Bestselling author of the Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries C. S. Harris shares eight ways to create a great cast of suspects for your mystery.
Writing Techniques
4 Things I Do Before I Write the First Word of a Novel
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).
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.
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.
Presenting the May/June 2026 issue of Writer’s Digest, including the 101 Best Websites for Writers and an interview with Mike Chen.
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today’s prompt, write about a huge piece of art.
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!
Writer's Digest
Recent Articles
Literary
In this interview, author Kelly Yang discusses the process of writing her first novel for adults, The Take.
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 problem poem.
Writing Habits and Practices
Author Lucy Ashe mines the depths of the stuff of thought, specifically psychoanalysis, creativity, and mental health for writers.
Resources
Literary agent Jessica Berg shares how to write a synopsis that aligns with the manuscript you’ve written, 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 set poem.
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 home poem.
Get Published
Media trainer for authors Paula Rizzo shares tips for making the most of your pitches to the media and how to keep track of them.
Resources
This month, trained fighter and author Carla Hoch shares the different kinds of evidence that decide if a character is guilty or innocent.
Book Recommendations
Six years after the start of COVID, senior editor Michael Woodson shares five books that were released in 2020 that deserve your attention.
Romance
In this interview, author Kara McDowell discusses the emotional catharsis of her new romance, The Write Off.
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 mini poem.
Plot
Bestselling Author Lori Gold explores the path not taken — why we’re currently obsessed with “what if?” stories.
Business of Writing
Late bloomer author Amin Ahmad shares eight thoughts on surviving the publishing industry that may (or may not) be very personal.
Romance
In this interview, author Gretchen Powell Fox discusses the internal questions while reading romantasy that led her to write her own, Smoke and Scar.
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 “(blank) But (blank)” poem.
Mystery/Thriller
Poet and author Erica Wright shares the common threads of poetry and crime fiction while also explaining how a poet writes crime.
Business of Writing
Author Irena Smith reveals how hybrid publishing and an ADHD diagnosis combined to help her find a publishing route that made sense for her.
Comics and Graphic Novels
In this interview, author Rex Ogle discusses taking painful adolescent memories and reclaiming them in his new graphic novel, Fruitcake.
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 paranoid poem.
Social Media
Author Kristin T. Lee discusses the gift of an authentic social media presence by focusing on her successful Instagram account.
Writing Prompts
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today’s prompt, write from the perspective of someone in another generation from you.
Young Adult
In this interview, author Dana Mele discusses how a paragraph-long note on their phone became their new YA horror novel, The Beast You Let In.
April PAD Challenge
Write a poem a day for the 2026 April PAD Challenge. For today’s Two-for-Tuesday prompt, write a dawn and/or dusk poem.
Travel Writing
Author Willa Goodfellow shares tips for crafting the setting as a character in stories (of fiction or nonfiction), including examples.