Write Better Fiction
Character | Dialogue | Genre (Children's / Comics & Graphic Novels / Historical / Horror / Humor Fiction / Literary / Mystery & Thriller / Romance / Science Fiction & Fantasy / Screenwriting / Spiritual / Young Adult) | Grammar | Plot | Revising & Editing | Settings | Short Story | Writing Scenes | Writing Techniques
This is the place to learn how to write better fiction. WD editors & guest contributors cover everything about writing—from grammar to writing tips to fueling your creative fire, we have you covered. Your fiction writing career will thank you.
Family Stories as Inspiration for Historical Fiction
When writing fiction, there's always a fine line between reality and make-believe. Debut author Kirstin Beck explains how her family's history became the seed for her novel Courage, My Love.
The Past Is Never Past: Drawing on Personal History to Write Engaging Historical Fiction
New York Times bestselling author Karen White discusses what drew her to writing historical fiction and how she uses a modern setting to explore history.
Writing Multiple Timelines and Points of View
YA author Natalie Lund gives her top reasons why writers who might be afraid to play with multiple timelines and/or points of view should jump in feet first.
Alexander Weinstein: On Writing a Thematic Short Story Collection
Author Alexander Weinstein discusses how he came to select the theme of his new short story collection, Universal Love, and what it was like to see those themes reflected in the real world.
4 Tips for Writing about Family Grudges
Author Samantha Downing discusses the techniques she used when writing her literary novel He Started It, which focuses on family secrets, old grudges, and lots of scores to settle.
W.A. Winter: On the Joys of Writing Crime Fiction
Crime and suspense author W.A. Winter discusses why he decided on fiction over true crime for his latest novel, The Secret Lives of Dentists, and how writing this book brought him joy.
Stationary vs. Stationery (Grammar Rules)
Learn the differences of stationary and stationery on with Grammar Rules from the Writer's Digest editors, including a few examples of correct usages.
Through Another’s Eyes: An Auschwitz Survivor Inspires His Biographer
Popular lecturer and biographer Joshua M. Greene discusses the hardship of writing the biographies of Holocaust survivors, and the biography that convinced him to continue writing.
Greg Russo: On Writing a Screenplay Based on a Video Game
Professional screenwriter Greg Russo discusses the joy and challenge of converting a popular video games series into a screenplay and the balance of enticing a new audience while honoring a franchise's fans.
Planting Clues: Red Herrings That Fool but Don't Frustrate Your Readers
Want to know how to keep your readers engaged and entertained with your mystery novel? Let these six tips from thriller author Kris Calvin guide you!
Kristin Beck: On Writing Quickly and Publishing Slowly
Debut novelist Kristin Beck shares what it was like to write her historical fiction novel Courage, My Love and why she was so thankful for a slow publishing process.
Tension in Poetry: The Hidden Art of Line-Writing
Writer and editor Matthew Daddona explains how to easily create tension in your poems and how that adds weight to your message.
Natalie Lund: On Grief and Unanswered Questions in YA Fiction
YA author Natalie Lund shares how she handles the subject of death for a YA audience in her latest novel The Sky Above Us.
Waist vs. Waste (Grammar Rules)
Learn the differences of waist vs. waste on with Grammar Rules from the Writer's Digest editors, including a few examples of correct usages.
Bridget Foley: On Writing Psychologically Potent Metaphors
Novelist Bridget Foley explains the seed that grew into her latest book Just Get Home and how she stayed hopeful in the face of rejection.
Too Seen: The Intimacy of Copy Editing
Novelist A.E. Osworth discusses their experience working with a copyeditor for their novel We Are Watching Eliza Bright and how the experience made them feel Witnessed.
Stephanie Dray: On Writing Women's Legacies
Bestselling and award-winning author Stephanie Dray shares how she selects the historical figures that she features in her novels and how she came to see the whole of her character's legacies.
Take Two: 3 Mistakes Writers Make in Act I
Without a solid foundation, our stories flounder. Jeanne Veillette Bowerman shares insights into the three mistakes writers make when creating the first act.
David Jackson Ambrose: On Balancing Magic and Practicality
Novelist David Jackson Ambrose discusses the initial themes he wanted to explore in his latest novel, A Blind Eye, what the editing process was like, and how his books always surprise him in the end.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Not Knowing When to Shelve a Project
The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them for other writers (along with correction strategies). This week's writing mistake is not knowing when to shelve a project.
4 Tips for Writing Engaging Frenemies
No matter what genre you write, if you're planning to write characters as frenemies, you'll need to know how to do it well. Bestselling romance author Lorraine Heath shares her top tips.
Luke X. Cunningham: A Writer's Hopes for Their Readers
Emmy-nominated writer Luke X. Cunningham explains how he came to write a middle-grade mystery novel and what he hopes for the kids who read his book.
Historical Fiction: Write What You Know, or Know What You Write
Historical novelist David Gilman tackles the age-old question—how can genre writers best bring their subjects to life?
Anna Lee Huber: On Escapism and Historical Fiction
Award-winning author Anna Lee Huber discusses the particular pain of writing during the 2020 lockdown and how she views historical fiction as a form of escape.