Writer's Digest Magazine May/June 2018 Online Exclusives

“The Hole” by John Bowie is the First Prize-winning story in the Horror category in the 13th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards.

“The Holiday” by Sophie Myers is the First Prize-winning story in the Young Adult category in the 13th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards.

“Widow” by Julia Lemyre-Cossette is the First Prize-winning story in the Romance category in the 13th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards.

“Not in My Neighborhood!” by Diana Bredeson is the First Prize-winning story in the Mystery/Crime category in the 13th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards.

“When I Was Your Age” by Darren French is the First Prize-winning story in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category in the 13th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards.

“Snow. Blood. Love.” by Ami Cameron is the Grand Prize-winning story in the 13th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards.

Writer’s Digest would like to congratulate the winners of the 13th Annual Popular Fiction Awards. The winners of this year’s awards were chosen from over 875 entries and represent the very best in genre fiction. Please join us in congratulating our winners!

Writer’s Digest would like to congratulate the winners of the 13th Annual Popular Fiction Awards. Here, discover helpful writing advice and inspiration from our esteemed winners.

6 Breaking In authors discuss the makings of their author platforms—or lack thereof—and how they best connect with readers.

We're always delighted to include fun puzzles and games for writers in the back of each issue of Writer's Digest. The May/June 2018 issue includes a crossword puzzle, and now we've brought it to our readers on the web. Play the puzzle here, or find the answers to the version that appears in the magazine.

This year, to accompany our annual list of 101 Best Websites for Writers, we decided to put together a list of what we think are the best podcasts for writers. Here are our favorites.

Feel the thunderous reverberations of authors and industry pros working to broaden our perspectives—as writers and readers alike. Plus, learn how underrepresented voices are rising in the writing world.

A prolific Edgar Award–winner, Mindy McGinnis’ stories cross subgenres of young adult fiction, from fantasy to dystopian to contemporary. Here, WD talks with her about the unique aspects of her work, including the way she addresses rape culture and incorporates strong female protagonists.

The owner and managing editor of the online literary magazine Women Writers, Women’s Books, Barbara Bos discusses growing the community—and how to submit.

We asked publishing insiders to share book recommendations that they hoped more people would read, period. Here is a selection of their recommendations, beyond those of the authors profiled in print in our May/June 2018 “Roar” roundup.

With Twitter-based pitch events such as #PitchWars and #PitMad so immensely popular, it’s only fitting that #DVpit has now joined their ranks. Created in 2016 by agent Beth Phelan, the hashtag aims to “showcase pitches from marginalized voices that have been historically underrepresented in publishing.”

Penny Moore’s brainchild is the new online directory Literary Agents of Color — which includes bios and submission guidelines for around 50 such agents, and growing.

When writing conferences invite Eric Smith of P.S. Literary to join their roster of attending literary agents, he’s usually happy to comply, pending one request: a guest pass, so that he can bring along a marginalized writer from the surrounding area.