2020-05-05 14:08
Congratulations to the winners of the 6th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards!
Grand Prize
Steel Hand, Cold Heart by Rachel Menard (rachelmenard.com)
Fantasy
First Place
Willow of… Read More
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Writer’s Digest is the No. 1 Resource for Writers, Celebrating the Writing Life and What it Means to be a Writer in Today's Publishing Environment.
2020-05-04 17:55
In this author spotlight, Leslie Lutz, author of Fractured Tide, shares her experience of rewriting the middle of her novel, learning to let go of writing that doesn’t work, and more… Read More
2020-05-02 16:00
Congratulations to Alexandra Hill, grand prize winner of the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards! Here’s a look at her writing process.
Read Hill’s winning… Read More
2020-05-01 16:32
Congratulations to Douglas Jern, first place winner in the Young Adult category of the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards. Here’s his winning short story, “… Read More
2020-05-01 16:30
Congratulations to Christopher Wyer, first place winner in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category of the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards! Here’s his winning story, &ldquo&hell…Read More
2020-05-01 16:30
Congratulations to Leslie Wibberley, first place winner of the Romance category in the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards! Here’s the winning short story, “… Read More
2020-05-01 16:30
Congratulations to Benjamin Barbour, first place winner in the Horror category of the Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards! Here’s his winning short story, “Tree Gifts.&r&hell…Read More
2020-05-01 16:30
Congratulations to Mary Lou Condike, first place winner in the Mystery/Crime category of the Writer’s Digest 15th Annual Popular Fiction Awards! Here’s her winning story, “… Read More
2020-05-01 16:30
Congratulations to Edgar Mahaffey, first place winner in the Thriller category of the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards! Here’s his winning short story, “J… Read More
2020-05-01 16:13
Congratulations to Alexandra Hill, winner of the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards! Here is her winning short story, “A Life Measured In Moons.”
[See the… Read More
2020-05-01 16:00
Congratulations to the winners of the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards! To get the best in genre fiction, be sure to read the grand prize winner and first place winne… Read More
2020-04-30 10:57
This 1956 article by renowned science-fiction writer Richard Matheson explains his thoughts about the limitless possibilities in the genre.
By Richard Matheson
Writer’s Digest, April 1… Read More
2020-04-30 05:20
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a praise poem.
We’ve made it through from the beginning of the month to the en… Read More
2020-04-29 19:13
Image from Getty
Prompt: Write the opening line to a story based on the photo prompt above. (One sentence only.) You can be poignant, funny, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story.
Email… Read More
2020-04-29 05:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a “Total Blank” poem.
We’re almost there. Let’s do this.
For… Read More
2020-04-28 14:00
This week’s writing prompt is inspired by the fact that I just woke up from a very strange dream.
Creative Writing Prompt: Dream Scene
Write a scene in which a character tries to make… Read More
2020-04-28 06:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a look back and/or don’t look back poem.
Here we are: The final “Two-for… Read More
2020-04-27 20:00
For this week’s market spotlight, we look at the Ad Astra, the quarterly magazine of the National Space Society.
Ad Astra: Market Spotlight
Ad Astra is the official publication of the… Read More
2020-04-27 18:28
Here are 12 memorable Richard Adams quotes from his classic novel, Watership Down. Find quotes on success, nature, friendship, and much more.
Richard Adams began Watership Down by telling st… Read More
2020-04-27 04:31
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a massive poem.
After today’s poem, we’ll be only three days from the fi… Read More
2020-04-26 04:51
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a change poem.
For today’s prompt, write a change poem. This could be a poem a… Read More
2020-04-25 05:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a remix poem.
For today’s prompt, write a remix poem. That is, take one (or mo… Read More
2020-04-24 05:12
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a nature poem.
With hindsight, this probably would’ve been a more natural prom… Read More
2020-04-23 11:49
In this February 1970 Writer’s Digest article, Eudora Welty argues that, “Fiction is not meant to be a disguise for propaganda. A story should speak for itself as a story.”… Read More
2020-04-23 05:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a “Social Blank” poem.
We only have a week of this challenge remaining… Read More
2020-04-22 05:36
For today’s prompt, write a quirk poem. The quirk could be a personal or human quality. Or it could be a quirk of fate.
