Author Michael Cowan explains the process of writing slow-burn suspense in a fast-content world, with examples of tools and books to read.
Writing Habits and Practices
On the Importance of Oatmeal: Why Fiction and Nonfiction Are Not as Different as We Think
Author Mona Tewari discusses the importance of oatmeal (and germs) and why fiction and nonfiction are not as different as some believe.
Author Paul Drugan discusses the challenges of following a chronological timeline when exploring forgiveness as narrative risk in memoir.
Write a poem a day with poets from around the world for the 2026 April PAD Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a “No (blank)” poem.
Find the successful query for Odessa, by Gabrielle Sher, and why it can be helpful to have a second idea on hand…just in case.
In this interview, Idris Goodwin pulls from a palette of emotions and memories about navigating school, creativity, and more.
In this week’s weekly round up from Script magazine, “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” co-creators and showrunners discuss intentional callbacks and humor, and more.
Writer's Digest
Recent Articles
Children's
Author Laurie Morrison shares six tips for writing multimedia middle-grade novels that captivate readers from beginning to end.
Literary
In this interview, author Patrick Cottrell discusses the process of writing about writing in his new novel, Afternoon Hours of a Hermit.
Resources
Tim Schildberger explains how to figure out if your story idea is best as a screenplay or a novel, plus more from Writer’s Digest!
April PAD Challenge
Write a poem a day with poets from around the world for the 2026 April PAD Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a family poem.
Science Fiction/Fantasy
In this interview, author Amy Coombe shares how reading a bad book inspired hers, how she went about her world-building, and more.
April PAD Challenge
Write a poem a day with poets from around the world for the 2026 April PAD Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a reconsideration poem.
Writing Habits and Practices
Author Jennifer Shoop discusses the art of specificity in writing, including how to dial in on detail and why it matters.
April PAD Challenge
Write a poem a day with poets from around the world for the 2026 April PAD Challenge. For today’s prompt, write an ambiguity poem.
Writing Techniques
Author Sheila Yasmin Marikar shares tips on writing about places when you don’t live there. (Hint: It’s all about the people.)
Get Published
Literary agent Jessica Berg shares how confidence in your pitch sentence can lead to a more honest pitch that your body will respond to.
April PAD Challenge
Write a poem a day with poets from around the world for the 2026 April PAD Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a new poem.
Memoir
Author Lesley Yvonne Hunter discusses the power of writing against assumptions in memoir by focusing on her own story.
Romance
Denise Hunter, the bestselling author of more than 40 books, shares five romance tropes that never fail writers or readers.
Write My Query
In this installment of Successful Queries, agent Sabrina Taitz and author Miranda Shulman discuss the query behind her debut, Harmless.
Write Better Fiction
In this interview, author Allison Winn Scotch discusses utilizing writing approaches from different genres for her new novel, The Insomniacs.
April PAD Challenge
Write a poem a day with poets from around the world for the 2026 April PAD Challenge. For today’s prompt, write an “Under (blank)” poem.
Overcoming Writer's Block
Author Ramona Ausubel shares three exercises to get your writing unstuck, excerpted from her new book, Unstuck.
Writing Techniques
Author Marybeth Mayhew Whalen shares the four things she does before writing the first word of a novel (that’s worked 11 times so far).
Writing Prompts
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today’s prompt, write about a huge piece of art.
Memoir
In this interview, author Tom French discusses how a blog for family and friends went viral and led to his new memoir, The Gap Years.
April PAD Challenge
Write a poem a day for the 2026 April PAD Challenge. For today’s Two-for-Tuesday prompt, write a form and/or anti-form poem.
Character
Bestselling author of the Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries C. S. Harris shares eight ways to create a great cast of suspects for your mystery.
Resources
In this week’s round up from Script magazine, “St. Denis Medical” co-creator and showrunner discusses character dynamics in season two of the hit series, and more!
Literary
In this interview, author Kelly Yang discusses the process of writing her first novel for adults, The Take.