Write Better

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.

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

17 Writing Secrets

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

One author shares his tried-and-true principles for making good writing better.

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

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 Techniques to Fire Up Your Fiction

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here are some exercises to apply to your novel-in-progress. They are designed to dig up what matters in your story and infuse it in your manuscript in effective—but not obvious—ways.

by Donald Maass

Open Your Action Scene With Gusto

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Learn how to build effective action scenes into your fiction

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.

Marketing: Reprints

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What’s better than selling an article for $750? Selling it again for $200, then again for $150, then again for $200, without doing anything more than letting an editor know it’s available.

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

Studying the Romance Novel

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Begin studying the Romance Novel in with this excerpt from On Writing Romance.

Creating New Worlds

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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

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.

Quick Tips for Building a Bio

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Of all the materials you’ll utilize in becoming known, your short bio is the one you’ll use and update the most. By highlighting your credibility in your field and showcasing you as the experienced professional that you are, it succinctly tells people what you know and why they should listen to you.

by Christina Katz

Celebrating 90 Years of WD: American History

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In 2010, Writer’s Digest will turn 90. To celebrate, we’ll be counting down to our nonagenarian years with a look back at WD history. In the July/August issue, we took a nostalgic look at how American History has been reflected in our pages since 1920. The retrospective continues here.

Challenging the Limits of Memory

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this excerpt from Writing Life Stories, Bill Roorbach teaches you how to pay attention to and translate your memories and how to overcome your resistance to remembered places and events.

3 Types of Prompts from The Writer's Book of Matches

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Situation, dialogue, and assignment prompts from The Writer's Book of Matches.

Audrey Niffenegger Explains How To Create a Good Story

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How do you follow up a smash hit like The Time Traveler’s Wife? For artist and author Audrey Niffenegger, it all comes down to embracing the freedom to create—on your own terms.

by Jessica Strawser

Follow These Rules For Stronger Writing

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Strong prose is a matter of practice and discipline and conscious awareness of the words you put on the page. There are rules for effective writing, and you can save yourself a lot of unnecessary grief if you take the time to incorporate them into your writing psyche.

by Nancy Lamb

The 2008 WD Guide to Software for Writers

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Here in our annual software round-up, we've tested most writing software programs to help you find the best choice for your writing needs.

by Jenna Glatzer

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 Exercise: Fiction Techniques for Nonfiction Characters

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Try these writing exercises to improve the quality of your nonfiction characters.

by Bill Roorbach with Kristen Keckler

Spotlight on NaNoWriMo.org

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Learn the best ways to get connected, hone your skills and build your career on the Web in this expanded Q&A with the founder of NaNoWriMo.org.

Spotlight on Backspace

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Learn the best ways to get connected, hone your skills and build your career on the Web in this expanded Q&A with the founders of Backspace.

Spotlight on Authonomy

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Learn the best ways to get connected, hone your skills and build your career on the Web in this expanded Q&A with the founders of Authonomy.

Secrets to Success in Online Writing Communities

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Learn the best ways to get connected, hone your skills and build your career on the Web in these expanded Q&As with the founders of the leading sites.

Compiled by Jessica Strawser

Is Happiness Possible in a Creative Writing Program?

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Forget the notion of the starving artist. A workshop could offer lessons you’ll carry for the rest of your life—in your writing and beyond.

by Randall Albers

Celebrating 90 Years of WD: Curiosities

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the November/December issue, we took a lighthearted look at some of the curious, quirky or otherwise random content we’ve spotted in the archives. The retrospective continues here.

May/June 2009 Issue On Sale Now!

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The May/June 2009 issue of Writer's Digest is on sale now, which includes our WD Interview with Stephen King and Jerry B. Jenkins and our guide to standing out to editors and agents. Click here for more info and to buy your copy now.

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

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

The Sentence Sleuth: Nix Those Nominalizations

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Our new grammar guru shows you how to avoid receiving the Naughtiest Writing Habit Award.

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.

How to Incubate Your Story

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To write a story you need five or six days, during which time you must be thinking about it every moment, otherwise you’ll never be able to frame good sentences.

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

Query Clinic: Example of a Great Query Letter

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Looking to switch agents? Here’s one author who succeeded with a gracefully written letter. Plus: her new agent’s insights on what made it work.

by Lori Perkins

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

Find the Right ONLINE CRITIQUE GROUP For You!

