something to say about being labeled.

9 Tricks to Writing Suspense Fiction

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A veteran suspense-fiction author shares nine killer tricks to help you improve a genre that can be difficult to master.

by Simon Wood

10 Basic Ingredients of a Successful Thriller

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

At the 2008 Maui Writers Conference, bestselling thriller writer Gary Braver (Skin Deep) said that dread drives thrillers. You know who the good guys and bad guys are. Dull moments will lose an audience, and writers can't afford to lose an audience, even for one page. To captivate an audience (and agents and publishers), Braver offers these 10 essential ingredients for a successful thriller.

How'd She Do That: One Author's Success Story

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Jody Shields, whose first novel, The Fig Eater, has received international attention, tells how she wrote a best seller.

Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Structure Secrets

Look at the Dead Person

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Fred McGavran's "Look at the Dead Person" took first place in the Horror category of the 2008 Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards. To read the grand-prize winning entry and other first-place finishers, click here.

Literary Hot Spots: Seattle

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Want to know where all the literary hot spots are in the Emerald City? We've got you covered. This is part five of your essential guide to living the lit life in several U.S. destinations, including Boston, San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Seattle and more.

by Jack Clemens

History in the Making

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Keep tabs on all the important details and plot points of your historical novel (or any other type of novel, for that matter) with this invaluable guide.

Lee Child On How To Create Suspense

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lee Child, author of the uber-popular Jack Reacher series, says he firmly believes writers should write that they want to write: "Do what you want to do, not what you should do." And although he believes writing cannot be taught, he did share his thoughts about how to create suspense and what makes a great book.

2 Simple Blogging Exercises

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Lessons and tips for working on specific aspects of your writing.
—From WD's Writer's Workbook section

Romance Gets Real

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Harlequin woos nonfiction authors with Deborah Brody’s new imprint.

by Kara Gebhart Uhl

A Checklist for Developing Your Hero and Heroine

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Answer the following questions for each of your main characters to help figure out how each one fits in your novel.

by Leigh Michaels

Birth of a Series

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The author writes it and submits. The editor considers it, then takes it on. In their words, both sides of this relationship share their takes on the process of bringing a debut novel to life.

The WD Interview: Sara Gruen

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It’s hard to say which came first for author Sara Gruen—the animals or the writing, both of which have been in her life for as long as she can remember. While she spends much of the time in her North Carolina home with a menagerie of real animals (not to mention her husband and three children), it’s her fictional ones that have inspired her writing career.

Romance Markets

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Just a sampling of the many opportunities that exist for you the romance writer.

The Do's and Don'ts for Time Travel

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

You've always dreamed of writing science fiction and fantasy?tales that pull readers into extraordinary new worlds and fantastic conflicts. Best-selling author Orson Scott Card shows you how to develop the "rules" of time, space and magic that affect your world and its inhabitants.

Jump Off the Page

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

These three characteristics are essential to bringing your protagonist to life.

Library Thing's
'Dead People's Books'

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Any sane writer with a rare chance to tour a literary hero’s estate is going to sneak a hungry peek at the bookshelves. In few other places—among the polished chairs, antique vases and other stuffy artifacts—can you find such an authentic portal into the writing mind.

THE WD INTERVIEW: JANET FITCH - INTO THE LIGHT

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BESTSELLING NOVELIST JANET FITCH FOUGHT DEPRESSION AND SECOND-BOOK SYNDROME WHILE WRITING

Start Your Fiction Off With a Bang

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Begin your story with a bang rather than with long-winded exposition, and your audience will keep reading. Here are some tips you can use to avoid "bad" beginnings:

Literary Hot Spots: New York City

Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Want to know where all the literary hot spots are in The Big Apple? We've got you covered. This is part three of your essential guide to living the lit life in several U.S. destinations, including Boston, San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Seattle and more.

by Sarah Walker

Killer Personalities

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Craft vicious villains with this psychiatrist's guide to writing bad guys with real problems.

