Be Inspired
From the Magazine | Interviews | Poetry Prompts | The Writer's Life (Book Recommendations / Overcoming Writer's Block / Writing Habits and Practices) | Vintage WD | Writing Prompts | Writing Quotes
Find the prompts, interviews, quotes, book recommendations, and other inspirational articles to help you write that novel, short story, article, or whatever other piece of writing you're currently working on...or that you want to write! Our Be Inspired sections are here to get the creative juices flowing.
Laura Davis: On the Story That Begged To Be Told
Author and writing instructor Laura Davis discusses the process of starting, stopping, and starting again with her new memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars.
Which Writer or Work Made You Think About Point of View in a Different Way and Why?: From Our Readers (Comment for a Chance at Publication)
This post announces our latest From Our Readers question: Which writer or work made you think about point of view in a different way and why? Comment for a chance at publication in a future issue of Writer's Digest.
5 Things I Learned About Writing From Watching Soap Operas
Lessons in writing can come from various forms of art or entertainment. Author Alverne Ball shares 5 things he learned about writing from watching soap operas.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Collecting Advice (but Never Writing)
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 to collect writing advice at the expense of actually writing.
Clare Chambers: On Starting Fresh and Switching Gears
Award-winning author Clare Chambers discusses the fear and excitement of switching genre gears in her new historical fiction novel, Small Pleasures.
How Opening Ourselves to Other People Can Make Us Better Writers
The writing process is both individual and communal, as receiving constructive feedback and outside encouragement helps our drafts become finished manuscripts. Author Peri Chickering discusses how opening ourselves up to others can make us better writers.
Plot Twist Story Prompts: Still Alive
Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. This week, reveal that a character who was thought deceased is actually still among the living.
Mark Anthony: On Destigmatizing Paranormal Communication
Author Mark Anthony hopes to educate and normalize paranormal communication with his new spirituality book, The Afterlife Frequency.
Ways Animals Have Interacted With Writers Through the Centuries
Across the globe and spanning lifetimes, animals have always operated as more than simply animals within the stories they reside. Author Richard Girling discusses how animals have interacted with writers throughout the centuries.
Margaret Verble: On Combining Facts and Imagination in Historical Fiction.
Pulitzer Prize-finalist Margaret Verble discusses the process of writing her new historical fiction novel, When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky.
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 586
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 scary poem.
Creating Space to Ponder Your Bliss and Relying on Your Inner Compass to Guide Your Writing
What do you do in a world perpetually in fast forward? You create spaces for contemplation. Author Terry Helwig offers advice on creating spaces to ponder your bliss and how to find your inner compass.
Small Comforts
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today's prompt, write about a small comfort.
Gayle Forman: On Challenging Your Gut
Award-winning author and journalist Gayle Forman discusses the start-and-stop process of writing her new middle grade novel, Frankie & Bug.
Rhys Bowen: On Knowing Your Characters Inside and Out
New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen discusses how knowing her characters so well made for an easier writing process in her new book, God Rest Ye Royal Gentlemen.
Marjorie B. Kellogg: On Climate Fiction as Its Own Genre
Author Marjorie B. Kellogg discusses the decade-long process of writing her new science fiction/climate fiction novel, Glimmer.
Plot Twist Story Prompts: Permission to Enter
Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. This week, give a character permission to enter a location.
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 585
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 gossip poem.
Bobby and Cheryl Love: On the Power of Telling Your Own Story
Bobby and Cheryl Love discusses the process of writing coauthoring their memoir, The Redemption Of Bobby Love: A Story of Faith, Family, and Justice.
The Other Side
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today's prompt, write about what's discovered over the hill.
The WD Interview: Jasmine Guillory
The New York Times-bestselling romance novelist talks about the intertwined world of her books and writing her newest novel, While We Were Dating, in the midst of the pandemic.
Plot Twist Story Prompts: Time Travel
Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. This week, have your characters travel through time, whether they're jumping forward, backward, or attempting some combination.
Andy Marino: On the Horrors of Real Life
Author Andy Marino discusses how witnessing the cycle of addiction was woven into his horror novel, The Seven Visitations Of Sydney Burgess.
Fire Lyte: On the Magic in the Writing Process
Fire Lyte discusses how he wrote his spiritual book, The Dabbler’s Guide to Witchcraft, and the magic that comes from the writing process.