Writing Techniques
Hitting the Road: How to Find the Courage to Try New Writing Paths
Award-winning author Marina Budhos shares how she had to have the courage to try a new writing path to get to the story she wanted to tell, instead of pushing for the story she originally thought she wanted to tell.
5 Tips for Writing a Tie-In Novel
Being asked to write a tie-in novel for something that exists in another form—movies, video games, TV shows, and more—can be both daunting and exciting. Here, author Kate Heartfield shares five tips for writing a tie-in novel.
5 Things To Consider When Retelling a Traditional Folk Tale
Respecting its history, learning from others, and more—author Yaffa S. Santos shares five things to consider when retelling a traditional folk tale.
What Is a Novella-in-Flash—And Why Should I Consider Writing One?
Author and poet Michael Loveday defines this hybrid form and offers examples of the novella-in-flash throughout history.
6 Things To Keep in Mind About the Collaborative Writing Process
When authors choose to work together to write a single story, the process goes from a solitary act to one of collaboration and compromise. Here, authors Susan Meissner, Kristina McMorris, and Ariel Lawhon share six things to keep in mind about the collaborative writing process.
8 Things Every Writer Should Know About Classical Music
Music can play a major role across all genres of writing. Here, writer and musician Arianna Warsaw-Fan Rauch shares eight things every writer should know about classical music.
Infusing Your Fiction With Real Culture the Reader Can Feel
Award-winning author Christopher David Rosales shares strategies and examples for infusing your fiction with real culture the reader can feel.
What Is a Novella in Literature and Writing?
In this post, we look at what a novella is in literature and writing, including what makes it different from other types of fiction writing, examples of effective novellas, and more.
Should We Write About the Pandemic in Fiction?
Is it too soon? What’s the best way to incorporate it? Am I lying if I don’t? Author Deb Caletti discusses the tricky issue of whether or not writers should write about the pandemic in fiction.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Ignoring Your Characters’ Desires
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 ignoring your characters’ desires.
Listening to Ghosts: 7 Metaphysical Experiments for Writing Support
Author Coco Picard shares 7 different out-of-body writing experiments to help you through the writing process.
10 Tips for Building a Realistic and Vibrant Fictional World
World-building of any kind can seem like a daunting task. Here, author Nalini Singh shares 10 tips for building a realistic and vibrant fictional world.
Pacing Your Fight Scene (FightWrite™)
Trained fighter and author Carla Hoch discusses how to pace your story's fight scene and shares three examples from writers who tackle pacing differently.
“Write What You Know” vs. Making It All Up in Fiction
“Writing what you know” comes with inherent risks of exposing more than you’d like of your past—but combining personal truths with fictional situations can also lead to healing. Here, author Margot Harrison discusses writing what you know vs. making it all up in fiction.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Not Understanding Point of View
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 understanding point of view.
How Telling the Truth Can Increase the Tension and Humor in a Novel
When the truth is often the thing that stories strive to get to the bottom of, author Holly James makes a case for making truth-telling a central part of the story itself.
Managing Point of View: The Distance of Time
In the third of this three-part series, WD columnist Sharon Short explores how time away from an event can affect how a character reacts and responds to it.
Mental Health in Storytelling: Creating Compelling Neurodiverse Protagonists
With a hope for their readers to find themselves among the pages, O.E. Tearmann shares their experience with writing compelling neurodiverse protagonists without succumbing to harmful stereotypes.
5 Tips for Writing and Structuring Effective Turning Points for Your Characters
Sticking forks in the roads of your character’s lives is an important way to create conflict, build tension, and even start your story. Here, author Sue Mell shares 5 tips for writing and structuring effective turning points for your characters.
7 Tips for Writing Novels People Want To Read
Author Ruby Dixon shares tips on how to write novels people want to read—including oneself.
How To Write a Sex Scene Like Nobody Is Watching
Keeping physical and emotional distance, ignoring the worries about your future readers, and figuring out the mechanics—lawyer and author Jessica Martin walks us through how to write a sex scene like nobody is watching.
Revisiting the Star-Crossed Lovers Romance Trope
In updating a long-favorite trope to be relevant for today’s readers, author Angela Jackson-Brown discovered a necessary component to writing a doomed love story.
My Journey From Journalist to Novelist
Author Mary Ford shares how she made the transition from a life-long journalist, including nearly 30 years as the editor of community newspapers, to debut novelist. Includes thoughts on how journalism and fiction writing are similar and different.
Interviewing 101: Tips for Writers
Interviewing sources for quotes or research will be part of any writer's job. Here are tips to make the process as smooth and productive as possible.