CATEGORIES

A Long-Haul Writer’s Lament
Writer’s Digest

A Long-Haul Writer’s Lament

Advice for Those at the Start

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5 mins  |
May - June 2024
Daniel Willcocks
Writer’s Digest

Daniel Willcocks

When Winter Comes; The Self-publishing Blueprint (Nonfiction books for authors, horror, and suspense fiction; Activated Authors [nonfiction]; Devil's Rock Publishing [fiction])

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2 mins  |
May - June 2024
Hilarity With a Side of Heartbreak
Writer’s Digest

Hilarity With a Side of Heartbreak

Katie Love, first place winner of WD's 2023 Personal Essay Awards, shares how she walks the line between comedy and tragedy in her writing.

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4 mins  |
May - June 2024
Septet as Memoir
Writer’s Digest

Septet as Memoir

Poet Wayne Lee set out on a journey to write nothing but septets for a year—not knowing it would help him grapple with one of the most emotionally challenging years of his life.

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6 mins  |
May - June 2024
Tommy Orange
Writer’s Digest

Tommy Orange

The award-winning author on the power and limits of fiction and the breakthrough moment for his second novel, Wandering Stars.

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10+ mins  |
March - April 2024
Bringing Characters to Life on the Page
Writer’s Digest

Bringing Characters to Life on the Page

How to effectively reveal characters through showing and telling.

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10 mins  |
March - April 2024
Love to Hate Them
Writer’s Digest

Love to Hate Them

Four types of unlikable characters and how to make them work in your writing.

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8 mins  |
March - April 2024
Daring to Show My Dark Side
Writer’s Digest

Daring to Show My Dark Side

I never planned to write my debut about the Devil.

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5 mins  |
March - April 2024
What's in a name?
Writer’s Digest

What's in a name?

The Importance of Naming Characters

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6 mins  |
March - April 2024
A Matter of Trust
Writer’s Digest

A Matter of Trust

Whether hot off the presses or on the shelves for years, a good book is worth talking about.

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4 mins  |
September - October 2023
When Mystery and Mythology Collide
Writer’s Digest

When Mystery and Mythology Collide

Author and illustrator Nasugraq Rainey Hopson shares the process of keeping her main character in the dark while introducing readers to a culturally significant mythology with her new middle-grade book, Eagle Drums.

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4 mins  |
September - October 2023
Celebrations
Writer’s Digest

Celebrations

BUILDING BETTER WORLDS

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5 mins  |
September - October 2023
Kill With Your Critique ... the Good Way
Writer’s Digest

Kill With Your Critique ... the Good Way

You can offer serious, honest feedback without crushing a writer's soul.

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6 mins  |
September - October 2023
TWO HOURS AND THREE YEARS: THE LIFE OF A SHORT SHORT STORY
Writer’s Digest

TWO HOURS AND THREE YEARS: THE LIFE OF A SHORT SHORT STORY

New Zealand-based writer and first-place winner of the 23rd Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Awards shares the personal experience that inspired her story.

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7 mins  |
September - October 2023
Chuck Wendig
Writer’s Digest

Chuck Wendig

The New York Times bestselling author discusses genre-hopping, fear as a motivator, and his new books.

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10+ mins  |
September - October 2023
WRITING OUR WAY INTO (AND OUT OF) DARK FORESTS
Writer’s Digest

WRITING OUR WAY INTO (AND OUT OF) DARK FORESTS

Using deep characterization for propulsive storytelling.

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9 mins  |
September - October 2023
TWISTY BUSINESS
Writer’s Digest

TWISTY BUSINESS

How to stress test a plot twist.

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7 mins  |
September - October 2023
THE BIG REVEAL
Writer’s Digest

THE BIG REVEAL

Write a compelling story by understanding when and how to reveal crucial information to readers for maximum impact.

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9 mins  |
September - October 2023
Château de Monte-Cristo
Writer’s Digest

Château de Monte-Cristo

Literary Tourism, Part 2

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5 mins  |
September - October 2023
Building Better Worlds
Writer’s Digest

Building Better Worlds

Tips for making your story concrete.

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5 mins  |
July - August 2023
Agentspotlight
Writer’s Digest

Agentspotlight

Seasoned literary agents on the business of publishing.

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4 mins  |
July - August 2023
Captive Audience
Writer’s Digest

Captive Audience

THE CHALLENGE: Write a drabble-a short story of exactly 100 words-based on the photo prompt below.

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1 min  |
July - August 2023
Luis Alberto Urrea
Writer’s Digest

Luis Alberto Urrea

The bestselling novelist shares the forgotten \"fated\" true story behind his new novel and why he encourages writers to find joy in what they do.

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10+ mins  |
July - August 2023
Praising Connection in Poetry. Family, and Life
Writer’s Digest

Praising Connection in Poetry. Family, and Life

Purvi Shah, winner of the 17th Annual Writer's Digest Poetry Awards, shares the story behind her winning poem, \"Helix of the gift, lineage song.\"

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3 mins  |
July - August 2023
The Literature of Comic Books
Writer’s Digest

The Literature of Comic Books

Trace the rise of comic books from \"disposable entertainment for children\" to graphic novels telling the most important stories of our time.

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10 mins  |
July - August 2023
The Pocket Guide to Pantsing
Writer’s Digest

The Pocket Guide to Pantsing

How to write a novel without an outline (with confidence).

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8 mins  |
July - August 2023
Double the Fun
Writer’s Digest

Double the Fun

Writing a manuscript with dual points of view can be a challenge, but it can also be rewarding for both you and readers if it serves the story. Here's how.

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8 mins  |
July - August 2023
Building the Essential Linkages
Writer’s Digest

Building the Essential Linkages

Ten ways to craft the connective tissue your story needs.

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9 mins  |
July - August 2023
Structure at the Chapter Level
Writer’s Digest

Structure at the Chapter Level

Keep 'em reading with irresistible Big Bang-Cliff Hangs.

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8 mins  |
July - August 2023
This Changes Everything
Writer’s Digest

This Changes Everything

Five steps to approach writing your story's inciting incident.

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8 mins  |
July - August 2023