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.
Writer's Digest
Recent Articles
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.
How and Why To Turn Your Play Into a Novel
Award-winning novelist and playwright Lynne Kaufman discusses the differences, similarities, and benefits of turning your play into a novel.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Thinking There’s Not Enough Room for Your Story
The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so this series helps identify them for other writers (along with correction strategies). This week's mistake is thinking there's not enough room for your story.
The Head and the Heart: 5-Minute Memoir
In this article from the March/April 2022 issue of Writer's Digest, Lauryne Wright writes about rejection, rumination, and staying true to the creative voice inside ourselves.
Sophie Irwin: On Connecting With Readers
Author Sophie Irwin discusses her pipe-dream-turned-reality of writing her historical fiction rom-com, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting.
Getting Started Writing a Beach Book
Sun, sand, and surf are only a fraction of what a beachside setting can bring to your stories. Here, bestselling author Amy Clipston helps us get started writing a beach book.
Plot Twist Story Prompts: Old Technology
Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. This week, have your characters use old technology to accomplish a goal.
10 Questions to Ask Yourself for an Airtight Plot
No matter the genre of book you’re writing, certain questions authors ask themselves can help them strengthen their plots and, by extension, strengthen their stories, Here, authors Boyd Morrison and Beth Morrison share 10 questions to ask yourself for an airtight plot.
A Master Class in Failure (To Find Writing Success)
Failure is often a step in finding success but navigating the treacherous terrain of rejection can be burdensome. Here, international bestselling author Marcia DeSanctis shares a master class in coming back from failure.
Telling My Story: How to Work Through Painful Feelings While Writing a Memoir
When revisiting your past means unearthing painful memories, it’s important to find solitude somewhere. Here, author Laura L. Engel discusses how to work through painful feelings while writing a memoir.
The Writer’s Guide to Being a Great Podcast Guest
More writers than ever are appearing on or even hosting podcasts related to their writing. Host of the "Creative Nonfiction Podcast" Brendan O'Meara shares how to make it an enjoyable and successful experience.