Book Recommendations

Heidi Pitlor, author of the new novel IMPERSONATION, spoke with WD about how ghostwriting, political memoirs, and her other job as series editor for The Best American Short Stories influenced the captivating story.

Author Jennie Fields shares the inspiration behind her new novel, Atomic Love, and her advice for other writers.

To overcome writer’s block, Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley read 100 novels. It was the perfect medicine. She talks about the lessons those novels taught her in this January 2006 WD interview.

To celebrate the literary legacy of novelist Carlos Ruiz Zafón, here are quotes from his Cemetery of Forgotten Books cycle about reading and writing.

Stuck trying to find a way to begin your next story? Try gleaning inspiration from these 10 famous novels that break the usual rules of writing in their first lines.

Learn about the secret of the 25 chapters in Nancy Drew books, including which books in the series used to feature the 25 chapters and why they all feature 20 chapters now.

Find 6 lessons learned from Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro, that writers can apply to their own writing. If you haven't read the novel yet, we do talk about the plot and reveal things about the story. So consider this your spoiler alert.

As Writer's Digest celebrates its 100th anniversary, the editors want to know, What are your favorite books? Comment for a chance at publication in a future post on the website or in an issue of the magazine.

Looking for more new books to add to your to-read list? The editors of WD reveal the 2020 book releases that they are most excited for.

Here are five lessons for writers from A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. This novel has inspired several films and holiday specials, but it also offers many insights to writers. This post includes spoilers.

Get in the Halloween mood by reading these suspense stories recommended by WD Senior Editor, Amy Jones.

World Mental Health Day is October 10. Here are 20 books, fiction and nonfiction, with mental health as the main subject or playing a background role.

Here are 4 things reading A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles through the lens of a writer can teach writers about writing.

High school teacher Megan Volpert shares her letter to parents and teachers about the dangers of censorship and why we must never relent in defending a world based on intellectual freedom—and specifically defending Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

Discover (and debate) the 10 best dystopian novels for writers ever written (with a few honorable mentions thrown in), according to Writer’s Digest Senior Editor Robert Lee Brewer.

Here's editor Robert Lee Brewer's list of the 10 best movies with writers and about writing. Grab a bag of popcorn and get ready for some writing-related binge watching.

"Read as much as you write" is great advice for writers. Our WD Annual Conference speakers and presenters share some of their reading recommendations.

The advice to read widely is sound, but are you broadening your horizons enough? Forgotten paperback books from decades past can offer essential writing lessons as capably as any new hardback.