Author Kathleen Furin shares four reasons crying disconnects readers and five things to do instead to evoke authentic reader responses.
Writing Techniques
Tips for Writing Second Chances in Fiction
Author Mara Williams offers up four tips for writing second chances in fiction that feel earned and engaging for reader
WD Editor-in-Chief Amy Jones shares three types of travel journaling for writers and how it can benefit all your writing projects.
For day 3 of the 2026 November PAD Chapbook Challenge, poets are asked to write a celebration and/or disappointment poem.
Author Kathleen Carr Foster shares how letting go of the book she was supposed to write led to publishing success.
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today’s prompt, write about someone protecting an odd package.
Marguerite Sheffer moves beyond advice with writing challenges that stretch your skills and help uncover your unique voice, plus more from Writer’s Digest!
Writer's Digest
Recent Articles
Writing Techniques
Author Laura Buchwald discusses ghosts and spirits in real life and how to successfully incorporate them in fiction.
Horror
In this interview, author Kennedy Cole discusses the exhilarating genre expectations with her debut horror novel, There Used to Be People Here.
Writing Habits and Practices
Author E. L. Shen shares how her most recent novel began with a lie hidden in her own family history that led to an ancestor’s death.
Writing Habits and Practices
Emmy-winning writer Ali Barthwell delivers four things writers can learn from reality TV for their own storytelling.
Writing Habits and Practices
Author Kimberly Nixon shares eight tips to gather and preserve your family story that goes beyond names and dates.
Literary
In this interview, author Schneider K. Rancy discusses the 15-year journey of writing his new literary novel, Beyond the Baths of Stars.
November PAD Chapbook Challenge
For the November PAD Chapbook Challenge, poets write a poem a day in the month of November. Day 2 is to write a “(blank) More (blank)” poem.
November PAD Chapbook Challenge
For the 2026 November PAD Chapbook Challenge, poets write a poem a day in the month of November. Day 1 is to write a fresh poem.
Romance
In this interview, author Melissa. R. Collings discusses the central question that helped inspire her new romance novel, The Love Operation.
Be Inspired
In this article from the Nov/Dec 2026 issue of Writer’s Digest, Silas House shares the inspiration for his newest novel, The Tulip Poplars.
Writing Techniques
Harmful tropes are narrative shortcuts that reinforce negative stereotypes, justify toxic behavior, or demean marginalized groups. Here, we discuss them and give you tips for avoiding them in your work.
Mystery/Thriller
Clay Stafford has a conversation with bestselling novelist Laura Zigman on writing beyond the promise of success.
Writing Habits and Practices
Sara Ramey discusses the benefits of writing challenges and communities and shares a list of a dozen to check out.
Young Adult
In this interview, Paula Chase discusses letting characters enter their villain era with her new novel, Off Balance.
Horror
Humor columnist Karim Shamsi-Basha shows how a well-placed laugh can make a scary story scarier, and leave readers grateful for it.
Writing Habits and Practices
Award-winning author and podcaster Debra Eckerling shares five common road blocks for writing books and how to navigate them.
Science Fiction/Fantasy
In this interview, author Kathleen Carr Foster discusses giving herself permission to pivot away from one novel-in-progress to write her debut historical fantasy, The Jewel of Corlivo.
Literary
In this interview, author Kim van Alkemade discusses shelving a novel-in-progress to write her new novel, Upstate, instead.
Wednesday Poetry Prompts
Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and example poem to get things started for poets. This week, write a departing poem.
Writing Habits and Practices
Deanna Martinez-Bey shares strategies for creating a writer’s mental health toolkit for those days when writing feels like a lot.
Writing Techniques
Author Hanna Harp breaks down the fourth wall by discussing what it is and how writers can try writing it themselves.
Writing Habits and Practices
Award-winning author Zelly Ruskin shares how a real-life plot twist saved her life and helped launch her book writing career.
Writing Prompts
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today’s prompt, write a story set in the middle of the night.
Writing Techniques
Bestselling author Wesley King discusses his shift from writing middle-grade and young adult fiction to adult thrillers.