The WD Interview:
Megan McCafferty

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Megan McCafferty’s recipe for a bestselling series? Thirty pages, a dream of crossover success and some old-fashioned teen angst.

by Lauren Mosko

November is National Novel Writing Month

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

NaNoWriMo’s Chris Baty shares five tips for writing your book in a month.

by Chris Baty

Quick Tip: How to Avoid Muddy Viewpoints

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Each scene needs to have a clear point-of-view character. The rule is one POV per scene. No “head- hopping.” The exception is when you’re using omniscient POV, which has its own challenges. Otherwise, stick with one.

Romance Contests

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A sampling of the contests available for you, the romance writer

Keep It Real

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Make readers believe that the fantasy world you've created actually exists by researching your setting.

Three Questions Readers Ask of Manuscripts

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Award-winning author Orson Scott Card explains in depth the techniques of inventing, developing, and presenting characters and of handling viewpoint in novels and short stories. Here are some general thoughts all writers can benefit from.

The Intruder

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Point-of-view characters tend to try to overstep their boundaries. It's your job to keep them in check.

Book in a Month Author Q&A

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Book in a Month and Story Structure Architect author Victoria Lynn Schmidt shares her insights into the writing life in this exclusive online Q&A.

Literary Hot Spots: Boston

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Want to know where all the literary hot spots are in Boston? We've got you covered. This is part one of your essential guide to living the lit life in several U.S. destinations, including Boston, San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Seattle and more.

by Kevin Alexander

Author, Heal Thyself

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Raymond Obstfeld, author of Fiction First Aid, offers some advice on theme.

David Schmahmann's Empire Settings

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"I think, if (Empire Settings) does well, it will be a case study in what it is about the commercial publishing industry in New York that makes it tick and that makes it catch things and miss things."

The Fellowship of the Word

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

J.R.R. Tolkien's myth-making tales are most alive in their original form: ink and paper.

A Checklist for the Short Story Writer

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Where does a short story end and a novella begin? What is the ''Rule of Three''? What''s the difference between assonance and alliteration? In How Fiction Works, Oakley Hall answers these questions and others, that as writers, we would be wise to ponder.

Tips for Keeping Your Readers Hooked

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet give this advice to writers trying to create delightful twists in their stories.

Hold Them Back

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Your fictional characters experience many emotions, but only one is absolutely essential to plot. Here's how to fuel your story with frustration.

Writing the Well-Spun Spoof

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Parody writing can be a barrel of laughs if you follow these tips from the bestselling author of Is Martha Stuart Living?

The Core Need of Elizabeth George

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"I wish I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product."

Fiction: Titles

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It happens every semester I teach fiction, usually on the day we distribute stories for the first workshop. A student will raise her hand and offer the following caveat: “So I just wanted to, like, apologize for my story not having a title. I totally hate titles.”

The Healing Truth

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An aspiring fiction writer realizes her story is better told as a memoir.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld

Put Your Fiction To The Plausibility Test

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I’m afraid I’ll have to start my discussion of plausibility with a student story that remains vivid to me after some five years. The notion that a 21-year-old would even attempt to write a short story, let alone subject such work to the unpredictable blandishments of a workshop, strikes me as ridiculously courageous. I didn’t work up the nerve to write fiction until I was nearly 30.

by Steve Almond

5 Easy Tips to Strengthen Your Scenes

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the English countryside they have stone walls to keep in the sheep. Some of these walls have been around for centuries, and they’re amazing architectural achievements. The flat stones are not uniform. They differ in color and shape, yet they fit together to form the whole.

by James Scott Bell

THE WD INTERVIEW: Chuck Palahniuk: Shock And Awe

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cult author Chuck Palahniuk continues to push literary boundaries in strange—even forbidding—territories. Find out what compels this seemingly mild-mannered author of novels like

Fiction Tips You Can't Do Without

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Fiction Tips You Can't Do Without

Moving with the Trends

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Before Stephanie Kip Rostan was a literary agent at the Greenberg Literary Agency, where she’s been since September 2001, she spent four years as an editor for The Bantam Dell Publishing Group. An avid reader with diverse tastes, Rostan worked on fiction and nonfiction projects as an editor, enabling her to represent many types of authors as an agent today.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld

The Human Nature of Margaret Atwood

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Just because something has a woman in it doesn't mean it's feminist.