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Improve your writing and expand your network of writing friends by joining a critique group you can attend from the comfort of your home.

The Four Commandments of Writing Good Sentences

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

If you want to write a good sentence, don’t pay any attention to your grammar. I don’t mean “a sentence this like OK is.” I mean don’t automatically think you’ve written a good sentence just because it’s grammatically correct. Lots of bad sentences are grammatically correct. Some of these bad sentences might even be yours.

by Bonnie Trenga

Using Parallelism in Your Writing

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Sentence Sleuth says you need to balance all the elements of your sentences.

by Bonnie Trenga

Writer's Block Moves

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When writers are seriously blocked, they often resort to extreme measures—drinking, a divorce, traveling—even TV. But when merely stalled, they tend to rely on less desperate devices. I recently asked a collection of working writers what they do when they’re temporarily stuck. Their useful, humorous and inspiring responses follow.

by Terry Bisson

10 Rules for Writing Opinion Pieces

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Freelance on the fly by mastering the opinion piece.

by Susan Shapiro

Write Like Rick Steves: Travel Writer Extraordinaire

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Wanderlust, business savvy and a “magical, all-alone private Stonehenge”: How Rick Steves became the world’s most trusted travel writer.

by Zachary Petit

One Writer�s Unique Journey

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I first knew I wanted to be a writer sometime in 1990, soon after my marriage to Carla. Always an avid reader, I really enjoyed the horror genre. I especially loved the books written by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul. Those folks were my idols. I’m sure I’ve read THE STAND, PHANTOMS, and CREATURE three or four times each. Probably even more.

by Andrew Peterson

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

Nonfiction: Avoid the Poison Pen

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

“What if I don’t want to offend anybody?" As a teacher of first-person writing who has published three provocative memoirs that my family hates, I’m often asked this question. It’s a conundrum for all authors. The great novelist E.L. Doctorow once told me there were stories he wouldn’t publish until certain relatives died—and he writes fiction!
by Susan Shapiro

Craft True-to-Life Nonfiction Characters

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many of the same techniques for writing characters in fiction apply to nonfiction: Through detail, through gesture, through talk, through close understanding of whole lives before and after the scope of your story, you make your people vivid in your reader’s head.

by Bill Roorbach with Kristen Keckler

Wielding the Scalpel: What to Cut From Your Story

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Got padding? Read on to find out how small-scale surgery can transform your draft into lean, salable fiction.

The Don'ts of Writing Nonfiction

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When it comes to writing nonfiction, there are several rules you must follow. This "Don't List"covers the basics.

by Susan Shapiro

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.

Five Tips for Improving Story Endings

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Translating a flash of inspiration into a compelling story requires careful crafting. Nancy Kress

Tips for Priming the Writing Pump

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Having trouble getting started with a piece of writing? Listen to the pump-priming ideas of some of today's hottest writers, as told to Anne Collette.

Poetry: The Leap

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
One of the earmarks of Spanish poetry is the use of a leap into seemingly unrelated imaginary material. Poets such as Federico García Lorca, Pablo Neruda, César Vallejo and Antonio Machado all use this technique to great effect.

by Dorianne Laux

Writing Advice from Stephen King & Jerry Jenkins

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
One is arguably the best-known writer of our time. The other made his name writing the end of the world as we know it in the left behind series. If this unique pairing seems unlikely, look closer. A conversation with the two yields both parallels and polarity—and candid insights as well as mutual respect.

by Jessica Strawser

A Boot Camp for Creative Writing (Uncut)

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT
What should you expect from a worthwhile fiction workshop? Here's the inside scoop.

by Charles Johnson

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.

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.

Spotlight on Writing.com

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Learn the best ways to get connected, hone your skills and build your career on the Web in this expanded Q&A with the founders of Writing.com.

Low-Residency MFA programs

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Low-residency MFA programs offer writers the chance to grow from a distance.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld

Using Direct Quotes

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Using Direct Quotes

Plot Planner Exercise

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Use this planner to help build an intense plot to your story.

