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.

Designing the Cover for The Nearsighted Gods • Designers peel back the layers of their book covers.

Writer’s Digest

Pushing Boundaries

CONTRIBUTORS

Fiction Is the Lie That Tells the Truth Truer • On the Legacy of Tom Spanbauer

Worth a Thousand Words

Secrets of the Most Unusual Book Launches • Does yours stand out from the crowd? If not, it might be time to rethink your strategy. Here are winning solutions from authors who made it work.

Getting Over the Guilt of Not Writing • Techniques for changing your mindset about non-writing time from feeling guilty to feeling productive.

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

Write It Out • Writing prompts to boost your creativity.

Beyond Feedback: Beta Readers Give Us Gold • New rules. New strategies. New paths to success.

Theodora Taylor

In Defense of the Dash • Making the most of the guideposts of writing.

DEAR SIMON • Your questions answered by a publishing expert.

Failure Is the Foundation

Isabel Mendía • THE CHENEY AGENCY

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

A MOTHERHOOD MONSTER MASH-UP • Combining women’s fiction and horror offers new insights on human experiences, societal expectations, and what it’s like to try to have it all.

CONFOUNDING EXPECTATIONS • Start with the villain for more engaging storytelling.

PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT(NOTE) FORWARD • The footnote is a powerful narrative device. Here are six ways to use it to your advantage.

BRINGING YOUR LANGUAGE TO LIFE • Using poetic devices in your fiction.

FINDING LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS • How comic Gary Gulman effectively blends humor into his story of overcoming major depression.

MEMOIR PLUS • Add a bonus to your personal narrative for a marketing boost.

DON’T SLEEP ON SELF-PUBLISHING • Irene Te, author of the YA romance novel This Place Is Magic, and grand-prize winner of the 32nd Annual Self-Published Book Awards, challenges the notion that self-publishing is simply a contingency for traditional publishing.

THE WINNERS

Stephen Graham Jones • The award-winning author and Professor of Distinction shares how he constructed the nested narrative in his latest novel, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.

WRITER’S DIGEST TUTORIAL • Writing instruction on demand! More than 400 videos from industry professionals on everything from improving your craft to getting published.

The Forsaken Oasis • THE CHALLENGE: Write a story of 650 words or fewer based on the July/August 2024 issue’s photo prompt.

The Unexpected Sells • Why Agents Want Genre-Defying Stories

10 Tips To Make Your Book More Sellable • The art and craft of writing nonfiction.

5 Poetry Markets Open to Submissions

Make History Part of Your Craft Toolkit • Advice and tips to boost your writing skills.

Avoiding the Dreaded Info Dump • Tips for making your story concrete.

The Most Common Mistakes Children’s Books Authors Make • Writing and publishing advice for picture books, middle-grade, and young adult storytelling.

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

Sticks and Stones • Surviving Bad Reviews