WGF: Revision & Self-Editing Author Q&A

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

James Rollins' "7 Ways To Make Your Characters More Sympathetic"

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bestselling thriller writer James Rollins gave a great talk about the craft of thriller writing, including how to make even your bad guys more likable. Here's a summary.

Novelist Jay McInerney on Getting Your Novel Underway

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

From his masterful handling of the second person in Bright Lights, Big City to his shifting of points of view in Model Behavior, Jay McInerney isn't afraid to take chances.

Horror

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Horror

Getting Your Act(s) Together

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Do as the Greeks did: Use this time-honored method to give form to your fiction.

Just Add Writer

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

You can sharpen your genre-writing skills as a work-for-hire novelist.

This Side of Reality

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hanh Hoang's haunting tale evokes a parental nightmare—and lands her short short story on top of the heap.

Writing Advice From Fiction Writers

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We asked the pros for their best writing advice—and they gave us 58 secrets you can use when you sit down to write. Here are just a few.

A Firebrand at 69: An Interview with Harlan Ellison

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A Firebrand at 69: An Interview with Harlan Ellison

Q&A with Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Winner Franny Billingsley

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Franny Billingsley''s young adult fantasy novels open readers to new worlds. Here she discusses the process of creating award-winning books, revising her work, and working with renowned editors.

Nonfiction: Personal Essays

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Here's how to tell an engaging intimate narrative with insight, humor and candor.

What Your POV Choice Communicates About Your Story

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this excerpt from The Power of Point of View, determine which point of view best suits the story you want to tell, and learn how to use POV to enhance and tie together your story's components.

The WD Interview:
Laurell K. Hamilton

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With two series that defy categorizing, Laurell K. Hamilton has forged a hugely successful writing career by going her own way.

Try, Try, Try Again

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

All of us experience failure and rejection. But often, those are the two things that push us to succeed.

Fiction: Draft Better Dialogue

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How to Recognize Bad Dialogue

To Be Continued...

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Serialized fiction is making a comeback in magazines and newspapers, and finding a new home on the Internet.

Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Why bad things should happen to good plots: Creating problems for your characters keeps your plot moving and your readers entertained.

Why Authors Must Be Marketers Too

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I may never win a Pulitzer Prize for any of my novels but I wrote three sentences in 2004 that have garnered me a lot of ink: “Writing is an art. Publishing is a business. And an oft broken business at that.” And like it or not, these days authors are finding it necessary to get involved in the business side—specifically the marketing of their books.

by M.J. Rose

Magic

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Karin Fuller's "Magic" took first place in the Romance category of the 2008 Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards. To read the grand-prize winning entry and other first-place finishers, click here.

Science Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Science Fiction

Why I Write Horror

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Popular genre writer Ramsey Campbell expounds on his terrifying tales.

Dying to Win

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

J.K. Mason's short story about life, death and e-mail takes this year's top prize.

First Success: Jim Brown's 24/7

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"Hopefully, the interest in reality television will cause people to pick up the book, and hopefully it will be the story that keeps them reading and coming back for more."

Scorned No More!

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A short story about a mother''s revenge wins grand prize in the 2003 Writer''s Digest Annual Writing Competition.

From Zero to Hero

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Is your main character more grating than great? Here's how to tell if your hero is getting off track and how to turn him back into a character that readers will root for.

Dean Koontz on Using Language to Draw the Reader In

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dean Koontz has kept a lot of people turning a lot of pages. How? Most would respond that his plots, characters and storytelling all contribute, and indeed they do. But a fourth element keeps those pages turning, an element all writers can learn from. Koontz explains to interviewer Brad Crawford about the power of language itself.

Crowd Control

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How many characters belong in a scene, a story and a reader's head? Find out how to avoid fictional overpopulation.

Unlocking the Door

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Margaret Atwood expounds on finding your voice, the beauty of multitasking and what "chick lit" may have in common with Dracula and Frankenstein.

Sunny Side Up

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Read how Fannie Flagg, the gifted storyteller of the novels Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Café and A Redbird Christmas, stays relentlessly optimistic about writing feel-good fiction.

