Young Adult
The Writer's Digest Interview: Maggie Stiefvater
New York Times-bestselling YA author Maggie Stiefvater discusses the boundaries between truthfulness and lies when it comes to myths, narrators, and her latest release, Mister Impossible.
The WD Interview: Elizabeth Acevedo
National Book Award winner Elizabeth Acevedo talks writing novels in verse, tips for NaNoWriMo success, and developing characters for YA in this interview from WD's Sept/Oct 2021 issue.
Sasha Peyton Smith: On Exploring Grief in Young Adult Fiction
Debut author Sasha Peyton Smith discusses how exploring her own grief led to the first draft of her young adult historical fantasy novel, The Witch Haven.
Writer's Digest September/October 2021 Cover Reveal
Get a sneak peek of the Sept/Oct 2021 issue of Writer's Digest featuring our Annual Literary Agent Roundup and an interview with National Book Award-winner Elizabeth Acevedo.
We’re a Nation of a Billion Indians, and Yet, I Hardly See Myself in Children’s Books
Middle-grade author Payal Doshi discusses a lack of diversity in children's books and how her latest release, Rea and the Blood of the Nectar, is working to correct that.
Drawing the Line for Withholding Secrets in Young Adult and Middle Grade Novels
Middle-grade and young adult author Ren Koppel Torres shares the top tips for how you can keep secrets from your characters and readers.
Payal Doshi: On Letting Rejection Bring You Clarity
Middle-grade author Payal Doshi discusses the sometimes-disheartening process of querying a novel and how she used rejection to fuel her passion for writing.
Rajani LaRocca: On Letting Your Synopsis Guide Your Writing
In this article, middle-grade author Rajani LaRocca discusses how the synopsis for her newest release, Much Ado About Baseball, guided her writing process.
Sandhya Menon: On Reinventing a Classic Fairy Tale
New York Times bestselling author Sandhya Menon shares her experience with reinventing the Frog Prince fairy tale in her latest young adult novel, Of Princes and Promises.
Motive Magic for the Middle Grade/Young Adult Writer
Doctors don’t want you to know this secret to melt sagging plotlines and eliminate one-sided characters. Luckily, Ren Koppel Torres is here to share!
Deb Caletti: On Exploring the Art-versus-Artist Debate
In this article, award-winning Deb Caletti explains how her latest young adult novel, One Great Lie, tackles a hot-button topic, and why you shouldn't shy away from serious themes for young adults.
Rachael Lippincott: On Coming Back to a Shelved Project
Author Rachael Lippincott describes why she shelved her latest release, The Lucky List, to write and edit another novel, and why she ultimately came back to the project.
S. K. Ali: On Writing the Stand-Alone Sequel
In this article, award-winning author S. K. Ali discusses how she tackled writing Misfit in Love, the stand-alone sequel to her novel Saints and Misfits.
3 Tips to Invite Your Readers into Your Story World–For Writers and Readers of All Ages and Stages
No matter the age of your audience, there are a few keys ways to ensure that they are hooked by your story. In this article, author Mary Alice Monroe gives her top 3 tips for accomplishing this.
Alyson Gerber: On Writing Difficult Topics for Young Readers
Critically acclaimed author Alyson Gerber discusses how she tackled the topic of disordered eating in her latest middle-grade novel, Taking Up Space.
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.
How I Taught Myself to Write in English
Novelist Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau describes what it was like to transition from writing in French (her native language) to publishing her debut YA novel in English.
14 Techniques to Write Emotional Truth to Engage Readers: Why It Works and How in Successful Storytelling
Why is engaging the reader's emotions so important? YA author and award-winning journalist Robin Farmer lays out the answer in this article.
5 Tips for Writing About Controversial Topics
Bestselling author Syed M. Masood shares his top 5 tips for how to handle a controversial topic in your work.
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.
Author Spotlight: Erin Moynihan on Laurel, Everywhere
Erin Moynihan talks about what prompted her to write her debut YA novel about coping with loss, and working with the indie publisher Ooligan Press.
Mikki Daughtry: Dreams Are Worth Fighting For
Bestselling novelist Mikki Daughtry shares why dreams (whether related to writing or love) are worth fighting for, what the writing process for Five Feet Apart was like, how that differed from her latest novel All This Time, and more!
Karol Hoeffner: Writing Stories When They're Ready to Blossom
Novelist and screenwriter Karol Hoeffner shares what inspired her latest novel (Knee Deep), what surprised her the most in writing it, her best piece of advice for other writers who may be feeling writer's block during the pandemic, and more!
Annie Sullivan: Raising the Stakes in Her Sequel, The Curse of Gold
YA author Annie Sullivan shares how she had to raise the stakes for everyone in her sequel to A Touch of Gold, why the writing process changed because of selling it on proposal, and more!