How To Research Topics Like a Journalist
From in-person interviews to scouring the web for credible sources, journalist Alison Hill shares tips on how to research topics like a journalist.
Writer's Digest
Recent Articles
WD Presents: New Podcast Episode, a Chance at Publication, and More!
This week, we're excited to announce our newest podcast episode, your chance to be published, and more!
David Adams Cleveland: On Truth Revealing Itself in Historical Fiction
Award-winning novelist David Adams Cleveland discusses the timeliness of his new novel, Gods of Deception.
The WD Interview: Lisa Jewell
The New York Times-bestselling British author discusses creating thrilling plot twists and developing characters in her 19th novel, The Night She Disappeared, in this interview from the Jan/Feb 2022 issue of Writer's Digest.
5 Tips for Successfully Pitching Literary Agents in Person (That Worked for Me at the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference)
Author Anat Deracine found her agent at Writer’s Digest Annual Conference. Now she’s sharing what she’s learned to help other writers become authors. Here are her 5 tips for successfully pitching literary agents in person.
8 Tips for Reading Your Poetry in Front of an Audience
Poet's Market editor and published poet Robert Lee Brewer shares eight tips for reading your poetry in front of an audience.
Plot Twist Story Prompts: Strength Lost
Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. This week, let a character lose their powers.
WD Events
Learn more about Writer's Digest's two big events, the Annual Conference and the Novel Writing Conference. In 2022, both will be in-person.
Managing Point of View: Mythbusting
In the first of this three-part series, novelist and WD columnist Sharon Short breaks down 7 of the most common myths about choosing which POV is right for your story.
Channel Your Inner Authorpreneur for Your Writing Labor of Love
As self-publishing continues to become an attractive and popular options for writers, it’s important to know what you’re getting into and to have the right expectations. Here, author and entrepreneur Tom Vaughan shares how to channel your inner “authorpreneur” to help your book find its readers.
Mark Kurlansky: On Coincidences Driving Memoir
Award-winning author, playwright, and journalist Mark Kurlansky discusses the experience of channeling Ernest Hemingway in his new memoir, The Importance of Not Being Ernest.
In-Between: Writer's Digest 2nd Annual Personal Essay Awards Winner
Congratulations to Alyssa Rickert, Grand Prize winner of the 2nd Annual Writer's Digest Personal Essay Awards. Here's her winning essay, "In Between."
Things To Consider When Writing About Ghosts and the Supernatural in Fiction
From maintaining subtlety to visiting haunted places, author J. Fremont shares everything to consider when writing about ghosts and the supernatural in fiction.
6 Effective Steps To Promote Your Forthcoming Book on Social Media and Feel Good About It
Social media is a daunting albeit important aspect of promoting our work. Here, author Aileen Weintraub offers six steps to promote your book on social media authentically.
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 609
Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and an example poem to get things started on the Poetic Asides blog. This week, write a world-building poem.
Writer's Digest Presents: World-Building (Podcast, Episode 5)
In the fifth episode of the Writer's Digest Presents podcast, we talk about world-building in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including interviews with authors Whitney Hill (fiction) and Jeannine Hall Gailey (poetry).
Heirloom
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today's prompt, someone's shown up demanding your narrator's family heirloom.
May Cobb: On Stolen Moments
Author May Cobb discusses offering readers a summer of mayhem with her new novel, My Summer Darlings.
The Time Is Now: Securing First-Hand Accounts of History for Writing Projects
Writer Stephen L. Moore discusses the benefits of having first-hand accounts for historical writing and offers advice on best practices in securing interviews while there’s still time.
Character Exploration and Development in Television (From Script)
In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, exclusive interviews with writers, showrunners and more who share a common thread of character exploration and development!
Janet Key: On Letting Your Novel Take Shape
Author Janet Key discusses the experience of letting the novel take shape through the editorial process for her debut novel, Twelfth.
Benjamin Myers: On Fleeting Moments Becoming Finished Novels
Award-winning author and journalist Benjamin Myers discusses the out-of-body experience of having the idea for his new novel, The Perfect Golden Circle.
WD Presents: 7 WDU Courses, a Chat With Ran Walker, and More!
This week, we're excited to announce 7 WDU courses, a chat about flash fiction with Ran Walker, and more!
How to Crowdfund Your Book
Crowdfunding in publishing has received a lot of attention in recent months. Successful crowd-funder and author Chris Stollar shares his tips for realistic and practical tips to make crowdfunding work for you.
12 Dos and Don’ts of Revealing Critical Backstory in a Novel
How much backstory is too much backstory, and how do we know when we haven’t given enough? Here, bestselling author Jenna Kernan offers six dos and six don’ts of revealing critical backstory in a novel.