Making the Switch from Romance to Women’s Fiction
In this article, author Jennifer Probst explains the differences between romance and women's fiction, the importance of both, and how you can make the genre switch.
Stephanie Wrobel: On Writing an Unusual Hero
Author Stephanie Wrobel explains how she came to write about mental illness and how it affects familial relationships, as well as getting inside the head of an unusual character.
Timothy Miller: The Alluring Puzzle of Fact and Fiction
Screenwriter and novelist Timothy Miller explains how he came to write historical fiction and how research can help him drive his plot.
Dr. Munish Batra and Keith R.A. DeCandido: Entertainment and Outrage
Authors Dr. Munish Batra and Keith R.A. DeCandido explain how they came to co-write their novel and why it's important to them that the readers experience outrage while reading.
Jane K. Cleland: On Writing the Successful Long-Running Series
Award-winning mystery author Jane K. Cleland describes what it's like to write a long-running book series and offers expert advice for the genre writer.
Carla Malden: Writing With Optimism and Innocence
Screenwriter and author Carla Malden explains why young adult fiction and the '60s go hand-in-hand and how she connected with her main character's voice.
Greta K. Kelly: Publishing Is a Marathon
Debut author Greta K. Kelly reveals how the idea for her novel sparked and the biggest surprise of her publication journey.
Gerald Brandt: Toeing the Line Between Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Science fiction author Gerald Brandt explains how this new series explores the genre boundary and how he came to find his newest book's focus.
A Word About Writing Princesses and Fairy Tales
Author Olga Grushin explains how her views on fairy tales have changed over the years, and what it takes to write a princess from a modern lens.
Jennifer Probst: Making the Genre Leap
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst speaks about putting a five-year pin in her latest novel and being reminded that even experts need advice.
Leighann Dobbs: Cat Sleuths and New Perspectives
USA Today bestselling author Leighann Dobbs explains why she writes cozy mysteries from a cat's perspective and how she's still learning new writing skills.
Take Two: High Concept Ideas Make a Screenwriting Career
Buzz words abound in Hollywood. Probably the biggest one is "high-concept ideas." Jeanne Veillette Bowerman explains what that phrase mean and why high-concept ideas make a screenwriting career.
Robert Jones, Jr.: Writing to Answer the Question, "What About Love?"
Author Robert Jones, Jr. discusses the inspiration that led him to write his debut novel and how he stayed focused on the heart of his story during the writing process.
Julia Claiborne Johnson: On the Challenges of Writing the Second Book
Bestselling author Julia Claiborne Johnson shares the secret to how books get published, what surprised her the most about getting a second book published, how to handle holes in research for historical novels, and so much more.
FightWrite™: Knife Fights, Part 1
In this article, author and trained fighter Carla Hoch explains the basics of various types of knives and the implications a knife fight may have on your characters and plot.
Writing Humor in Uncertain Times
How can you find the funny in the world today? Cartoonist and humorist Bob Eckstein has advice for writing humor in uncertain times.
Making Magic, Part 1: Defining and Selecting Magic Systems
In the first of a two-part series, WD editor Moriah Richard explains how magic systems exist on a spectrum and gives you some tips on selecting a system that works for you.
Evan I. Schwartz: The Rock 'n Roll of Non-Profit Publishing
Author Evan I. Schwartz explains how he went from writing nonfiction to fiction and how he came to discover his non-profit publisher.
Five Tips for Writing Romantic Scenes
Romance author Denise Williams dishes out her top five tips to penning a romantic scene that hooks your readers and avoids cliche.
Take Two: Screenwriting Competition Guide
Putting your screenplays up against other writers' scripts creates an opportunity to stand out from the crowd. Jeanne Veillette Bowerman shares advice on choosing and succeeding in a screenwriting competition.
Keeping Your Narrator’s Secrets When Writing a Series
Mystery novelist Tessa Wegert gives writers simple tricks to ensuring your character's secrets are revealed at just the right time.
Les Edgerton: When Your Story Haunts Your Agent
Award-winning author Les Edgerton explores how a short story he wrote at age 13 paved the way for his latest noir novel.
FightWrite™: Crime Fiction and Violence
Author and trained fighter Carla Hoch answers a writer's question about writing from the perspective of criminals and when best to utilize a fight.
Tessa Arlen: On Polite Editorial Tussles and Unraveling Mysteries
In this article, author Tessa Arlen explains how to navigate the differences between American and English audiences and create a realistic historical mystery.