Writing Tips & Insights from Author Nic Stone
When we last spoke to Nic Stone, her poignant and timely debut novel, Dear Martin was newly launched. Mentored by Jodi Picoult, Stone shares what she's learned along the path to best-selling novelist, as well as her best writing tips.
How Research Can Help Sell Your Story
Research is a key to captivating writing. Whether you’re composing a novel, a blog post, or an email, accurate facts improve authenticity and entice readers to the next sentence, paragraph, page or chapter.
#YouToo? 11 Tips for Writing Your #MeToo Stories
In this piece about the impact of the #MeToo movement on how and what women write, Leigh Anne Jasheway explores different ways writers can approach sharing stories of sexual harassment and assault.
How Freud’s Fundamental Rule of Psychoanalysis Applies to the Writing Experience
How does Freud's fundamental rule of psychoanalysis apply to the life of a writer? DeSales Harrison explores how his former training as a psychoanalyst helped him craft his novel—and the writing process in general.
3 Writing Tips From Bestseller Sloane Crosley
Sloane Crosley can coax humor from the unlikeliest of depths, whether it’s a good line from your locksmith or avenging a childhood slight during a pride parade.
Bad Advice Boogie: Write What You Know
One piece of advice that seems good but can do a lot of harm is the old classic write what you know. Jeff Somers explains why.
3 Pieces of Writing Advice From Michael Lewis
The Moneyball author discussed his career and tricks of the trade while speaking at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
7 Tips for Writers from Margaret Atwood
Here are seven excellent pieces of advice for fiction writers from bestselling author Margaret Atwood.
7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Steve Toutonghi
This is a recurring column I’m calling “7 Things I’ve Learned So Far,” where writers (this installment written by Steve Toutonghi , author of JOIN) at any stage of their career can talk about writing advice and instruction as well as how they possibly got their book agent — by sharing seven things they’ve learned along their writing...
15 Things a Writer Should Never Do
Based on interviews with authors over the years, conferences, editing dozens of issues of Writer’s Digest, and my own occasional literary forays and flails, here are some points of consensus and observations: 15 of them, things anyone who lives by the pen (or seeks to) might consider. It is, like most...
Sherman Alexie’s Top 10 Pieces of Advice for Writers
National Book Award winner Sherman Alexie’s birthday is Sunday, and his new title Blasphemy: New and Selected Stories was released this week. To celebrate the short-story writer (War Dances), poet (The Business of Fancydancing) and novelist (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian), here’s some advice Alexie shared with us in...
Practical Writing & Publishing Advice For Beginning Writers
The Beginning Writer's Answer Book covers everything from how to get started in writing to finding an agent and getting published. No matter what type of writer you are--fiction, nonfiction, or freelance--you'll find practical writing advice to help advance your career.
Writer’s Digest March/April Issue: An Interview With Author Mary Kay Andrews & Writing Essentials to Master
Author Mary Kay Andrews talks about finding your niche. Plus, learn 5 tips for writing a good story, strategies to beat common writing mistakes, and much more!
100% Wrong Ways to Choose Fictional Character Names
Today’s tip was taken from 70 Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes. Learn how to make your fiction book or novel stand out from the others. Since the world of publishing is so competitive these days, it’s important to do what you can to make your writing stand out from the crowd....
Winners of “The Q: Best Novel Writing Advice” Contest
Thanks to everyone who participated in my recent post and who shared the best novel writing advice you had ever received. So many great nuggets to help us navigate our way through the difficult terrain of our shared passion—writing. Here are the winners ...
Your Moment of Friday Writing Zen: Simple Writing Advice to Keep You Going This Weekend
Every week, I spelunk into the Writer’s Digest archives to find the wisest, funniest, or downright strangest moments from our 92 years of publication. Today, from August 1967, are highlights of a love letter to language by Arnold Gingrich, the co-founder of Esquire magazine. In 1967, he presented the keynote at the first annual...
The Q: What’s the Best Piece of Novel Writing Advice You’ve Ever Received?
We've all received writing advice at some point in our lives. Whether it was a high school English teacher who suggested we cut back on using passive voice, a conference presenter who recommended abandoning our prologue, or a roommate who told us to never give up (and to, perhaps, get a...