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.

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EDITOR’SLETTER

CONTRIBUTORS

Girl Talk • Formerly applied to TV and film, the Bechdel Test is now being used by some lit agents as a baseline for stronger female representation in stories. Find out how meeting three simple criteria can help elevate your characters above stereotypes.

The Jailhouse Rock

Expert Express • Quotes from voices of authority can lend articles credibility and depth. Learn how to enhance your freelance writing by incorporating expert input.

Worth a Thousand Words

The Winners of the 2017 WD Poetry Awards • No matter what you write, a bit of poetic license can be a valuable asset to any writer’s arsenal.

A Weeping Serbian Spruce

Backstory • How to Write Humor

7 Scathing Insults From Literature • It only makes sense that wordsmiths write the world’s best burns. The next time you feel like hurling invectives, consider these classic taunts.

Rick Pascocello

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

Joke's on You • Four veteran comedians share serious insight on what writers can glean from stand-up.

Comic Takeaways

FUNNY PEOPLE • From jester to jackass, comedic characters can lend a story some much-needed levity. Find out which classic type best suits your fiction—no matter the genre.

EXPERCISE: Create Your Own Comic Character

MODERN Times • Given the award-winning power of shows like “Last Week Tonight” and “SNL,” it’s clear satire is as relevant today as it was for Chaplin and Chaucer. Here, the co-founder of The Onion shares how you, too, can add layers of meaning with humor.

TRUE Wit • Truth may be stranger than fiction, but it can also be funnier. Employ these 6 techniques in memoir and personal essay to cue readers’ chuckles.

EXERCISE: Mind Meld

Laugh Track • Improv can bring a burst of energy to your creative endeavors. Learn the basics with these 14 principles—then put them into practice with some playful exercises.

Dialed In • The winner of the 18TH ANNUAL WRITER’S DIGEST SHORT SHORT STORY COMPETITION reveals the understated power of daily life’s simple interactions in “Beneath the Cracks.”

Winner's Spotlight

The Short List • The 18th Annual WD Short Short Story Competition received more than 3,000 entries. Authors Jeffrey Marks, Debby Mayne and Gina Ochsner served as first-round judges, and the WD editorial staff ranked the finalists.

The WD Interview George Saunders • The short-form master dishes on inventive structure, reveals why he’s wary of outlines and talks novel-length success with Lincoln in the Bardo.

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

Eyes Like Mine • THE CHALLENGE: Write a short story of 700 words or fewer based on the photo below.

ENTER YOUR STORY • WRITE A SHORT STORY of 650 words or fewer based on the prompt below. You can be poignant, funny, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story.

SHOW AND TELL IN SHORT NONFICTION

SHOW, TELL AND SUGGEST IN FICTION

STANDOUT MARKETS • An exclusive look inside the markets that can help you make your mark.

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

CONFERENCE GUIDE

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