In this interview, author Alice Evelyn Yang discusses how a curiosity about her own family history helped inspire her to write her debut novel, A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing.
Business of Writing
The Myth of the Bestseller List, and Why the Math Is Really Not Mathing
Literary agent Victoria Marini discusses the myth of the bestseller list, and how it may be more storytelling than mathing in the end.
In this interview, author Mike Pitts discusses the decades of curiosity and research that led to his new book, Island at the Edge of the World.
Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and example poem to get things started for poets. This week, write a confusion poem.
Copywriter and freelancer Robert W. Bly shares five methods for interviewing subject matter experts for copywriting projects.
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today’s prompt, write about someone who is learning to drive.
In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, learn eight ways to adapt a story that becomes public domain.
Writer's Digest
Recent Articles
Character
Award-winning author Tracy Clark takes a look at what happens when the helpers need help by destigmatizing mental health through fiction.
Young Adult
Author Annie Cardi shares five tips on how to craft a Shakespearean retelling that thrills and delights teen readers.
Mystery/Thriller
Author Rebekah Faubion discusses the thin line between horror and romance, including the commonalities in both.
Write Better Fiction
In this interview, Liza Anderson discusses how following her obsessions led her to write her debut novel, We Who Have No Gods.
Writing Habits and Practices
Get each week started on the right foot with Get Started Right Writing Tasks. For this week’s task, identify your target audience.
Resources
Learn how agents actually read the query letters they receive, what makes them keep going, plus more from Writer’s Digest!
Writing Techniques
Award-winning journalist and bestselling novelist Bob Reiss breaks down the differences between storytelling in fiction and nonfiction.
Romance
In this interview, author Julian Winters discusses writing his version of a coming out story with his new romance, Last First Kiss.
Interviews With Poets
In this interview, NC Youth Poet Laureate Rishi Janakiraman discusses youth poetry anthologies, literary criticism, and more.
Mystery/Thriller
Author and former Wall Street executive Kristine Delano shares seven and a half ways to use real-world expertise to build authentic suspense.
Character
Award-winning author Sarah Branson shares seven common character arc problems and how to fix them in stories.
Literary
In this interview, author Melissa Faliveno discusses the similarities and differences between her nonfiction writing and her new literary novel, Hemlock.
The Writer's Life
When times are turbulent, pinpointing why your work matters to yourself and to readers can provide the motivation you need to keep putting words on the page.
Humor Fiction
In this interview, author Rebecca Wait discusses the character-driven way the plot evolved in writing her new novel, Cry Havoc.
Historical
Author Kelly Scarborough shares how the power of presence helped her unlock the souls of her historical fiction characters.
Writing Habits and Practices
Nurse and author Karen Winn discusses how her work as a nurse and a novelist have helped feed each other in productive ways.
Write My Query
Find Malcolm Kempt’s successful query to agent Gideon Pine for his debut novel, A Gift Before Dying, along with commentary on what worked.
Literary
In this interview, author Ryan Collett discusses how London’s 2020 shutdown helped inspire his new novel, George Falls Through Time.
Wednesday Poetry Prompts
Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and example poem to get things started for poets. This week, write a food poem.
Business of Writing
Bestselling author Vincent Ralph shares his experience writing and releasing two books simultaneously to kick off a new series.
WD Podcasts
In the fifth season premiere of the Writer’s Digest Presents podcast, editor Michael Woodson and literary agent Allegra Martschenko tackle writing the perfect ending.
Writing Prompts
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today’s prompt, write about a hero returning home.
Historical
In this interview, author John Sayles discusses writing and researching concurrently for his new novel, Crucible.
Character
Author Lior Torenberg pushed a fictional character to do a bad thing and then had to write a PR strategy to understand why.