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 of A Computer Called Katherine • Designers peel back the layers of their book covers.

Writer’s Digest

Cultivating Inspiration Through Research

CONTRIBUTORS

“See” Your Story Take Shape With Visual Note-taking • Creating a sketchnote can provide valuable insights as you brainstorm or organize your story.

Use the Tools of Journalism to Sharpen Your Research Skills

Working Through Personal Change With Personal Essay • F.A. Battle, the Writer’s Digest 5th Annual Personal Essay Awards grand-prize winner, traveled to the end of the world to live her truest life with her winning essay, “Ground Zero.”

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.

Research Hacks: The Writer’s Guide to Efficient Research • New rules. New strategies. New paths to success.

David Viergutz

In Praise of the Exclamation Point • Making the most of the guideposts of writing.

DEARSIMON • Your questions answered by a publishing expert.

The True Subject of Discovery

Ashley Hong (she/her/hers) • GARDNER LITERARY

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

Writer’s Digest 27th Annual 101 Best Websites for Writers

Literary Legacy • The next generation of authors stepping into the worlds of Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, and Vince Flynn share what it takes to write estate novels.

The Way We Were • How to use pop culture as an unexpected research vehicle.

Comp Authors: Building a True Platform That Actually Sells Books • What are authors like you doing to connect with their audiences and communities? Don’t agonize about “platform”—your literary role models already drew the map.

From Traditionally to Self-Published • Romance author Lucy Day shares why she switched to self-publishing, what her biggest challenge is, and how confidence has played a role in her success.

Laurie Halse Anderson • The two-time National Book Award finalist explains how to know when a story idea has legs and why research was a critical part of the writing process for her newest middle-grade novel.

Endless Fields • THE CHALLENGE: Write a drabble—a short story of exactly 100 words—based on the photo prompt below.

Scared to Share Your Writing? Here’s Why You Should • Literary agents on the business of publishing.

Details Matter • The Importance of Specificity

How Long Does It Take to Go From Idea to Publishing a Book?

Six Tips for Effectively Researching Any Writing Project (Part I) • Advice and tips to boost your writing skills.

Avoiding Appropriation • Tips for making your story concrete.

Voice Lessons • Writing and publishing advice for picture books, middle-grade, and young adult storytelling.

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

“Any Resemblance to Real Events …” • Whether hot off the presses or on the shelves for years, a good book is worth talking about.

Worst. Writing. Workshops. Ever.