The WD Interview:
John Updike

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

“We’re past the age of heroes and hero kings. If we can’t make up stories about ordinary people, who can we make them up about?”--John Updike

Go Your Own Way

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dave Eggers' eclectic body of work serves as a testament to the value-and power-of staying true to your own voice.

Find Identity with Joyce Carol Oates

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Novelist and short story writer Joyce Carol Oates has won the National Book Award, the PEN/Malamud Award for Achievement in the Short Story, and various other awards. Known best for her short stories, many of which have been anthologized in The Pushcart Prize and The Best American Short Stories of the 20th Century, Oates still manages to bridge the natural gap that exists between novel and short story writing. But there is one thing that some may not k

The Power of Persistence

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The characters in David J. Schwartz’s debut novel, Superpowers, wake up overnight with super speed, super strength, invisibility, the power to read minds and the ability to fly. The author, however, had the power of persistence on his side. From the day he started writing the manuscript to its publication, six long years passed.

Brother�s Keeper

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Richard Mazziotti's "Brother's Keeper" took first place in the Suspense/Thriller category of the 2008 Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards. To read the grand-prize winning entry and other first-place finishers, click here.

Plot Reversals of Fortune

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Here are tips you can use to create your own reversal of fortune.

Kid Stuff

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Writing a bestselling, Oprah-endorsed novel doesn't necessarily prepare you for the world of children's literature, as Jacquelyn Mitchard discovered.

How to Create Haunting Imagery

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Shelia Bender's use of bantus to spark your writing with imagery.

Learn to Master Your Stories

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Ronald B. Tobias contends there are 20 master plots that are prevalent throughout literature. Tobias gives these points about the "Quest" plot.

Bulllies, Bastards & Bitches

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.

Grit, Wit and "It"

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Work one or all three of these important traits into your lead character and create a hero worthy of remembrance.

The Big Grab

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Capture your readers' interest at the very first paragraph.

Lisa Lerner's Just Like Beauty

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
"I'm glad that I had the sense to sacrifice something."

Falling Leaves

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
William Rausch's "Falling Leaves" is the grand-prize winner of the 2008 Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards. To read more about Rausch and other category winners, click here.

3 Tips for Saving Research Time

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Ah, time—the most precious resource writers have, yet the easiest to squander. Freelancer Deborah J. Myers Post offers ways to give yourself more time for writing by making the most of your research time. Here are three simple steps that will help you save valuable research time.

David E. Meadows' The Sixth Fleet

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
"I really feel that the only way you can sell something is to keep it out there. Every time I sent something out, when it came back rejected, I'd immediately send it again. I think of it like I do war ships—if you keep a war ship in port, you're not improving it. It needs to be out at sea doing its mission. It's the same with a good manuscript."

A Waking Nightmare

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Scare readers with the perfect setting and characters in your horror fiction.

Q&A With Short Short Winner Lee Hubbard

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In this online exclusive, WD goes in depth with the 9th Annual Short Short Story Competition winner Lee Hubbard.

by Zachary Petit

Jim Harrison: Literary Shape-Shifter

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Jim Harrison: Literary Shape-Shifter

Chosen

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Beverly Smith-Dawson's "Chosen" took first place in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category of the 2008 Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards. To read the grand-prize winning entry and other first-place finishers, click here.

Literary Hot Spots: San Francisco

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Want to know where all the literary hot spots are in bay area? We've got you covered. This is part two of your essential guide to living the lit life in several U.S. destinations, including Boston, San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Seattle and more.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld

Word Pictures

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
One of the best-loved writers in American literature today, John Irving offers a novelist's perspective on screenplay adaptations and talks about his obsession with the ultimate personal loss.

Branching Out

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
When your characters lack depth, creating their family tree can really fill out your fiction.

Creating Stand-Out Characters Using a Specific Distinctive Trait

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Author Lisa Lenard-Cook (The Mind of Your Story) offers tips for crafting stand-out characters, using a specific and distinctive trait.

The Perfect Place

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Where your characters live can tell volumes about who they are.

