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Garfield
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: 10 Rules for Suspense Fiction

John Grisham once admitted that this article from 1973 helped him write his thrillers. In it, author Brian Garfield shares his go-to advice for creating great suspense fiction.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Oct 22, 2020
WD Vintage_1889 Costello
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Six Steps to Salable Horror

For fans of the terrifying and macabre, this article from 1989 features horror, Gothic, and science-fiction author Matthew J. Costello's advice on top-notch horror writing that sells.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Oct 15, 2020
WD Vintage_1940 Littel
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: You Can Avoid that Dry Spell

In this article from 1940, editor and author Jane Littell advises writers on how to avoid running out of inspiration.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Oct 8, 2020
FBF 20200925
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: It Starts With Voice

This WD article from 1993 offers an in-depth look at how a writer's voice makes or breaks their work and provides some tips that will help writers of all genres.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Sep 24, 2020
People who want to write, write; they don’t think about it. They may write very badly because they are too subjective and have no idea of an audience and know nothing about technique, but—they will write something.
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: What Is Literary Talent?

This 1925 Writer's Digest article considers the necessity for a love of the craft of writing as a factor in whether writers are successful.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Sep 10, 2020
Kirk Polking Quote
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: The Best Job on Earth

This 1958 WD article gives a behind the scenes look at the life of a magazine-editor-turned-freelance-writer, plus it offers insights into the gendered stereotypes of the day.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Aug 27, 2020
Gary Provost-WritingCompellingConflict
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Just Say No

This August 1989 Writer's Digest articles encourages writers to say no to their characters—in other words, create compelling conflicts in their stories.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Aug 13, 2020
Afternoon of a part-time writer
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Afternoon of a Part-Time Writer

This WD article from 1957 offers a humorous look at what it's like to be a writer with a day job, a family, or other obligations that take time away from writing--something many of us can relate to.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Jul 30, 2020
Notes on Fiction Writing
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Notes on Fiction Writing

In this 1941 Writer's Digest article, one writer talks about knowing the ins and outs of the genre in which you're writing, and the one thing they all have in common: writing a good story.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Jul 16, 2020
Jane Smiley Quote
Vintage WD

Jane Smiley: The WD Interview

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.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Jul 2, 2020
Rachel Renee Russell Quote
Vintage WD

Rachel Renée Russell: The WD Interview

In this January 2015 WD interview, Rachel Renée Russell talks about changing careers from lawyer to author and the chart-topping success of her Dork Diaries series.

  • By Tiffany Luckey
    Jun 25, 2020
Back to Fundamentals-ShortStories
Vintage WD

Back to Fundamentals: Vintage WD

In this 1938 Writer's Digest article, Leon Byrne emphasizes the importance of learning and getting back to the fundamentals of craft, particularly when writing short stories (though we find his advice applicable to novels as well).

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Jun 18, 2020
Writing is an act of courage
Vintage WD

How to Get Started as a Writer

You want to write, but don’t know how to begin? Taken from our December 1990 issue, follow these 10 steps to beginning a rewarding, fulfilling career as a writer.

  • By Writers Digest Staff
    Jun 4, 2020
Herman Wouk Quote
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: An Exclusive Interview with Herman Wouk

In celebration of Herman Wouk's birthday, we revisit his 1966 interview with former WD editor-in-chief, Kirk Polking.

  • By Amy Jones
    May 27, 2020
No cliche is dead
Vintage WD

36 Plot Nots: Plot Clichés to Avoid

From our September 1959 issue, beware of these tired clichés that will kill your story’s chance for publication.

  • By Amy Jones
    May 21, 2020
Writing Life Quote
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Roses and Thorns, Reflections on the Writing Life

In this September 1956 WD article, Jim Kjelgaard reflects on the ups and downs of choosing writing as a career--and says he'd do it all over again.

  • By Amy Jones
    May 7, 2020
Richard Matheson Quote
Vintage WD

Richard Matheson: Science Fiction Is Unlimited

This 1956 article by renowned science-fiction writer Richard Matheson explains his thoughts about the limitless possibilities in the genre.

  • By Amy Jones
    Apr 30, 2020
Eudora Welty Quote 2
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Must the Novelist Crusade?

In this February 1970 Writer's Digest article, Eudora Welty argues that, "Fiction is not meant to be a disguise for propaganda. A story should speak for itself as a story."

  • By Amy Jones
    Apr 23, 2020
authors in Russia
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: The Author in Russia

In this 1937 article, journalist Eugene Lyons wrote about his observations of the censorship of authors in Russia during the first decades of the Soviet Union.

  • By Amy Jones
    Apr 16, 2020
Mystery story techniques
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Murder for Profit, Mystery Story Techniques Part 2

In part 2 of the 1931 article about mystery story techniques, George Dyer offers tips for how to drop hints about who the real criminal of the story is.

  • By Amy Jones
    Apr 9, 2020
Mystery Story Techniques
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Murder for Profit, Mystery Story Techniques Part 1

In part 1 of this April 1931 WD article, George Dyer shares mystery story techniques that will ensure your readers will be left satisfied, not disappointed.

  • By Amy Jones
    Apr 2, 2020
writing for very small children
Vintage WD

Writing for Very Small Children: Finding the Story

In this piece from the Writer's Digest archives, T.C. O'Donnell shares the importance of finding the core of the story when writing for very small children.

  • By Amy Jones
    Mar 26, 2020
Chris Bohjalian
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Chris Bohjalian, The WD Interview

Chris Bohjalian's newest book, The Red Lotus, was released this week. To celebrate, here's Jessica Strawser's 2014 interview with Chris Bohjalian in which they discuss his passion for the craft and his goal to never write the same book twice.

  • By Amy Jones
    Mar 19, 2020
censors
Vintage WD

Vintage WD: Second Thoughts About Censors

Today is Freedom of Information day and while censorship isn't necessarily the same as withholding information, they are, to some degree, related. Here's a piece from the November 1965 issue of WD by Alma Boice Holland with her thoughts about censors and the arts.

  • By Amy Jones
    Mar 16, 2020
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