3 Amazon Secrets Every Author Needs to Know
Rob Eagar offers up three essential Amazon secrets and hacks for authors, including how to change the marketing text for your book, getting email subscribers through Kindle Direct Publishing, and identifying your target audience.
The First Book to Ever Be Dubbed the “Great American Novel” Might Not Be the One You’d Guess
The history of the term "Great American Novel" is as interesting as the first book ever given that title by John William De Forest in 1869.
6 Easy Writing Exercises to Fuel Your Creativity
Feeling less than inspired? These six easy writing exercises will build core strength in your creative muscles, and they won't take up much of your time.
On Writing and Riding: The Importance of Foundation
Both writing and riding can be challenging to master. Here, Kari Bovée explains how revisiting your foundation of study and practice can help you advance your natural writing skills and rediscover your passion for the craft, much in the same way she learned to be more adept at natural horsemanship.
Not Brave, But Fearless: Author Harlan Ellison on Battling Internet Piracy and His Reputation as a Firebrand (A 2004 Interview)
Prolific speculative fiction writer Harlan Ellison passed away on June 28, 2018, at the age of 84. In this interview with Ellison, published in May 2004, the firebrand writer discusses piracy during the rise of internet publishing, what it means to be a professional writer, and his trademark fearlessness.
47 Things Longmire Author Craig Johnson Taught Me About Writing Fiction
Landis Wade shares 47 tips about writing fiction that he learned in a writing workshop with Craig Johnson, author of the Longmire series that was adapted into a popular TV series.
How to Select the Best Topic for Historical Nonfiction—and How to Pitch It
When considering the best topic for a work of historical nonfiction, you must consider your reasearch, your target audience, and what you seek to accomplish. Author Cory Taylor discusses what goes into this process, and how to pitch the work once it's complete.
The 5 Commandments of Becoming a Published Author
There are five qualities a person must develop in order to “make it,” according to Hend Salah, who calls them the five commandments of becoming a published author.
The Lowdown on Libel: Understanding What Libel Means for Writers
When contemplating whether to pen something potentially controversial, your best defense is knowing when your work is protected and when it crosses the line. While libel laws vary from state to state, there are general principles you can rely upon.
How To Design a Professional Ebook for Free
Discover the three major steps and a slew of free tools to help you format and design an ebook from start to finish, no design skills necessary.
Risky Business: Taking Big Risks in Your Writing Career—and How They Can Pay Off
Here, we talk with writers who have taken big writing career risks and how those risks paid off—along with what they learned along the way.
The WD Interview: Bestseller Jacqueline Woodson on Confronting Controversial Subjects & Writing Across Age Categories
In this exclusive extended interview with National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jacqueline Woodson, the Newberry Honored author talks character building, diversity movements, and the real-world importance of books for kids and teens.
3 Steps to Social Media Domination for Writers
Author and social media afficionado Jeff Somers shares his three steps for social-media success.
Learn from The Incredibles: How to Write Super Characters
The Incredibles 2, the sequel to Pixar's iconic superhero film, offers writers the oportunity to enhance our understanding of effective character development. Here are a few lessons from the movie that you can apply in your fiction.
Why Writers Should Consider Including Safer Sex in Fiction
Citing rising public health issues and a previous example of fiction influencing real-world behaviors, Phyllis Zimbler Miller advocates for including references to safer sex in fiction in order to culturally normalize healthier intimate practices.
Case Study: How Self-Publishing Led Author Jonathan French to Hybrid Success
Jonathan French's approach to self-publishing played an important role in how editors and agents perceived his book, and persuaded French to reevaluate his perspective on how authors can, and should, break into print.
The Pros and Cons of Getting Published
Do you ever worry that getting published—that worrying about the business of writing—might sully the purity of your artistic expression and dampen your passion for the craft? Many writers struggle with the concessions required of the publication process, but you needn't fear them; it's all part of the experience.
Writing for Magazines: How to Land a Magazine Assignment
Writing for magazines is a lot like catching a fish. It requires the right bait, understanding the conditions, finesse with timing and most of all, persistence. When it all comes together, the time and effort are worth it when you net the big one.
The Writer’s Digest Podcast, Episode 5: Children’s Literature and Diversity in Publishing — Interview with Patrice Caldwell
In this episode of the Writer’s Digest Podcast, hear from author, editor, and founder of People of Color in Publishing Patrice Caldwell, who shares an inside look at the importance of diversity in publishing today, the relevance of the mirrors and windows concept to literature, the reason people of color leave...
Writing Science Fiction: How to Approach Exposition in Sci-Fi Novels
In this excerpt from the book Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction, Orson Scott Card explains why exposition can present particular challenges when you're writing science fiction, and tips for overcoming those challenges.
How to Write Strong Scenes: 4 Key Questions to Evaluate Your Scene
The following is excerpted from the online course The Art of Storytelling 101: Story Mapping and Pacing by Terri Valentine, which explores style, concepts, characters, and how to write strong scenes. Learn more about the course and register at Writer’s Digest University. Practically speaking, scenes are the irreducible matter of novels. The...
Top Websites for Writers: 8 Great Publishing & Marketing Resources on the Web
Each year, we scour the web for our annual 101 Best Websites for Writers, a comprehensive collection of online resources for writers. This selection represents this year's publishing and marketing resources that are particularly helpful for authors looking to self publish or build their audiences and platforms.
An Illustrated Guide to Book Expo 2018
Bob Eckstein illustrated the happenings at the reimagined Book Expo 2018. Explore his observations here.
You’re Just Too Good to Be True: How to Make Your Protagonist’s Love Interest More Believable—Flaws and All
In crafting fiction across genres, a perfect love interest is a tempting trap—and a trope. Writing flawed characters, even when your character is head over heels in love with them, is a must. Here's how to make the object of your character's affection believable and lovable while avoiding clichés.