Grow Your Writing Through Reading

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT
A few years ago, a student in my beginning fiction-writing class handed in a cave dweller story—the sort of story where the characters’ names all had the suffix -or (Cor, Zor, Exor). The men spend 20 pages fending off saber-toothed tiger attacks and the women spend the same 20 pages in caves, teaching their children to speak monosyllabically and warning them to stay away from fire.
by Brock Clarke

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.”

Should You Write a Memoir?
(The Memoirist's Dilemma)

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Memoir author Matt Rothschild says there are issues you need to consider before telling your story.

By Matt Rothschild

Notable Debut Authors

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Check out these up-and-coming debut authors and the highly successful habits that helped them get published.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld

Poetry: Concrete Poetry

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT
This under-appreciated poetic form will get your words in shape.

Four Tips for Improving Your Story's Descriptive Language

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
A writer's ability to describe his or her story's surroundings, to make their settings and characters spring alive in the mind of the reader, is critical to the success of any piece of fiction. Here are four tips from Monica Wood, author of Description to help you squeeze the right amount of flavor from your language.

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.

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.

Avoid Common Grammar Pitfalls

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Want to write tight, lean prose devoid of errors? Learn how to be your own copy editor with these 22 tips.

The WD Interview:
James Patterson

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
To a bestselling author, the words “brand” and “factory” might not sound like terms of endearment. But James Patterson has more stories to tell—and 100 million readers behind him to help soften the blow.

by Diana Page Jordan

Six Overused Quotes to Prune From Your Prose

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Six Overused Quotes to Prune From Your Prose

4 Tips for Choosing the Right Word

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
How do you choose the right word for the right situation? The most powerful words tend to be the shortest and, not coincidentally, the ones most basic to the English language. Words like kin, thanks and small, for instance, are deeply rooted in Old English before A.D. 1000, while words like relatives (from the 1600s), gratitude (in use by 1450) and tiny (from the 1500s) are from succeeding generations. A long-time editor gives more advice for word

Quick Tip: Use Causal Writing to Connect the Dots

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Causal writing connects the beginning of your story to the end, meaning that each scene and chapter you write builds naturally from the one before it and causes the scene or chapter that follows. Here's how to successfully do it.

by Rachel Ballon

What''s Your Theme?

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
What is your story really about?

How to Keep it Tight

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Try your hand at tightening this wordy example. Then, take a look at the winning edit.

Choosing a Font When Printing Manuscripts

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
How to choose a readable font (typeface) for printing out your manuscript from the morass of fonts that are available to computer users.

Books on Writing for Any Writer's Bookshelf (February 2009)

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Add these great books on writing to your bookshelf for reference. .

by Margaret Russo

Faster Than A Speeding Bullet

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Fly through your writing assignments with these five tips for planning your projects so you get the best articles in the least time!

Poetry: Word Choice

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
“What’s in a name?” William Shakespeare asked this question more than 400 years ago and poets are still puzzling over it. Read this exchange between the Bard’s famous star-crossed lovers (at right) and remember when you first heard it.

Surround Yourself With Good Resources

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Surround Yourself With Good Resources

Can I Use Song Lyrics in my Manuscript?

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Let the informative (and humorous) "Questions & Quandaries" columnist Brian A. Klems answer some of your most pressing grammatical, ethical, business and writing-related questions, including why authors use pseudonyms. Check out his advice and don't hesitate to ask a question—your writing career will thank you.

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.

Get Messy With Your First Draft

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Rough up your first draft to get to the good stuff.

by Elizabeth Sims

Autobiographobia

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Read an excerpt from Alone With All That Could Happen.

Web Writing

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
3 Online editors give tips and advice on how to make it on the web.

Why I Write Horror

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Popular genre writer Ramsey Campbell expounds on his terrifying tales.

First Comes Focus, Then Comes Structure

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Whether you're writing a script, speech or novel, the first question is the same: What's your story about? Take the following quiz to answer this question.

Draw Characters From The Strongest Sources

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Every drama requires a cast. The cast may be so huge or it may be an intimate cast of two. Where do you get these people, and how do you know they’ll make good characters? Here are the four key sources you'll need to create great characters.

by Nancy Kress

Celebrating 90 Years of WD:
Cult Classics

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In 2010, Writer’s Digest will turn 90. To celebrate, we’ll be counting down to our nonagenarian years with a look back at WD history. In the September issue, we took a nostalgic look at how writers known for their cult followings have been reflected in our pages since 1920. The retrospective continues here.

