Reading Laura Ingalls Wilder While Black
In the wake of debate surrounding the recently renamed Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, an African-American author considers her relationship with the beloved children’s series.
Bad Advice Boogie: Write Every Day
One piece of advice that seems good but can do a lot of harm is the old classic "write every day." Jeff Somers explains why.
How Memory Loss Builds Suspense in The Buried Giant
The Buried Giant, Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2015 foray into Arthurian-inspired fantasy, is not the first book you would think of as a suspenseful novel. But Jane K. Cleland's principles of building suspense with memory loss explain how the device heightens tensions in novels like this one.
Enter the Writer’s Digest 12 Days of Books Giveaway
Happy holidays from Writer's Digest, and welcome to our 12 Days of Books Giveaway! Every day from December 11, 2017 to December 22, 2017, we're giving away a different book from the Writer's Digest shelf.
14 Reputable Charities for Writing & Literacy
Writer's Digest is joining in the spirit of Giving Tuesday by creating a directory of literacy and writing charities that promote reading and writing across the world.
The Writer’s Digest Holiday Gift Guide: 30+ Gifts for Writers
From books, socks, tech, games and knicknacks to services and videos, this guide offers a compendium of creative experiences, learning tools and gifts for writers of every genre and persuasion.
NaNoWriMo Inspiration: 10 First Lines from Recent Bestsellers
Here, to inspire your first day of cranking out 50,000 words in 30 days, we've compiled some intriguing first lines from recent novels.
Pay It Forward: Writer’s Digest’s Most Anticipated Upcoming Books
In an industry that’s often cutthroat and always competitive, the importance of a supportive writing community can’t be over-emphasized. Knowing there are others in your corner can motivate you to carry on through those peaks and valleys. In that spirit, WD Editors share their favorite upcoming books for 2018.
INFOGRAPHIC: 30 Of The Most Famous Books and How Long it Took to Write Them
From Salinger to Stevenson to Tolkien and more, the length of time it took our most beloved authors to write their literary masterpieces ranges drastically from 2 1/2 days (The Boy in Striped Pyjamas) to 16 years (The Lord of the Rings). This nifty comparison of 30 of the world’s most famous books breaks...
Shark Week Is for Readers, Too: 10+ Books to Read this Week
Each year for one week, The Discovery Channel takes over the airwaves with a seven-day onslaught of movies, documentaries, survivor tales and semi-factual mockumentaries about sharks. As fascinating as it all is, readers are left high and dry—where are all the books about sharks? I’ve rounded up several—some classic, some campy,...
How Long Should Your Story’s Opening Be?
Many writers often wonder how long or short their story’s opening should be. Read this excerpt from Hooked by Les Edgarton and find out what is the proper length for a story opening. The primary requirement of an opening is that the first line plunges the reader into the story instantly....
Stimulate Your Mind With These Writing Exercises!
If you’re looking for ways to get out of your writing funk or challenge yourself, we have more writing exercises for you from Your First Novel by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb. Leave a comment below letting us know what works best for you! First Lines. Take a stack of novels...
How to Find The Moment of Truth For Your Main Character
This excerpt is from Jeff Gerke’s book, Plot versus Character. To find the moment of truth for your main character, bring to mind your hero’s knot. You’ve got her “problem” already figured out. You’ve also chosen the alternative, the sunny land of promise she could get to if she lets go...