Politics, Personality and Process: Activism in Fiction
If you feel strongly about a topic, should you incorporate politics in fiction writing? The choice is deeply personal, but here, Nina Sadowsky makes a case for taking a stand in your work.
Author Victoria Laurie on Writing Realistic Psychics, Penning a Good Mystery and Her Publishing Journey
Victoria Laurie hit the ground running with her debut novel Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, and her career hasn’t slowed down since. She has multiple bestselling titles, and her latest novel, When, has been optioned by Warner Brothers for a TV adaptation. We talked to Laurie about writing mysteries, writing realistic psychics, and...
Beloved Settings: Considerations for Fictionalizing a Favorite Place
Laura Oles discusses her considerations for transforming her favorite weekend getaway, Port Aransas, Tex., into a setting for her mystery novel.
Meet the Agent: Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit Associates
Paul Lucas came to Janklow & Nesbit in 2007 not as an agent, but as a paralegal who’d been working in the corporate division of a large law firm. A longtime book lover, he soon gave up legal texts for queried manuscripts, officially donning the agent hat at Janklow in 2011....
How to Write Suspense Like Stephen King
Aside from the fact that no less an authority than William Faulkner recommends reading widely in different styles and genres, there’s still another compelling reason why you might want to study Stephen King’s novels no matter what kind of writing you do. King is the number one horror writer in America,...
They’re So Good, It’s Scary: 13 Quotes From Horror, Thriller and Suspense Writers
“When I write, I try to think back to what I was afraid of or what was scary to me, and try to put those feelings into books.”
New Literary Agent Alert: Kira Watson of Emma Sweeney Agency, LLC
She is Seeking: Kira is particularly interested in Children's Literature (YA & MG) with a strong narrative voice, well-crafted storylines, and memorable characters. Within YA & MG, Kira is actively seeking Realistic Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Magic Realism, Thriller/Mystery, Horror, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction. Stories with folklore elements, complex villains, morally...
Contests: A Non-Traditional Route to Publication
Like most unpublished writers, I believed that there were only two paths to getting my words and thoughts before the world’s readers. I could go the traditional route of sending out query letters, and hope my brilliant writing would be plucked from the slush pile on a discerning agent’s desk. She would...
The Kama Sutra of Getting Published
Put yourself in these three publishing positions to maximize your chances. I wrote my first book-length manuscript at the foolish age of 19 and thought it would set the New York publishing houses ablaze. A few dozen rejection letters and no blaze later, and I came to understand what we all...
Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards: Behind the Scenes of a Writing Competition with Thriller Judge Jodie Renner
Today, as part of our Behind the Scenes of a Writing Competition series, Thriller judge Jodie Renner discusses how to avoid common mistakes and take your submission to the top. Meet the Judge: Jodie Renner is a freelance fiction editor and the award-winning author of three craft-of-writing guides in her series...
How I Got My Literary Agent: Jackie Copleton
Debut author Jackie Copleton, A DICTIONARY OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING (Dec 2015, Penguin) shares how she obtained her agent and published her novel.
4 Things Wayward Pines Can Teach Us About Writing
I think the general consensus among those writers who teach the craft is that you must read—and read widely—about the craft of writing, particularly those authors who write in your genre. But I think there’s a lot you can learn about writing from other mediums, too. Specifically television. Every other Monday,...
Author Interview: TJ Turner—Federal Agent by Day, Writer by Night
TJ Turner, author of debut novel LINCOLN'S BODYGUARD (April 2015, Oceanview), talks balancing writing and work, obtaining an agent, and other fun facts.
Breaking Into True Crime: Ann Rule’s 9 Tips for Studying Courtroom Trials
In honor of the passing of crime writing legend Ann Rule (you can read all about her life here), we're re-sharing this piece—written by former WD managing editor Zachary Petit—that's full of tips and advice delivered by Rule.
Why I Published 4 Novels in 6 Months
Hi, WD community! Today we’re sharing a guest post from J.E. Fishman, a former editor and literary agent turned author. He has penned Dynamite: A Concise History of the NYPD Bomb Squad and the novels Primacy, Cadaver Blues, and The Dark Pool. His Bomb Squad NYC series of police thrillers launches this month with A Danger to Himself and Others, Death...
6 Secrets to Creating and Sustaining Suspense
No matter what you write, keep your readers captivated with these no-fail techniques.
Lee Child Debunks the Biggest Writing Myths
Like his famous protagonist, Jack Reacher, Lee Child is a bit of a rogue badass—especially when it comes to his thoughts on writing, and debunking popular writing rules. In his ThrillerFest session “Tell, Don’t Show: Why Writing Rules are Mostly Wrong,” Child battled a few of the biggest writing myths out...
The 7 Deadly Sins of Writing
In a thought-provoking ThrillerFest panel provided by WD managing editor Zachary Petit, four popular authors shared what they believe to be the deadly sins of the writing craft. Here are seven of their offerings. Have you committed any of them?
Marketing Essentials Every Writer Should Know About
Author and marketing guru (and former WD columnist) MJ Rose capped the day of ThrillerFest sessions off with “Buzz Your Book: And the New Reality.” So what’s the new reality? Rose explains, and gives the 411 on an modern marketing essentials.
Thriller Writing Made Easy: 4 Steps to Starting a Thriller
Want to write a thriller, but stuck on the beginning? Novelist Daniel Palmer uses his own experience and that of his father (bestseller Michael Palmer) and lays out the essentials to get you on your way.
Catherine Coulter: 9 Simple Ways To Be a Better Writer
Catherine Coulter—who has had a stunning 62 New York Times bestsellers—shared her wisdom on the basics you must master before you worry about finding an agent, or dive too deeply into your book.
One Simple Question All Writers Should Ask Themselves
In this brief exercise, Douglas Preston, co-author of the bestselling Pendergast novels (Relic) and The Monster of Florence, challenges writers to really write what they know to take their thrillers to the next level. Write what you know. Sure, we’ve all heard it time and again, but many writers still swear...
One Simple Way to Sharpen Your Pitch
As anyone who’s ever tried to come up with one of those vital one-sentence pitches for their book knows, getting it right can be maddening. Here, courtesy of bestseller Jon Land, is one particularly sharp strategy to take your elevator pitch to new heights. ThrillerFest’s AgentFest pitch slam took place yesterday,...
Writer’s Digest Annual Competition
For 80 years, the Annual Writer’s Digest Competition has rewarded writers just like you for their finest work. We continue the tradition by giving away more than $30,000 in cash and prizes! Win a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference in New York City !