Writer's Digest

Writer's Digest magazine is a comprehensive source of writing instruction for writers. Each issue provides advice and insider tips on writing and selling fiction, nonfiction, poetry and scripts.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Character Study • Bestseller Walter Mosley emphasizes the importance of characterization and the legacy of Devil in a Blue Dress.

Writing by the Numbers

Beyond “Born, Lived and Died” • Writing a biography can be as fulfilling as any fiction project. Consider the following tips before you get started.

Defend Yourself From Coaching Scams • Industry experts and legitimate writing coaches provide advice on how to spot a con and shield yourself accordingly.

Poetic asides • No matter what you write, a bit of poetic license can be a valuable asset to any writer’s arsenal.

ON THE (DREAMING) RECORD

POETIC PROMPT:

Wendy Levinson • HARVEY KLINGER AGENCY

BREAKING IN • Debut authors: How they did it, what they learned and why you can do it, too.

WRITE Your Book in 2019 • 2019 KEY PATHS TO BOOK PUBLISHING

On an Island • Subjecting your characters to isolation—physical or social—is a powerful tool to stir up suspense and reel in readers.

YOU’RE ALL ALONE

USE A COMBINATION FOR INSPIRED PLOTS

The 9-Minute Novelist • Strapped for writing time? Fret no more: This incremental approach will lead you from first draft to finished manuscript in mere minutes a day.

Cross- Pollination • The future is genre-blending, and it’s in full bloom. Here’s why your next novel shouldn’t fit neatly into any one pot.

Stick Figures • While many writers scorn so-called “flat” characters, sometimes a superficial sketch is more than one-dimensional.

What’s the Big Idea? • Every story starts as a concept: a microscopic kernel of a premise that can, if properly nurtured, unfurl into a fully matured narrative in your head. But sometimes fresh ideas are hard to come by, and it’s awfully hard to write a novel if you don’t have anywhere to begin. We took it upon ourselves to fertilize your mind with these 15 tricks—guaranteed to germinate a story in even the most arid cerebral soil.

FIND YOUR NEXT BIG IDEA WITH 15-MINUTE BRAINSTORMING

THE WD INTERVIEW Michael Lewis • The Big Short and Moneyball author lays out his formula for immersive nonfiction.

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK • A literary agent’s mostly serious answers to your mostly serious questions.

The Knowing • THE CHALLENGE: Write a short story of 650 words or fewer based on the photo below.

ENTER YOUR STORY

LAYERING IN BACKSTORY

EXERCISES: Layer Backstory Into a Memory or Flashback

NAVIGATING EXPOSITION & BACKGROUND

DISTINGUISHING BACKSTORY FROM HISTORY

TAKE TWO • Lessons from the world of screenwriting to inform, inspire and incite action!

CONFERENCE SCENE • Events to advance your craft, connections and career.

CONFERENCE PLANNING: WHAT I’VE LEARNED • Is your writing group thinking of hosting a conference? Fantastic! Here are a few tips gleaned from my 12 years guiding the annual Write Now! conference for Triangle Association of Freelancers in Raleigh, N.C.

CONFERENCE GUIDE

CONFERENCE GUIDE

POTPOURRI FOR THE PEN • An aromatic blend of writerly diversions.