Self-Published Book Awards
DEADLINE: 4/10/20
Writer’s Digest’s Self-Published Book Awards is currently accepting submissions. This is the only Writer’s Digest competition exclusively for self-published books.
Vintage WD: Murder for Profit, Mystery Story Techniques Part 1
In part 1 of this April 1931 WD article, George Dyer shares mystery story techniques that will ensure your readers will be left satisfied, not disappointed.
Writing Tips for Retelling Shakespeare: From Atwood’s Hag-Seed to Updike’s Gertrude and Claudius
Novelist Pat McKee shares 5 writing tips he learned while retelling Shakespeare's play Tempest as the novel Ariel's Island.
Vintage WD: Decoding the Secrets to Selling Popular Fiction, Part 2
Part 2 of this April 1981 WD article by Roy Sorrels and Megan Daniel about writing and selling popular fiction picks up where part 1 left off.
How to Find Your Agent in < 280 Characters
Author Allison Ashley found her agent using hashtags on Twitter. Here she shares her story and how you can find your agent via Twitter.
Why (& How) Books Sometimes Get New Covers
Novelist and Editor-at-Large, Jessica Strawser, shares some of the many reasons why book covers might see redesigns over the course of their lifespans.
Becoming a Multigenre Writing Master
Multigenre writing can be a challenge, but it can also be a way to fulfill the different parts of your creative needs. Simon Van Booy shares his tips.
Vintage WD: Decoding the Secrets to Selling Popular Fiction, Part 1
In this article about writing popular fiction like murder mysteries or regency romances, Roy Sorrels and Megan Daniel share some of their best tips.
Mastering High Concept Ideas
If you want to grab the attention of agents and even Hollywood, finding high concept ideas for your books is the way to do it.
Learning From Vintage Magazines: Back in the Day
Fiction and nonfiction writers can glean lessons about writing from the examples of industry defying, sometimes outlandish, vintage magazines, and comics.
Vintage WD: The Secret of the Original Idea
Some writing advice lasts, like this excerpt from article from January 1949 WD article about staying true to your original story idea -- even if that means changing it.
The Art of Spin-Offs: Freelance Article Ideas
Cultivating multiple article ideas from the same topic can help freelance writers collect more bylines says freelance writer Dinsa Sachan.
Will’s Way: Four Timely Craft Tips from the Immortal Bard
Debut novelist Karin Abarbanel shares four writing tips for contemporary novelists she discovered from studying the plays of the Bard for 365+ nights.
Vintage WD: When Research Is a Monster
In this article from our June 1974 issue, author James B. Sweeney describes his method for researching a monster of a project—his book on sea animals.
Shed Your Shame: Overcoming Writing Fears
Author Elizabeth Atkinson shares the biggest of her writing fears, and her tips for working to overcome both the fear and the shame.
Screenwriter and Novelist, Turned YA Author, Christopher J. Moore: Author Spotlight
Christopher J. Moore started his writing career in screenwriting, working on successful TV shows, but soon realized he wanted his stories to reach a broader audience. After adapting several of his screenplays into stand-alone novels, he embarked on a new YA series, "The Switch Family."
Your Own Worst Enemy: Writing Villains in Memoir
Writing villains in memoir takes a special kind of honesty. In this feature from the July/August 2019 issue of Writer's Digest, William Kenower offers his take.
10 Scientifically Proven Ways to Beat Writer’s Block
Beat writer's block with these 10 tips, supported by scientific studies, from Estelle Erasmus's article from the September 2019 issue of Writer's Digest.
Vintage WD: The American Labor Novel
This #WritersDigest100 piece from our January 1937 archives by Louis Zara explores the potential for writers to pen The American Labor Novel and has surprising relevance for today.
Writing Multiple Points of View
Wendy Heard, author of The Kill Club, offers 5 tips for making writing in multiple points of view easier for you and more satisfying for your readers.
Hidden Architecture: Using Structure to Reinforce Story
Novelist Wendelin Van Draanen offers advice on how to choose the best story structure for your novels and provides compelling examples from her award-winning books.
Building Your Freelance Writing Career: Just Say Yes
In this WD article from Nov/Dec 2016, Jeff Somers shares the best way to advance your freelance writing career: Just Say Yes. His advice still stands.
5 Goals for Making Your Anthology the Best That It Can Be
Marika Lindholm, co-editor of the new book We Got This: Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor offers 5 tips to creating a more appealing and successful anthology.
Revisiting George Orwell: Why I Write in the 21st Century
Keith Wain revisits the 1946 George Orwell essay "Why I Write" by looking at the relevance of each of the four key points in the digital era.