Be Inspired / 103 posts found
Nick Petrie: On Following the Most Compelling Story
Nick Petrie is the author of seven novels in the Peter Ash series, most recently The Runaway. His debut, The Drifter, won both the ITW Thriller award and the Barry Award for Best First Novel, and was a finalist for the Edgar and the Hammett Awards. A husband and father, he lives in the Milwaukee area. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Nick Petrie © Troye Fox, 2016 In this post, Nick discusses how he listened to the story that wanted to be told in his new Peter Ash triller novel, The Runaway, what he hopes readers get out […]
Plot Twist Story Prompts: The Ultimatum
Plot twist story prompts aren’t meant for the beginning or the end of stories. Rather, they’re for forcing big and small turns in the anticipated trajectory of a story. This is to make it more interesting for the readers and writers alike. Each week, I’ll provide a new prompt to help twist your story. Find last week’s prompt, Going Rogue, here. Plot Twist Story Prompts: The Ultimatum For today’s prompt, have a character give or face an ultimatum. The nice thing about an ultimatum is that it automatically creates tension for multiple characters (and the entire story as a result). […]
Karen Hamilton: On Cause and Effect
Karen Hamilton spent her childhood in Angola, Zimbabwe, Belgium, and Italy, and worked as a flight attendant for many years. Karen is a graduate of the Faber Academy and, having now put down roots in Hampshire to raise her young family with her husband, she satisfies her wanderlust by exploring the world through her writing. She is also the author of international bestseller The Perfect Girlfriend and The Last Wife. Karen Hamilton In this post, Karen discusses the “then and now” format of her new domestic thriller, The Ex-Husband, what she hopes readers get out of the experience, and more! […]
4 Truths About Dealing With Grief All Writers Should Know
Writers, as those of you reading this know well, are artists. We have the ability to put into words what others feel but cannot convey—whether it is love, anger, envy, or, as it so happens, the heavy weight of grief and despair. According to existential theorists like Irvin Yalom, death is one of the “givens of existence” for human beings, and how we approach this “given” has a profound impact on the way we find meaning and lead our lives. (5 Ideas for Writing Effective Grief in Fiction.) As writers, we have a powerful responsibility in the words we serve […]
94 Your Story Writing Prompts
For as long as I can remember, one of our guiding principles on the Writer’s Digest team has been that we’re writers helping other writers. As such, we love features that allow us to interact with other writers in their element. That’s what inspired one of our most popular features: Your Story. The idea behind Your Story is simple. We provide a prompt; several writers write a short story based off the prompt; and then, a winner is chosen (and published in Writer’s Digest magazine) from among the entries. (100 Creative Writing Prompts for Writers.) “I’m guessing the first one […]
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Dismissing Other Genres
Everyone makes mistakes—even writers—but that’s OK because each mistake is a great learning opportunity. The Writer’s Digest team has witnessed many mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them early in the process. Note: The mistakes in this series aren’t focused on grammar rules, though we offer help in that area as well. (Grammar rules for writers.) Rather, we’re looking at bigger picture mistakes and mishaps, including the error of using too much exposition, neglecting research, or researching too much. This week’s writing mistake writers make is dismissing other genres. Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Dismissing […]
Plot Twist Story Prompts: The Message
Plot twist story prompts aren’t meant for the beginning or the end of stories. Rather, they’re for forcing big and small turns in the anticipated trajectory of a story. This is to make it more interesting for the readers and writers alike. Each week, I’ll provide a new prompt to help twist your story. Find last week’s prompt, The Ultimatum, here. Plot Twist Story Prompts: The Message For today’s prompt, deliver a message that changes the course of your story. The message could be something ominous, like an approaching army or a death in the family. Or it could be […]
What Is Your Favorite Starting Word in Wordle?
I’ll be honest: I was a little hesitant to make a post about the latest online fad, because everyone else is doing it. There are so many posts on what Wordle is, the story behind its creation, whether to do easy mode or hard mode (and what those are), and mathematical formulas for figuring out each day’s word. But what I love the most about Wordle is its simplicity. (Play Wordle right now.) In case you’ve been resistant to the recent Wordle phenomenon, it’s a simple game: Every 24 hours, there is a new five-letter word provided and players are […]
Announcing the Get Published in 2022: Breaking In Resource Directory
We’re excited to announce the Get Published in 2022: Breaking In Resource Directory from Writer’s Digest magazine, which collects advice from 41 agents, 39 debut authors, and 27 small presses, to help writers make 2022 the year they get their book published. Let’s face it: Breaking into traditional book publishing can be tough work. After you write and revise the book, there’s finding an agent or an independent publisher. And all of that includes time spent researching instead of what you really want to be doing—writing. So, Writer’s Digest has done the work for you. The Get Published in 2022: […]
Writer’s Digest Presents: Beginnings (Podcast, Episode 1)
We’re excited to share our new monthly podcast: Writer’s Digest Presents! In this inaugural episode, the WD team (Amy Jones, Robert Lee Brewer, Moriah Richard, and Michael Woodson) introduce themselves and chat about beginnings of stories and projects. Then, Robert talks with mystery author and FundsForWriters editor C. Hope Clark about beginnings of projects, including her recent double book release of a new Craven County mystery series Murdered in Craven and Burned in Craven. Also, learn if Clark is a plotter or pantser. Quote: “You need to write religiously and not just here and there when you feel like it. […]