Publications / 323 posts found
Michael P. Branch: On the Importance of Surprising Yourself
Michael P. Branch is a professor of literature and environment at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he teaches creative nonfiction, American literature, environmental studies, and film studies. An award-winning writer and humorist, Michael is the author of How to Cuss in Western and lives with his wife and two daughters in the western Great Basin Desert, on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Range. Find him on Facebook and Instagram. Michael P. Branch Photo by Kyle Weerheim In this post, Michael discusses the hybrid genres that are at play in his new nonfiction book, On the Trail of […]
SXSW Film Festival and Female Screenwriters and Directors (From Script)
In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, Script’s editor attends the SXSW Film Festival in person; learn about screenwriting trailblazer Hope Loring whose film Wings won the first Academy Award; learn about different perspectives, tools, to keep your writing moving forward. Plus, exclusive interviews with “Minx” TV writer and creator Ellen Rapoport and Alice writer-director Krystin Ver Linden. SXSW Film Festival 2022 – Storytelling and Networking Meets Big Tech To Leslie Photo courtesy BCDF Pictures. A brief recap on the first two days at the SXSW Film Festival – live and in person! Click to continue. […]
WD Presents: A New Podcast Episode, a Chance at Publication, and More!
There’s always so much happening in the Writer’s Digest universe that even staff members have trouble keeping up. As a result, we decided to start collecting what’s on the horizon to make it easier for everyone to know what’s happening and when. This week, we’re excited to announce the third episode of our podcast, a chance to be published, and more! **** Listen to “Writer’s Digest Presents: Debut Authors” Now! In this third episode of the Writer’s Digest Presents podcast, Amy, Robert, Moriah, and Michael discuss debut authors, including whether hunt down debut authors specifically, how they discover new voices, […]
8 Tips To Make an Unlikable Character Likable
Characters that readers root for are the backbone of every story. Striking a balance between likable and unlikable is essential, and the best characters are multi-layered. We humans are complex beings, so adding layers of complexity is vital to get the best out of your characters and make them intriguing for readers. (For Better or Worse: Writing About Influence in Fiction) When writing or when creating the background of your characters, ask yourself, “What drives them? Why do they act the way they do? What’s their ultimate goal?” Look at their positive character traits, but also their faults too. The […]
3 Tips on How to Spark Romance in a Character Who Is Content With Being Single
In the 1998 Nora Ephron romantic comedy classic You’ve Got Mail, Joe Fox (played by Tom Hanks in the heyday of a cinematic era I like to call “this is Tom Hanks’s world and we’re just living in it”) is in the throes of a big-box retailer vs. independent bookseller battle with Meg Ryan’s Kathleen Kelly when his words are taken wildly out of context on the local news. “I sell cheap books. I do. So sue me.” Despite Joe’s insistence that the rest of his comments were “eloquent” and if reported in full would have reflected positively on his […]
Amanda Elliot: On Food and Romance in Fiction
Amanda Elliot is the author of several young adult and middle grade books as Amanda Panitch. Sadie On A Plate is her first adult novel. She lives in New York City, where she owns way too many cookbooks for her tiny kitchen. Learn more online at amandapanitch.com, and find her on Twitter and Instagram. Amanda Elliot Photo by Cassie Gonzales, 2021 In this post, Amanda discusses how a reality show competition and a desire for more culinary diversity led her to writing her new romantic comedy, Sadie On A Plate, and more! Name: Amanda ElliotLiterary agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers HouseBook […]
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Letting Others Shame Your Genre
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 trying to write for everyone. This week’s writing mistake writers make is letting other people shame your genre. […]
Writing Real Relationships: 4 Strategies Starting With What You Know
Sure, your characters exist next to each other on the page, but crafting relationships that feel real can be a different story. But the goal is to focus on your story, so what’s a writer to do? (Bring Your Secret Skillsets to the Page) As with so much in storytelling, you already have the depths inside you to write relationships well. Have you had a family? Friends? Neighbors? Those you didn’t understand or didn’t get along with? Those who you admired? Excellent. You’re officially ready to capture authenticity, no matter whether you’re writing fact or fiction. The bonds that tie […]
Wordy 30: Poetic Games
I’m going to be honest; I’m between poetic forms at the moment, and I’m getting ready for this year’s April Poem-A-Day Challenge. But I want to try playing a little poetic game this week. You see, I’ve been playing Wordle the past couple months, trying to guess a five-letter word in 6 guesses (or 30 letters). So I thought it might be fun to try writing a poem in 30 letters. Here’s how it would work: Write a poem using exactly 30 letters Each line should have the same number of letters Each line should use one word As such, […]
Diana Abu-Jaber: On Unearthing Family History
Raised between Syracuse, N.Y. and Amman, Jordan, Diana Abu-Jaber often writes about cultural identity. Her latest work, Fencing With The King, a novel of Middle Eastern intrigue and adventure, will be published in March 2022 from W.W. Norton. Her most recent novel, Silverworld, a fantasy with an Arab-American girl at its heart, was published last spring from Crown Books / Random House. Her award-winning novels include Silverworld; Birds of Paradise; Origin; Crescent; and Arabian Jazz. Her memoir, Life Without A Recipe, was described by Ruth Reichl as “bold and luscious.” The Language of Baklava, her first memoir has been translated […]