Use Method Writing to Learn About Your Characters

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Good writers must also prepare themselves in advance for developing their fictional characters by going inside themselves. Enter method writing.

by Rachel Ballon

The Secret of Good Writing

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
For National Book Award winner Alice McDermott

When to Use Swear Words in your Writing

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
When you're deciding whether or not to use foul language in your writing, ask yourself these three questions.

Words to Avoid

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
A few tips you can use to avoid the words that irk editors.

Bullies, Bastards & Bitches Author Q & A

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Q & A with Jessica Morrell, author if Bullies, Bastards & Bitches: How to Write the Bad Guys of Fiction.

The Action Verb and Beautiful Accidents

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
In this excerpt from The Rhythm Method, Razzmatazz, and Memory, poet and editor Keith Flynn teaches you how to choose the perfect, unexpected word to strengthen the momentum and impact of your poem.

Start Off Strong

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Your opening sentence sets the tone for your entry—make it strong and true.

Tips for Helping Your Stories Come Alive

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
If your fiction seems to lack punch, perhaps the problem is not with your plot, but rather with your descriptions. Here are three tips taken from Monica Wood''s book Description to help you inject more life into your stories.

Tips for Finding Your Own Writing Style

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
David Fryxell discusses the difficult task of trying to find your own natural writing style, one that will help subtly distinguish your work from that of your peers. Style, according to Fryxell, is the product of a writer's tone and voice and cannot be successfully forced or plagiarized from another. Here are a few of his tips for helping you find your own style through tone and voice.

The Premise of Your Story

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The Premise of Your Story

Begin at the Beginning

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
by James V. Smith Jr, author of Fiction Writer's Brainstormer

Find Out if You're a Good Writer

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Here is tip #3 of 4 in Raymond Obstfeld's "4 Tips to Find Out if You're a Good Writer" in the latest issue of Start Writing Now.

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.

3 Tips for Turning Rejection into Acceptance

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Most of the experts will tell you that if a magazine editor rejects your idea, send it on to the next prospect on your list. This freelancer says you shouldn't give up too quickly on No. 1.

Avoid the Editorial "John Doe"

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Editors want to say yes to your story as badly as you want them to?so make it easy for them with these five steps.

The Right Attitude for Writing Your Life Story

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Check out an excerpt from Chapter 1 of You Don't Have to Be Famous.

Celebrating 90 Years of WD: Pop Culture

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In 2010, Writer’s Digest will turn 90. To celebrate, we’ll be counting down to our nonagenarian years with a look back at WD history. In the May/June issue, we took a fun look at how pop culture has been reflected in our pages since 1920. The retrospective continues here.

Voice And Dialect

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Voice And Dialect

Choosing and Using Viewpoint

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
"Person" in writing refers to how the viewpoint character will tell the story (fiction or nonfiction). Your choice affects not only the reader's experience, but also how you go about telling your tale. Here are some thoughts on the topic of person from the study materials of "Getting Started in Writing," a workshop from The Writer's Digest School.

Government Gold Mine

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The Freedom of Information Act allows you access to an array of documents to help you research your next story. Here, WD's legal expert tells you how to get them.

3 Tips for Developing Solid Dialogue

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Dialogue is perhaps the most important characterization tool at a fiction writer's disposal; unfortunately, it is also one of the most difficult techniques to do well. Stiff, unnatural or overdone dialogue can doom the liveliest characters or stall the most exciting plot. But great dialogue can propel your characters and story off the page, deep into the imagination of your reader.

Getting To "The End"

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Getting To "The End"

Q&A: WDB Author Lisa Lenard-Cook

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Lisa Lenard-Cook, author of Mind of Your Story, says that memorable fiction doesn’t arrive by magic, but if you work at writing—and rewriting—you can learn to make what’s on the page match the picture in your head.

Learning to Be a Writer

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Succeeding in an MFA program requires equal parts compulsion,
commitment and talent.

by Lin Enger

How to Write Successful Endings

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Don't let your fiction get tossed in the wastebasket because the ending "didn't quite work." Follow Nancy Kress' advice for choosing a successful ending based on the style of your work.