Here’s my attempt:
“Patting My Belly”
As long… Read More
2020-04-21 22:23
In this author spotlight, Haley Shapley, freelance writer and author of Strong Like Her: A Celebration of Rule Breakers, History Makers, and Unstoppable Athletes, shares her experience of ju… Read More
2020-04-21 14:00
Earth Day is tomorrow! Most of us are already reducing carbon emissions by staying indoors. What else are you doing to help the environment?
Creative Writing Prompt: Earth Day
Write a scene… Read More
2020-04-21 05:40
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a love and/or anti-love poem.
We’re three weeks into the challenge now, which… Read More
2020-04-21 02:57
Discover the 20 best Shakespeare quotes from Shakespearean sonnets and plays.
Picking the best 20 quotes from William Shakespeare is sort of like an impossible task. Not because it’s h… Read More
2020-04-20 21:44
For this week’s market spotlight, we look at Bird Watcher’s Digest, the only independently owned and operated bimonthly wild-bird magazine in North America.
Bird Watcher’s… Read More
2020-04-20 06:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write an isolation poem.
While I write my poems in April, I figure out the prompts in Febr… Read More
2020-04-20 00:34
Discover the 10 best Shakespeare sonnets and poems, including explanations for the rankings and links to the actual poems.
As much as I love Shakespeare’s plays, I may draw more enjoym… Read More
2020-04-19 13:45
In this author spotlight, Akemi Dawn Bowman, author of Starfish and Harley in the Sky, shares her experience of recharging after writing a couple emotionally draining novels, writing a novel… Read More
2020-04-19 06:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a six words poem.
For today’s prompt, write a poem that uses the following six… Read More
2020-04-18 20:56
Here are five fun creative writing prompts for kids and parents of all ages shared by Writer’s Digest editor and father of five Robert Lee Brewer.
As a parent of five kids, I’ve… Read More
2020-04-18 06:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a message poem.
After today’s poem, we’ll be 60 percent of the way throu… Read More
2020-04-17 20:30
This post announces our latest From Our Readers question: How has travel influenced your writing? Comment for a chance at publication in a future issue of Writer’s Digest.
Our upcoming… Read More
2020-04-17 13:08
In this author spotlight, Samantha Mabry, author of Tigers, Not Daughters, shares her inspiration for the title of the new young adult novel and the most surprising part of writing the… Read More
2020-04-17 06:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write an exotic poem.
If you didn’t catch it yet, I’m super excited today, bec… Read More
2020-04-16 20:05
Three award-winning journalists discuss their unique approaches to chronicling seminal moments in American military history with Writer’s Digest columnist Don Vaughn.
This article abou… Read More
2020-04-16 19:53
Here’s the official announcement of The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms: 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets, by Robert Lee Brewer, Writer’s Digest Senior Editor a… Read More
2020-04-16 15:36
For the week of April 19 through April 26, WritersDigest.com plans to celebrate William Shakespeare and his influence on writing and storytelling with Shakespeare Week!
While history is fill… Read More
2020-04-16 12:13
Some of the most interesting articles from the Writer’s Digest archives are the ones that address topics that affected writers of the time. In this 1937 article, journalist Eugene Lyon… Read More
2020-04-16 06:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a “The Last Blank” poem.
We’re now officially on the second half o… Read More
2020-04-15 20:01
How are writers supposed to write settings when we’re supposed to stay at home? Christine Meade offer writing prompts and tips fro writing strong settings during social isolation.
For… Read More
2020-04-15 16:29
It’s any writer’s greatest fear: Facing the blank page with no ideas to get started. William Kenower shares how to get into the right mindset to begin writing and find your muse… Read More
2020-04-15 06:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a dream poem.
Once we get through today’s poem, we’ll be half of the way… Read More
2020-04-14 19:26
In this post, we look at how to handle writing submissions for magazines. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, learn how to submit writing to a magazine.
Submitting to magazines… Read More
2020-04-14 18:20
Bonnie Tsui, author of the new book Why We Swim, shares the patience required to write a book about living people and why she chose the publisher she did.