How to Get Your Novel Down on Paper

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The Marshall Plan Workbook is the most direct, practical and hands-on way to get your novel completed and pitched in the marketplace. Here, Marshall also offers essential advice to help you get down on paper the novel that's been in your head for so long. Click below to learn more.

Get Thrilled With Jeffery Deaver

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Exclusive interview with four-time Edgar Award nominee, Jeffery Deaver.

WDB Author Q&A: George Singleton

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
George Singleton, author of Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds, explains what's so great about the dung beetle and also offers advice on the writing life.

An Interview with Dr. Linda Edelstein

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Author of The Writer''s Guide to Character TraitsProfessional psychologist and author, Dr. Linda Edelstein, speaks about the uses of psychology in current fiction and how writers build the characters we read-- From criminals to cult members and everyone else in between.

The Character of Horror

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tina Jens, author of Diagnosis: Terminal, explains how she starts working on character development.

Stepping Out of a Big Shadow

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tabitha King was writing way before she married the master of horror, Stephen King. But her new novel,

He Said/She Said

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Alexander McCall Smith's wildly popular novels prove that you can channel your imagination through any character, no matter how different he (or she) is from you.

5 Tips To Polish Your Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

5 Tips To Polish Your Fiction

Who's a Stereotype?

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Enhance character stereotypes or play against them by using your readers' expectations to improve characterization.

Are You Ever Really Going to Finish That Novel?

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We'll see—find out if you've got what it takes to reach The End.

An Interview With Hemingway

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In December 1964, Edward Stafford provided Writer's Digest with an interview conducted with Ernest Hemingway shortly before the author's death in 1961. It's excerpted here for the first time in more than 40 years. Please note that the excerpt has been abridged due to space considerations.

Fiction Tips From Terry McMillan

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Seeking advice on characterization and setting goals in your fiction? Freelancer Anne Bowling posed questions about those subjects to Terry McMillan, author of Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

A Published Prosecutor

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In his 13 years as a lawyer, Raffi Yessayan, a Boston native, has worked as a prosecutor for the district attorney and served as chief of the Gang Unit. But no challenge has been quite as exhilarating for this debut author as writing his first thriller, Eight in the Box, about a serial killer dubbed “The Blood Bath Killer” and the legal team who tries to catch him.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld

Make Your Narrative Voice Sing

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Focus on voice and description, and your fiction will sing.

7 Trend Tips

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Identify and use pop-culture cues to write—and sell—your novel.

by Debbie Macomber

Write With Prejudice

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Flannery O''Connor employed a unique form of narrative bias to power her stories.

Olivia Goldsmith: Putting Women on Top

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

None of today's top writers can attest to the benefits of not giving up more than Olivia Goldsmith. Goldsmith's novel The First Wives Club was rejected 27 times before being published and made into a movie.

Kimberly Willis Holt on Writing—and Revising—YA Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Author Kimberly Willis Holt realizes the importance of rewriting a manuscript. Here, the award-winning author of My Louisiana Sky (winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award), When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (the National Book Award winner) and Dancing in Cadillac Light talks about her writing process.

Shake Up Your Plot�s Rhythm

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Your plot has an effect on the rhythm between your scenes, summary and reflection. To help you examine your plot’s rhythm, try one of these exercises.

Q&A with Pop Fiction Winner Marcy Kennedy

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here's a Q&A with Marcy Kennedy, winner of the 2009 WD Popular Fiction Awards.

A Plan for Creating Great Fiction Ideas

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Examine Marshall's steps to guide you through the novel-writing process.

Anything But Simple

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ernest Hemingway's clean, terse style is the perfect counterweight to his complex stories.

The Fish Ivory Man

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ken McBeath's "The Fish Ivory Man" took first place in the Mystery/Crime category of the 2008 Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards. To read the grand-prize winning entry and other first-place finishers, click here.

5 Tips to Help You Pick Up the Pace

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Readers are also less likely to pick up or continue reading a story that they feel "drags." Here is some advice on how you can prevent your story from falling behind.

Change Brings Your Characters to Life

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Conflict isn't the only thing that makes a plot a page turner. Character arcs can determine the effectiveness and plausibility of your story.

