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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.