Bonnie Tsui (c) Lynsay Skiba
N… Read More
2020-04-14 15:20
Characters reading letters or diary entries is a great way to reveal backstory and a character’s thoughts. Some books, such as Bridget Jones’s Diary and The Guernsey Literary and… Read More
2020-04-14 06:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a form and/or anti-form poem.
We’re two weeks into the challenge now, and our… Read More
2020-04-13 23:35
For this week’s market spotlight, we look at the Crazyhorse, a literary journal that publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Open submission period is February 1-May 31, 2020.
Crazy… Read More
2020-04-13 22:17
Here are 10 Nicholas Sparks quotes for writers and about writing from the author of The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, and A Walk to Remember. In these quotes from our February 2011 issue, S… Read More
2020-04-13 05:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a purpose poem.
For today’s prompt, write a purpose poem. Many people like to… Read More
2020-04-12 13:00
Author spotlights (like this one with Jaime Breitnauer, author of The Spanish Flu Epidemic and Its Influence on History from Pen and Sword) are a great way to learn how authors are finding s… Read More
2020-04-12 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a spirit poem.
For today’s prompt, write a spirit poem. Poets may write about… Read More
2020-04-11 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a control poem.
For today’s prompt, write a control poem. That is, write about… Read More
2020-04-10 17:37
In this edition of our Author Spotlight, debut novelist Maisy Card shares where she got the inspiration for her novel These Ghosts Are Family and how many people actually work on a book… Read More
2020-04-10 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a the-blank-who-blank poem.
Wow! So, we’ll be a third of the way through this… Read More
2020-04-09 19:42
Do you have thousands of unproductive thoughts cluttering your mind? Nina Amir offers her tips for using meditation to help boost your creativity by creating space for new ideas.
You’… Read More
2020-04-09 10:15
In part 2 of this 1931 article about mystery story techniques, George Dyer offers his suggestions for how to drop hints about who the real criminal of the story is.
Read part 1 of the articl… Read More
2020-04-09 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write an ekphrastic poem.
For today’s prompt, write an ekphrastic poem. An ekphrasti… Read More
2020-04-08 16:12
Check out what’s in the upcoming May/June 2020 issue of Writer’s Digest, featuring an interview with Jenny Lawson, our annual 101 Best Websites for Writers feature, and more.
If… Read More
2020-04-08 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a future poem.
For today’s prompt, write a future poem. The future is a never… Read More
2020-04-07 18:47
Afia Atakora’s debut novel, Conjure Women, is released today. In this Author Spotlight, she shares her process for writing the book and the best piece of advice she got along the… Read More
2020-04-07 15:00
Stream-of-consciousness can provide some of the most interesting writing. We’re going to try it in this week’s writing exercise.
Creative Writing Prompt: Writing the Stream
Wri… Read More
2020-04-07 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a lucky and/or unlucky poem.
We’re a week into the challenge now, and we get t… Read More
2020-04-07 02:47
For this week’s market spotlight, we look at Regal House Publishing, an independent literary press.
Regal House Publishing: Market Spotlight
Regal House Publishing was founded in 2014… Read More
2020-04-06 20:33
Help your freelance writing land better with editors and increase your chances of getting published with these 11 proven tips for self-editing.
So you wrote your article or essay and feel r… Read More
2020-04-06 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a trap poem.
When we finish today’s poem, we’ll be officially 20% of the… Read More
2020-04-05 15:20
Want to manage your competitions account? Log In Here
COMING SOON
We’re looking for personal essays! Think you can write a winning essay in 2,000 words or less? Enter the first ever… Read More
2020-04-05 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a moment poem.
For today’s prompt, write a moment poem. The moment could be th… Read More
2020-04-04 13:53
Here are some poems that “popped” for Robert Lee Brewer from Day 1 of the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge.
Having trouble finding today’s prompt? Click here for Day 4&rsquo&hell…Read More
2020-04-04 12:00
History books are great for sharing a macro-level view of the past, but historical fiction reveals truths about the way people lived in history.
We have lost the anchor of our history. Our p… Read More
2020-04-04 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a wish poem.
For today’s prompt, write a wish poem. The poem could be about ma… Read More
2020-04-03 14:42
Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is the author nine books. The Mountains Sing is her first written in English. In this Author Spotlight, she shares how it felt to write at such length in… Read More
2020-04-03 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a follow blank poem.