A Collaborating Dream Hallie Ephron

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"I was afraid he was going to want to write, and he was terrified I was going to make him write."

Create Good Ideas by Learning to Identify Bad Ones

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
How to Tell a Story combines the renowned instruction of the late Gary Provost with the literary savvy of his longtime colleague and friend Peter Rubie to show you how to spot the less-than-salable fiction or nonfiction idea.

Tips for Injecting Dialogue With Suspense and Tension

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Here William Noble shows you how to intensify that pressure throughout your story. You''ll learn exactly what constitutes conflict, action and suspense, how they relate to other important ingredients in your story, and—perhaps most important—how to manipulate them.

Secrets of Great Storytelling

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
You know that guy who has everyone riveted to his tales at every cocktail party you attend? Be like him. Make your writing sparkle by following these five rules.

Create the (IM)perfect Heroic Couple

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
How exactly do you go about uniting your hero and heroine? When creating the perfect romantic couple, consider the following.

by Leigh Michaels

The Last Dance

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Kara Graham of Lethbridge, AB, Canada, took fourth place in The 8th-Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition.

This Writer's Life: Jodi Picoult: Going Global

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
After being published in 31 countries our bestselling author concludes that, comparatively, Americans severely lack literary passion.

Looking at the Bright Side

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Beloved chick-lit author Marian Keyes believes there's no shame in a happy ending. As someone who's seen her share of the dark side, she's earned a happy ending of her own.

The Silent Type

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Can a writer who just wants to be left alone to write make it in today's extroverted publishing world? Enter 24-year-old James Boice, who may just be the answer to that question.

Singularly Modern

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Even as a member of a distinctive literary club, Virginia Woolf broke new ground all by herself.

Dave Eggers Helps Sudanese Village With Novel

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Telling the tale of a Sudanese refugee's life in novel form gave literary darling Dave Eggers the challenge of a lifetime.

6 Tips to Choosing the Right Point of View

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Nancy Kress the WD fiction columnist describes first-person, third-person and distant third-person pointof view (POV) and explains how to choose the best one for your short story.

Writing on Instinct: Nicholas Sparks

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
"I can't explain it, but I know if a scene is right or wrong. I know it. It's a visual thing—it's how the words look on the page, it's how the sentences sound.

This Writer's Life: Jodi Picoult: On the Road Again

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Our new columnist, a veteran of the bestseller lists, talks about toilets that double as nightstands and other book-tour horrors.

WD Profile: Amy Bloom

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
From prose to screenwriting and back again—here’s what short-story writer and novelist Amy Bloom learned from moving between prose writing and the all-show, no-tell world of screenwriting.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld

Nora Roberts

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Telling the story is the most important element when Nora Roberts begins a new romance novel.

Evanovich, Inc.

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Bestselling author Janet Evanovich is no fool. Her Stephanie Plum mysteries have landed her on the top of the literary food chain and made her a household name—and she intends to keep it that way.

Need to Kick It Up a Notch?

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Learn the four key paces and when and how to use them effectively in your novel.

Josip Novakovich: On the enjoyment of writing fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Josip Novakovich, author of Fiction Writer''s Workshop and Writing Fiction Step by Step, offers a few tips on getting fiction ideas.

Terry Brooks on Star Wars

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Noted fantasy author Terry Brooks talks about working with George Lucas on the novelization of The Phantom Menace and about the joy of writing.

Story Checklist for Romance Novels

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
You Can Write a Romance combines the skills of award-winning author Rita Clay Estrada and renowned instructor Rita Gallagher, the esteemed "First Ladies" of the Romance Writers of America. Together, they''ll show you how to take your story from idea to completed manuscript to signed book deal — even if you''ve never tried to write a novel before.

What Fiction Editors Want

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Just what is it that today's editors want from fiction writers?We interviewed three top editors about a variety of subjects of pressing interest to writers. The bad news: They don't read unagented submissions. The good news: They agree it's all about craft.

