Take Two: Improve Character Development by Putting Your Characters on a Therapy Couch
Before we can create rich characters, we need to understand their wounds and potential for growth. Jeanne Veillette Bowerman suggests using the therapy couch to improve character development.
World-Building Tips from the Masters
Five celebrated speculative fiction authors give their best world-building tips, demonstrating how different approaches can work.
Co-writing a Serial Novel
Writing doesn't have to be a lonely profession. Dan Koboldt shares how he collaborated with two other writers to plan, write, and revise a serial novel.
Unveiling Our September 2019 Cover
Take an exclusive sneak peek at the cover of the upcoming September 2019 issue of Writer's Digest, featuring Karin Slaughter.
Ghostwriting for a Ghost
John Peragine talks about finishing the manuscripts of his old friend and mentor—and ghostwriting for an actual ghost.
Precast Inc. Magazine: Spotlight Market
Spotlight Market: Precast Inc. Magazine is a trade publication for owners and managers of plant-produced concrete products used in construction, paying $1/word for nonfiction articles of 1,500-2,500 words on average.
Take Two: Playing the Screenplay Submission Waiting Game
How long is too long to wait for a Hollywood executive to respond to your screenplay submission? Sometimes it’s hard to tell if they’re busy or if they’re just not that into you.
Re-Thinking Writer’s Block
Offering a different perspective on Writer's Block, Will Dowd suggests re-thinking it as an illness. Can writers become stronger after overcoming it?
Caption This: Cartoon Caption Contest
Try your hand at writing a caption for this cartoon by Bob Eckstein. WD editors will pick their favorite caption to be published in a future issue of WD.
What It Feels Like to Get Your First Book Advance
WD Editor Cassandra Lipp talks about the combination of self-doubt and excitement that came along with her first book advance.
Jerry Seinfeld’s 5-Step Comedy Writing Process
Former WD staffer Jess Zafarris crossed paths with Jerry Seinfeld, who shared his comedy writing process. His tips are not only useful for aspiring standup comedians, but also have broader applications for writers looking to add comedic elements to their own work.
Shelf vs. Screen: Smallville Creators on Co-Writing a Novel
Smallville creators Miles Millar and Al Gough Talk about making the leap from the small screen to co-writing their novel Double Exposure.
It’s Great to Suck at Writing
Author Karen Rinaldi sucks at surfing, but she continues to dedicate hours to it anyway, and she explains why we should also be okay with failure in many forms—even our writing.
The Winners of the 19th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition
Congratulations to the winners of the 19th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition! WD is proud to announce the top 25 winners.
Hard Case Crime: Spotlight Market
For this week’s spotlight market, we look at Hard Case Crime, a book publisher which accepts queries for crime and mystery novels directly from potential authors (no agents required). Hard Case Crime: Spotlight Market Hard Case Crime is a book publisher that focuses on the sort of crime and mystery novels...
19th Annual WD Short Short Story Competition Winner: Hari Om Senior Center by Reena Shah
Read "Hari Om Senior Center" by Reena Shah, the winning entry of the 19th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition.
Psst! Novelists – Steal These Screenwriting Secrets! Part Two
Barri Evins reveals Screenwriting Secrets novelists should steal to elevate dialogue, up emotional impact, and focus theme to deliver a resonant message.
Juggling Act: How I Work on Multiple Manuscripts at Once
WD editors were impressed to hear that Next Girl to Die author Dea Poirier was working on four manuscripts simultaneously, all after completing her debut novel. We asked Poirier to share a few tips with you on how she manages multiple manuscripts at once.
The Complicated Reality of a Minority Writer—UPDATED
UPDATE: California Coldblood, publisher of Tynes' novel They Called Me Wyatt, announced they are canceling its publication after an incident on Twitter on May 10th, a few days after this article originally published. As several links to this post were part of the incident coming to light, we've decided to leave...
Thinking Outside the Books: Write Your Query Letter First
If you’re feeling frustrated by the querying process, Scott Wilson suggests writing your query BEFORE writing your book.
Harlequin Series: Spotlight Market
For this week’s spotlight market, we look at Harlequin Series, which accepts submissions directly from potential authors (no agents required!) and provides detailed guidelines for what they’re looking for in each specific series. Harlequin Series: Spotlight Market Harlequin is such a big name in publishing that even people who don’t read...
8 Traits I Wish Employers Knew About Writers
Writers work hard. Now, if only employers would. E.L. Tenenbaum shares eight skills writers have that make them great candidates for that necessary-for-most day job.
Learn Screenwriting Lessons by Reading Screenplays — 10 Best of the Best
Reading great screenplays provides valuable screenwriting lessons for both emerging or seasoned writers. Professional script reader Ray Morton points out the craft tips in ten of his favorite scripts.
The Author’s Guide to Business Cards
Since writing is a business, an author needs to be a professional. E.J. Wenstrom shares advice on the do's and don'ts of business cards for authors.