Your Writing Plan

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Looking for ways to streamline the process of interviewing sources? Writers Joe Feiertag and Mary Carmen Cupito offer up some helpful hints.

Crossing Over

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Fiction and nonfiction writers have a lot to teach each other about the craft. Here's how writing in both genres will make you that much better.

The Importance Of Diction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The Importance Of Diction

Celebrating 90 Years of WD:
Literary Heroes

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Join the celebration of 90 Years of WD with these quotes and images from our past literary heroes, including Hemingway, Capote and King. Plus, you could win a copy of Legends of Literature (Writer's Digest Books).

10 Tabloid Tips To Better Writing

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Sure, tabloids are a fun read. But this

Nonfiction: Q&As

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
“There’s no Q&A protocol. You can write the manual,” The New York Times Magazine journalist Deborah Solomon told Columbia Journalism Review in the summer of 2005. Yet a recent controversy over Solomon’s Q&A interviewing techniques in her own weekly column proved her wrong about the lack of protocol for this popular but peculiar genre.

It''s Not Just What You Say, But How

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
It''s Not Just What You Say, But How

Show and Tell

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
To show or to tell isn't a battle of good versus evil, but the skilled storyteller knows how to play each to maximum effect.

Setting The Scene

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Setting The Scene

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

Creativity Starter:

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Is your battery dead?
Try using some of Steven James''s ideas right now.

Speaking of Dialogue

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Give your characters a story worth responding to and your dialogue will flow.

Advice on Avoiding Writer's Procrastination

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Bestselling writer Sharyn McCrumb's thoughts and advice on procrastination and how to escape it.

Video Interview With a WD Author

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
In this Authorlink video interview, Lisa Lenard Cook (author of The Mind of Your Story) reveals how to recognize and use "fictional seeds" to create a story that that grabs the reader and doesn't let go.

Your Grand Finale

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Hang in there! You can finesse your way to the end of your first draft with advice from novelists who've been there and lived to tell another tale.

from Cagey to Quotable

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Disarm these six difficult interview types to get the information you need.

The Importance of the Right Word

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Word choice: It''s writing''s core. Although it takes practice to always use the exact right word, be sure to keep these guidelines in mind.

Thou Shalt Steal

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Shoplift articles from all around you—including your own writing. Learn to purloin with the best of them, and keep your outbox and bank account full.

The Temporary Expert

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Need to get an insider's viewpoint on a specialty topic? You don't need no stinkin' expert. Immerse yourself in the subject at hand, then be your own insider. These three writers prove the efforts are well worth it.

Listen to an Interview With the Vermont MFA Chair

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The chair of the Vermont MFA program talks about the craft of fiction, plus listen to several passages from his writing instruction book, Alone With All That Could Happen. Click here to go straight to the interview (at the Web site of "Write the Book").

What Christine Byl can't not do

Wed, 11 Feb 1998 00:00:00 GMT
Is writing something you can't NOT do? If so, you're on the right track, as the case of writer Christine Byl

Change Your Point of View

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Writing in a specific point of view enables you to convey all the impressions and information you desire. Here are two exerices excerpted from Mastering Point of View.

Tips for Avoiding Redundancy

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Tautologies pair synonymous words. "But" and "however" mean the same thing, so the phrase "but however" is redundant. A moment is by its nature brief, so we needn't speak of a brief moment to be understood. You don't have to explain the reason why when you can explain the reason, or when you can explain why.

3 Tips for Using Movement to Engage Readers

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Action and movement are essential keys to any good story. In Stephen Wilbers'', Keys to Great Writing, the author discusses style, precision, structure, grammar, punctuation and, of course, developing movement.

Why Web Writing Must Get to the Point

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
It's not just how short you write, it's how much information you can pack into just a few words. Follow these six steps to great Web content.

Let Me Make This Perfectly Clear

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Clarity, the often unnoticed foundation of your writing, is crucial if you want readers to finish your story. Learn to see what the reader sees.

Fiction: Attributive Clauses

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Don't drag your dialogue down with busy attributives. Here's why "said" is the most effective way to end a quote.

Bringing Up the Rear

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Keep your audience reading by closing paragraphs and chapters with dramatic crescendos.

Tips on the Goals of Description in Writing

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
What do we mean by description? Rebecca McClanahan dispels some myths about the uses and goals of description.

