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.

FROM OUR READERS • We posed the question to readers on our blog: “What is the first story you remember that made an impact on you?” Readers responded:

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Writer's Digest

CONTRIBUTORS

The Queen of Kidlit • Children’s author Jane Yolen discusses writing more than 400 books.

How to Tackle Tricky Source Situations • For freelance writers, talking to those in the know can make or break a story. Here are tips to avoid potential scams and pinpoint reliable sources.

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

Like a Good Pair of Jeans, This Writing Advice Only Gets Better With Time

Anna-Marie McLemore Speaking in Magic

Priya Doraswamy LOTUS LANE LITERARY

Pacing • Advice and tips to boost your writing skills.

Read All About It • New rules. New strategies. New paths to success.

Contract Tips and Handling Conflict • Making sense of the publishing world.

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

The 2021 Writer's Digest Annual Literary Agent Roundup • Each year, WD brings you dozens of literary agents hungry for new clients. Here are 21 agents eagerly awaiting your queries.

The Art of Revealing Backstory • The past informs the future, so knowing your character’s history is crucial. But how much should you include? Jane K. Cleland offers tips and techniques for effectively incorporating backstory in your fiction.

In Personal Essays, Backstory Adds Meaning to Current Events

Pro Tips

How to plot a Sci-Fi Novel • Sci-fi author Sam Boush talked with international bestsellers Aliette de Bodard, Andy Weir, Christina Dalcher, Douglas E. Richards, John Scalzi, Karen Lord, Ken Liu, Mary Robinette Kowal, Mike Chen, Pierce Brown, Tobias Buckell, and V.E. Schwab on how to plot a science-fiction novel.

10 Reason to write a 100-Word Story • Award-winning novelist Ran Walker describes the big benefits of writing the smallest stories.

Memoir as Detective Novel • Every memoir requires searching for the truth of the story. Lilly Dancyger, author of the memoir Negative Space, shows how this hunt can serve as the structure of the narrative.

Elizabeth Acevedo • The National Book Award winner talks writing novels in verse, tips for NaNoWriMo success, and developing characters for YA.

The Night the Moon Cries • The first place winner of the 21st annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition tells the tale of mysterious creatures who emerge from moon tears and their new guardian.

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

ALL ABOUT THE PITCH • Covering the tips, tricks, and tactics for capturing the attention of an assigning editor so you don’t get ghosted.

First Things First • Out of 200 entries, Writer’s Digest editors and readers selected the following 10 winners.

STALKING THE SELF: FINDING A POINT OF VIEW IN MEMOIR • WRITING TIPS FROM MASTER OF FINE ARTS PROGRAMS AND CANDIDATES

Less Is More on the Page • Lessons from the world of screenwriting to inform, inspire, and incite action!

The Story of Getting a Book Published

COMMON PUBLISHING TERMS

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

Why You Should Launch a Writing Conference in Your Community

CONFERENCE GUIDE

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