Rescue Your Story From Plot Pitfalls

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We’ve all been there: basking in the glow of a finished manuscript, only to read it over and realize something is wrong with the plot. Finding ourselves unable to identify the problem only makes matters worse. But take heart! Here are some common plot gaffes and sensible ways to revise without starting over.

by Laura Whitcomb

THE WD INTERVIEW: CHRISTOPHER MOORE: A Comic Bite

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Even though his name regularly appears on bestseller lists, Christopher Moore is still known as a cult writer. Find out how he lures fans by marrying the genres of humor and horror.

Waiting Out a Dark Cloud 2

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Philip Beard persevered through the publishing industry's post-9/11 trauma to publish his novel, Dear Zoe. His story offers a telling look at how the industry's mood can launch—or crush—a writing career.

The Pull of the Mystery

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The Pull of the Mystery

Alexandra Styron: A Fiction Legacy

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Alexandra Styron, author of All the Finest Girls, daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Styron and accomplished poet, Rose Styron, talks with Writer's Digest about how writing a book takes conviction, strength of character and an inner belief in your abilitieseven if your last name is Styron.

Seven Tips for Packing Your Fictional Scenes

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Seven Tips for Packing Your Fictional Scenes

The Novelist's Survival Kit

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Yes, it's scary. But it's time. So take stock of these essential elements for getting your book going, and you'll be typing away in no time.

Prose Primer

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The building blocks of effective prose are simpler than you think.

Jump-Start Your Brain

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Author Steven James provides several options for breathing new life into stale and predictable writing. Here are his tips for jump-starting your sagging creativity.

Raising the Stakes

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
To get your novels to that next level of stakes, train yourself to think of even deeper tribulations for your lead.

Walker Meade's Unspeakable Acts

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
"In large measure, you do this work because you need to do it ... you're inventing material that makes your experience somehow both accessible to you and reasonable to you so that you understand where you have been in your life."

The Comedy of War

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Kurt Vonnegut uses a potent mix of dark humor and clear-eyed compassion to expose the realities of war.

The POV Commitment

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Unify your "fictional dream" by selecting a consistent point of view that allows readers to suspend their disbelief and enter a world of your imagination.

This Writer's Life: Jodi Picoult: The Fact Behind Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Our bestselling author shows how research and interviews can make up for writers who've led drama-free lives.

Keep It Movin'

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
How do you get your story from point A to point B? Plot devices.

Learn to Write for a Target Audience

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Literary or commercial? How your fiction is perceived will affect how it is packaged, marketed and, ultimately, read by an audience.

Tracy Chevalier

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Immersed in the story

How to Break Out of a Writing Slump

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
When the words aren't coming, explore your other passions to replenish those creative juices.

Find the Passion

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Emotional power is one of the most important components of a great story—and one of the most difficult to conjure. These five steps will help you to summon it, and make it work, every time.

Fiction Q&A

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
From 10 tips to "simultaneous" solutions to the truth about writing-your-family consequences, Nancy Kress answers readers' questions.

Doing More With Less

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Learn three ways to take your fiction scenes from the boring to the best-seller list.

Deepen Your Plot

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Increase the staying power of your fiction by focusing on these four elements.

Crafting Your Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Josip Novakovich, author of Writing Fiction Step by Step, gives some steps to stay in fiction-writing shape.

A Tip From Maeve Binchy

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
"Write as you speak," says Maeve Binchy, author of Tara Road (Delacorte)

Philip Danze's Conjuring Maud

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Philip Danze has been a copy editor for Fairchild Publications for more than 30 years and is a member of the New York Press Club. His first book, Conjuring Maud (GreyCore Press, October), is a novel chronicling one young man's adventurous affair with a fictionalized version of 19th century British explorer Mary Kingsley.

Pushing the Line and Reaping the Reward

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For one WD competition winner, becoming a published author was a matter of perseverance.

Wrap It Up

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Follow these eight ground rules for writing novel endings that are sure to satisfy.

Jack Kerouac's Letters

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Jack Kerouac created a modern American folk hero in the Beat generation classic, On the Road (Bantam), out of his vagabond adventures with friend Neal Cassady. A new book sheds light on Kerouac and his life during the writing of a novel that changed a generation.

