Humor columnist Karim Shamsi-Basha uses the family tree to show how one joke can grow into a monologue that keeps readers laughing.
The Writer's Life
Agent in Your Pocket: Not Every Book Is The One
Literary Agent Jessica Berg on understanding the difference between the book of your heart and a writing career you love.
Author and clinical psychologist Thomas W. Phelan shares his approach to how-to writing and presentations that have sold millions of books.
Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and example poem to get things started for poets. This week, write an autumn poem.
Award-winning author and podcaster Debra Eckerling breaks down how to use journaling to develop your book idea and book proposal sections.
In this interview, author Jessica Brody discusses how her plot-writing craft books helped inspire her new novel, How to Write a Murder.
FROM OUR SPONSOR: In this sponsored post, the Writers of the Future Contest shares what the contest can do to help launch your writing career.
Writer's Digest
Recent Articles
Writing Habits and Practices
Deanna Martinez-Bey discusses finding flow in writing and why getting lost in your writing is mentally healing.
Horror
In this interview, author Megan Mostyn-Brown discusses how a TV pitch led to her debut horror novel, The Need.
Business of Writing
Author Joe Zagets (also known as, bestselling author Zoje Stage) explains why writers should consider writing under a pseudonym.
Plot
Author Norah Labiner shares how she fell in love with Henry James and the art of retelling a story and why retellings make sense.
Creative Nonfiction Writing
Author Melissa Langley Biegert shares how writing narrative nonfiction helped her unlock a story she’d researched for decades.
Writing Prompts
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today’s prompt, write about a diner’s regular customer.
Historical
In this interview, author Tanaz Bhathena discusses how growing up on myths and legends led to her new historical fantasy, Witch Daughter.
Character
Author Nicole Brooks discusses her experience of writing complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) in fiction with care.
Young Adult
In this interview, author Sonido Reyes discusses writing their favorite book yet with their new YA dystopian novel, To Our Untamed Core.
Resources
Jane Friedman cuts through the hype to reveal what actually works for email newsletters, plus more from Writer’s Digest!
The Writer's Life
Author and professor Michael E. Heyes shares five things writers should know about the language of demons, evil, and “the enemy” in politics.
Memoir
In this interview, author Brittany Perham discusses the personal loss that led to writing her new memoir, Executrix.
Literary
In this interview, author Abby Geni discusses the years of thinking about the story before sitting down to write her new novel, Children of the Wolf.
Mystery/Thriller
Author Jane Brookwood shares how loose ends become lifelines with her technique for seeding the story with possibilities.
Memoir
Author Amy Smyth Miller shares how teaching fourth- and fifth-grade students how to write inspired her to take on her memoir.
Plot
Author Katherine A. Sherbrooke shares her strategy for creating the ultimate plot twist by setting up two options and picking the third.
Romance
In this interview, author Ellen O’Clover discusses the real-life experience that helped inspire her new romance, If Not You.
Be Inspired
WD’s Editor-in-Chief, Amy Jones, shares 14 books you’ll want to add to your fall 2026 TBR list.
Historical
Author Stefanie Koens shares her approach to writing dual-timeline stories that readers love to keep them coming back for more.
Creative Nonfiction Writing
In this interview, author Addie Tsai discusses interrogating a historical and cultural trope in her new book, Straight White Men Can’t Dance.
Writing Techniques
Author Leah De Forest shares four instances where an attention to POV skills can level up your fiction writing.
Writing Techniques
Award-winning author Andrew K. Clark discusses Chekhov’s Gun (as well as other writing rules) and why it’s OK to ignore it.
Business of Writing
Award-winning author (and book doula) Rea Frey explains what a book doula is and why writers might need one.
