Resources
From Category: Advice for Writers
Write More Than One Book—Your Current Draft Will Thank You
Managing Editor's blog: Refocus your manuscript by saving some material for other projects
Marketing Basics on a Budget: An Interview with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of The Frugal Book Promoter
Managing Editor's blog: Indie authors often assume that marketing will cost an arm and a leg. Or they're embarrassed to promote themselves at all. Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of The Frugal Book Promoter, shares advice for bold and effective marketing on a budget.
The Autism Parent Memoir I’d Love to Read
Managing Editor's blog: Best practices for writing about your neurodivergent child
Book Covers, Marketing, and Authenticity: An Interview with Laura Duffy of Laura Duffy Design
A handsome book cover that's right for your genre can increase sales by a factor of two or more. But does working with a professional designer have to feel like a trust fall? Designer Laura Duffy doesn't think so.
Finding the best awards for your book: An interview with Book Award Pro founder Hannah Jacobson
Managing Editor's blog: Finding the best award opportunities for your manuscript, indie published, or traditionally published book
Daniel Lavery’s “The Only Advice I’ll Ever Have for Writers”
Wise words from an acclaimed humorist about author bios, blurbs, readings, and festival gigs | Visit source
Explore Your Premise
Managing Editor's blog: Keeping your book focused on its main idea
Is Your First-Person Narrator Hurting Your Story?
Managing Editor's blog: 10 traps to watch out for in first-person narration, and resources that can help
Fixing the One-Dimensional Protagonist
Managing Editor's Blog: 10 reasons your main character may be too bland, and how to fix that
An Interview with Mina Manchester, Judge of the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Winning Writers managing editor Annie Mydla speaks with Mina Manchester about what it's like to judge the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
What makes a winning humor poem? An interview with Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest judge Lauren Singer
Managing editor Annie Mydla asks Wergle Flomp judge Lauren Singer about the poems that make her laugh
Classism in Literature
Managing Editor's Blog: How to get better at writing about social class
Industry Interview: Talking Book Structure with Jendi Reiter, Editor of Winning Writers and Author of Origin Story
In this video, Winning Writers managing editor Annie Mydla discusses book structure with Jendi Reiter, editor of Winning Writers, North Street Book Prize judge, and author of the upcoming Origin Story | Visit source
Industry Interview: Talking Book Cover Design with Laura Duffy of Laura Duffy Design
In this industry interview, Winning Writers managing editor Annie Mydla speaks with book cover designer, former Random House art director, and North Street Book Prize co-sponsor Laura Duffy about designing covers for indie authors | Visit source
Exploitation Versus Representation
Managing Editor's Blog: How to identify and fix exploitative depictions in your writing
Older Writers and Finding Success
Managing Editor's Blog: What to say when older writers ask me, "Am I wasting my time?"
The Most Common Formatting Mistakes When Submitting to a Literary Journal
How to avoid errors that offend editors | Visit source
Find Editors Who Like You
Poet and journalist Noah Berlatsky suggests prioritizing relationships over prestige | Visit source
The Essay as Experiment
Memoirist Christine Imperial shares the benefits of "disarrangement" and uncertainty in essay-writing | Visit source
How to Do a Killer Reading from Your Work
Author and teacher Lev Raphael gives tips for a professional performance | Visit source
Turkey City Lexicon
Witty and informative list of bad prose habits, geared for sci-fi writers but useful for all | Visit source
False Witnesses: On Writing About War
Essayist and veteran Phil Klay examines the moral complexities of war poetry | Visit source
Mythcreants
Fantasy and sci-fi storytelling advice blog | Visit source
To Everyone Who Wants Me to Read Their Writing and Tell Them What to Do
Publishing professional Jane Friedman on the benefits and limits of feedback | Visit source
On Building a Poetry Manuscript for Publication
Structural advice from poet and editor Sean Cho A. | Visit source
On Writing Fat Characters
Fiction writer Christopher Gonzalez on respectful and nuanced portrayals of body diversity | Visit source
On (Not) Tracking Movement
Fiction writer and teacher Mike Goodwin advises eliminating mundane action from your narrative | Visit source
How to Write Your First Comic Book
Genre basics from Jude Ellison S. Doyle, author of the horror comic MAW | Visit source
Alliance of Independent Authors: Ultimate Guide to Winning Book Awards
Detailed advice for indie authors, featuring WW editor Annie Mydla | Visit source
Modern Manuscript Format Guide
Sci-fi author William Shunn demonstrates the elements of a professional-looking manuscript | Visit source
The Volta in Flash Fiction
Flash fiction craft advice from The Masters Review editor Cole Meyer | Visit source
What Is Creative Nonfiction?
Craft essays on the genre, from the magazine Creative Nonfiction | Visit source
Techno-Orientalism in Science Fiction
Fantasy novelist Chloe Gong suggests ways to avoid anti-Asian tropes in cyberpunk and dystopian fiction | Visit source
Making Manuscripts: An Irregularly Braided Conversation
Poets Lisa Gluskin Stonestreet and Annie Kim discuss methods for ordering poems in a manuscript | Visit source
Canceling My Book Deal Was the Best Career Move I’ve Ever Made
Memoirist Lilly Dancyger advises authors to wait for a press with resources to promote their books | Visit source
Writer’s Digest Tips on Writing a Standout Self-Published Book
Winning advice from Writer's Digest self-published book contest judge AJ Wells | Visit source
Austin Kleon’s Writing Newsletter
Bestselling author of "Steal Like an Artist" sends out weekly lists of 10 worthwhile reads | Visit source
The Maven Game
Editor David Moldawer's weekly essays on the craft and business of writing | Visit source
Dead Darlings
Novel-writing advice blog by alumni of GrubStreet Boston's Novel Incubator | Visit source
The ADD Writer
Author and writing teacher Michael Jackman shares tips for writing productively with attention deficit disorder | Visit source
Craft Capsule: The End
Poet Cameron Awkward-Rich on how to tell when a poem is done | Visit source
How to Write a Memoir
Journalist and nonfiction writer William Zinsser's advice on memoir structure and audience | Visit source
Character Naming Tips and Resources at the Kindlepreneur
Digital marketing blogger gives advice and resources for naming characters in different genres | Visit source
The Over-manipulation Problem
Novelist and editor May Peterson cautions against excessive revisions | Visit source
Moves in Contemporary Poetry
Craft essay in the journal HTMLgiant catalogues some popular techniques in 21st-century poetry | Visit source
6 Tips for Successful Poetry Readings
Award-winning poet John Sibley Williams shares performance advice | Visit source
Literary Citizenship
Creative writing teacher Cathy Day's principles for contributing to a stronger literary community | Visit source
The Writer Magazine: Essays About Writing
Archive of articles with inspirational tips for writers | Visit source
10 Tips for Creating Your First Children’s Picture Book
Advice from a publishing professional on picture book layout and storytelling | Visit source
The Fries Test: On Disability Representation in Our Culture
Poet and editor Kenny Fries evaluates disability representation in literature | Visit source