Try, Try, Try Again 2

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
All of us experience failure and rejection. But often, those are the two things that push us to succeed.

Found in Translation

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and other successful authors talk about the art of working with translators to make their prose sing in any language.

Dissecting the Short Story: In Class with T.C. Boyle

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Dissecting the Short Story: In Class with T.C. Boyle

You're Now Entering the Twilight Zone

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Not all fiction attempts to mimic reality. Successful nonmimetic fiction employs the strange, the surreal and exaggeration to make its point.

Anatomy of a Bestseller

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
What do the novels Life of Pi, Bridget Jones's Diary and The Rule of Four have in common? You might be surprised. Learn how to apply the techniques and traits they share to your own writing.

Vonnegut on Fiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Slaughterhouse Five author Kurt Vonnegut reflects on his writing style, the craft and the evolution of fiction.

Fiction

Anne Tyler's Tips on Writing Strong (yet Flawed) Characters

4 Tips for Increasing Intensity in Your Plot

9 Ways to Overcome Too Many Ideas Syndrome

Creating Characters: 4 Simple Exercises

How to Weave in Backstory to Reveal Character

7 Tips to Land The Perfect Title for Your Novel

5 Simple Marketing Tips from M.J. Rose

Announcing the Winner of the 8th-Annual WD Short Short Story Competition

How To Choose a Critique Club

Writing Small, Not Small Writing

5 Quick Tips for Writer/Agent Negotiations

Conducting Research with Ridley Pearson

A Fire Inside

Steve Berry's 8 Rules of Writing

WD Live: Steve Berry, James Rollins and Brad Thor

Thomas Steinbeck: Like Father, Like Son

Tips for Revising Your Manuscript

All I Used to Need Was Love

Gothic

We Sat in Darkness

Russell Banks—Seeing Is the Goal

Women's Fiction Forecast

Kite Maker

Finding Strong Ideas for Teen Fiction

Fiction

2008 WD Popular Fiction Award Winners

Dialogue As Conversation

Thrillerfest 2008

The WD Interview: Anna Quindlen: Balancing Act

William P. Young's Cinderella Story

How to Break the Rules & Get Published

7 Ways to Develop an Affordable Marketing Plan

On the Edge: Fantastic Fiction

The 10 Commandments of Fiction Writing

Open Your Action Scene With Gusto

Who Said That?

Literary Hot Spots: Miami

The How's of Writing Fiction

Your Novel Blueprint

Dirty Little Secrets

Sarajevo Roses

Michael Crichton�s Top 5 Writing Lessons

Reaction Shots

Tips for Creating Fictional Characters

How You Can Write Your Heart Out

Creating New Worlds

What is Suspense?

The WD Interview: George Pelecanos

The WD Interview:Brad Thor

Banking on Book Clubs

Megan McCafferty's Bookshelf

A Guiding Hand: Sandra Brown on Her Mentor

Writing a Literary Masterpiece: The Quick and Easy Way to Heaven

Sophomore Superstar

10 Disciplines for Fiction Writers

Remembering Tony Hillerman

Sub-Genre Descriptions

Inside the Mind of Cory Doctorow

The Popular Fiction Report

Fiction: Point of View

Mining Your Novel for Gold

Publish Your First Book After 50

Build the Thrill

Defining and Developing Your Anti-Hero

On The Edge: The Power of Titillation

The WD Interview: James Rollins

The Hustler

Imagery and Your Novel

3 Tips for Writing Successful Flashbacks

On The Edge: Boomer Lit

Chick-Lit Rebel

9 Tricks to Writing Suspense Fiction

10 Basic Ingredients of a Successful Thriller

How'd She Do That: One Author's Success Story

Fiction

Look at the Dead Person

Literary Hot Spots: Seattle

History in the Making

Lee Child On How To Create Suspense

Creating Characters:
4 Simple Exercises

The WD Interview:
Brad Thor

The WD Interview:
James Rollins

Library Thing's
'Dead People's Books'

The WD Interview:
Megan McCafferty

The WD Interview:
Laurell K. Hamilton

The WD Interview:
John Updike