CATEGORIES

A Long-Haul Writer’s Lament

Advice for Those at the Start

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])

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.

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.

Tommy Orange

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

Bringing Characters to Life on the Page

How to effectively reveal characters through showing and telling.

Love to Hate Them

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

Daring to Show My Dark Side

I never planned to write my debut about the Devil.

What's in a name?

The Importance of Naming Characters

A Matter of Trust

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

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.

Celebrations

BUILDING BETTER WORLDS

Kill With Your Critique ... the Good Way

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

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.

Chuck Wendig

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

WRITING OUR WAY INTO (AND OUT OF) DARK FORESTS

Using deep characterization for propulsive storytelling.

TWISTY BUSINESS

How to stress test a plot twist.

THE BIG REVEAL

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

Château de Monte-Cristo

Literary Tourism, Part 2

Building Better Worlds

Tips for making your story concrete.

Agentspotlight

Seasoned literary agents on the business of publishing.

Captive Audience

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

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.

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.\"

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.

The Pocket Guide to Pantsing

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

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.

Building the Essential Linkages

Ten ways to craft the connective tissue your story needs.

Structure at the Chapter Level

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

This Changes Everything

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