I always like to say that poets who show for the first three da… Read More
2020-04-02 10:13
In part 1 of this April 1931 WD article, George Dyer shares mystery story techniques that will ensure your readers will be left satisfied, not disappointed.
By George Dyer
Writer’s Di… Read More
2020-04-02 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a space poem.
Welcome to day two of the April Poem-A-Day Challenge. Anyone can show… Read More
2020-04-01 19:45
Sometimes the real challenge to completing a story is sustaining focus. In this post, Jessica Hatch shares 5 ways to keep focus when burned out and brain-fried.
We’ve all experienced b… Read More
2020-04-01 08:00
Write a poem every day of April with the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a new world poem.
Today is the first day of the 2020 April Poem-A-Day Challenge! Eac… Read More
2020-03-31 15:00
For this week’s writing prompt, we’re going to go with the classic remaking a fairy tale idea.
Creative Writing Prompt: Fairy Tale Remake
Write a scene that puts a character or… Read More
2020-03-31 14:49
The synopsis of the novel Whiteout Conditions (Two Dollar Radio, March 2020) by Tariq Shah has me hooked: “Ant is a death worshiper returning home to Illinois after a long absenc… Read More
2020-03-31 08:00
Poem along with the first ever April PAD Challenge Countdown, in which Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and a poem (to get things started) in the 10 days leading up to the 2020 April Poem-A… Read More
2020-03-30 21:19
Here are 8 Andy Weir quotes for writers and about writing from the author of The Martian and Artemis. In these quotes, Weir shares his thoughts on good stories, science fiction, social lives… Read More
2020-03-30 08:00
Poem along with the first ever April PAD Challenge Countdown, in which Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and a poem (to get things started) in the 10 days leading up to the 2020 April Poem-A… Read More
2020-03-29 08:00
Poem along with the first ever April PAD Challenge Countdown, in which Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and a poem (to get things started) in the 10 days leading up to the 2020 April Poem-A… Read More
2020-03-28 21:00
NaNoWriMo’s Grant Faulkner has some good thoughts for writers who may feel overwhelmed by Covid-19 and stay-at-home orders.
I have to admit that I’ve had moments over the years w… Read More
2020-03-28 08:00
Poem along with the first ever April PAD Challenge Countdown, in which Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and a poem (to get things started) in the 10 days leading up to the 2020 April Poem-A… Read More
2020-03-27 08:00
Poem along with the first ever April PAD Challenge Countdown, in which Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and a poem (to get things started) in the 10 days leading up to the 2020 April Poem-A… Read More
2020-03-26 16:16
When should writers incorporate or create an LLC? Do they protect writers from liability? Are there tax benefits? We answer these questions here.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer or CPA. So I&r&hell…Read More
2020-03-26 13:22
In this piece from the Writer’s Digest archives, T.C. O’Donnell shares the importance of finding the core of the story when writing for very small children.
By T.C. O’Donn… Read More
2020-03-26 08:00
Poem along with the first ever April PAD Challenge Countdown, in which Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and a poem (to get things started) in the 10 days leading up to the 2020 April Poem-A… Read More
2020-03-25 16:30
Author J.R.H. Lawless shares how he landed his literary agent, Marisa Corvisiero of the Corvisiero Literary Agency, while getting his novel, Always Greener, published.
My path to representat… Read More
2020-03-25 13:30
In this author spotlight, the duo of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings (writing as Christina Lauren) talk about their most recent book, The Honey Don’t List, and share how their writ… Read More
2020-03-25 08:00
Poem along with the first ever April PAD Challenge Countdown, in which Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and a poem (to get things started) in the 10 days leading up to the 2020 April Poem-A… Read More
2020-03-24 21:29
Do writers need literary agents to get published and find success with their writing? Are there times when getting an agent doesn’t make sense? We answer these questions here.
Before I… Read More
2020-03-24 17:07
Get free access to the Writer’s Digest and Script Mag tutorial sites for a month with these special codes. Use it for yourself and share with friends.
Recently, our team created coupon… Read More
2020-03-24 14:46
Since we’re all staying indoors, let’s celebrate spring with a writing prompt.
Creative Writing Prompt: Exercise of Perspective
Write a scene from an animal’s perspective… Read More
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