7 Laws of Comedy Writing

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Writing humor is subjective and challenging—thankfully, there are many ways to create it. How to Write Funny provides advice, insights and humor from more that twenty writers with a gift for making readers laugh

The Four-Step Revision Method

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Step 1 of Raymond Obstfeld's "4-Step Method" to revising your work.

The Sentence Sleuth: In Search of Lost Readers

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Keep your readers with sentences that are the perfect length.

Your Opening Quest

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Hook readers from the start with an intriguing question.

Advice From First Novelists on Getting Published

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
What's one of the best ways to get published?

Putting Your Internal Editor To Work

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Putting Your Internal Editor To Work

Write Better

Dialogue As Conversation

7 Tips to Land The Perfect Title for Your Novel

17 Writing Secrets

How to Weave in Backstory to Reveal Character

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

4 Techniques to Fire Up Your Fiction

Open Your Action Scene With Gusto

Tips for Revising Your Manuscript

Marketing: Reprints

Your Novel Blueprint

Studying the Romance Novel

Creating New Worlds

Writing Small, Not Small Writing

Quick Tips for Building a Bio

Celebrating 90 Years of WD: American History

Challenging the Limits of Memory

3 Types of Prompts from The Writer's Book of Matches

Audrey Niffenegger Explains How To Create a Good Story

Follow These Rules For Stronger Writing

The 2008 WD Guide to Software for Writers

How To Choose a Critique Club

Writing Exercise: Fiction Techniques for Nonfiction Characters

Spotlight on NaNoWriMo.org

Spotlight on Backspace

Spotlight on Authonomy

Secrets to Success in Online Writing Communities

Is Happiness Possible in a Creative Writing Program?

Celebrating 90 Years of WD: Curiosities

May/June 2009 Issue On Sale Now!

Fiction: Point of View

Creating Characters: 4 Simple Exercises

The Sentence Sleuth: Nix Those Nominalizations

Defining and Developing Your Anti-Hero

How to Incubate Your Story

The WD Interview: James Rollins

Query Clinic: Example of a Great Query Letter

9 Tricks to Writing Suspense Fiction

Find the Right ONLINE CRITIQUE GROUP For You!

The Four Commandments of Writing Good Sentences

Using Parallelism in Your Writing

Writer's Block Moves

10 Rules for Writing Opinion Pieces

Write Like Rick Steves: Travel Writer Extraordinaire

One Writer�s Unique Journey

A Checklist for Developing Your Hero and Heroine

Nonfiction: Avoid the Poison Pen

Craft True-to-Life Nonfiction Characters

Wielding the Scalpel: What to Cut From Your Story

The Don'ts of Writing Nonfiction

Library Thing's'Dead People's Books'

Five Tips for Improving Story Endings

Tips for Priming the Writing Pump

Poetry: The Leap

Writing Advice from Stephen King & Jerry Jenkins

A Boot Camp for Creative Writing (Uncut)

Book in a Month Author Q&A

Finding Strong Ideas for Teen Fiction

Spotlight on Writing.com

Low-Residency MFA programs

Using Direct Quotes

Plot Planner Exercise

Grow Your Writing Through Reading

Fiction: Titles

Should You Write a Memoir? (The Memoirist's Dilemma)

Notable Debut Authors

Poetry: Concrete Poetry

Four Tips for Improving Your Story's Descriptive Language

All I Used to Need Was Love

WGF: Revision & Self-Editing Author Q&A

Avoid Common Grammar Pitfalls

The WD Interview: James Patterson

Six Overused Quotes to Prune From Your Prose

4 Tips for Choosing the Right Word

Quick Tip: Use Causal Writing to Connect the Dots

What''s Your Theme?

How to Keep it Tight

Choosing a Font When Printing Manuscripts

Books on Writing for Any Writer's Bookshelf (February 2009)

Faster Than A Speeding Bullet

Creating Characters:
4 Simple Exercises

The WD Interview:
James Rollins

Library Thing's
'Dead People's Books'

Should You Write a Memoir?
(The Memoirist's Dilemma)

The WD Interview:
James Patterson

The WD Interview:
Laurell K. Hamilton

Celebrating 90 Years of WD:
Cult Classics

Celebrating 90 Years of WD:
Literary Heroes