For 100 years, writers have turned to Writer’s Digest magazine, online education, and live events for friendly, encouraging and authoritative insights about how to write better and get published. Bookmark this site, follow us @WritersDigest, and be sure to sign up for our events e-newsletter for updates on the latest #WDC20 speakers and sessions added to the program, delivered to your inbox! Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and an example poem to get things started on the Poetic Asides blog. This week, write an At Blank poem. You won’t find a series of Zoom calls or pre-recorded webinars here. This week, writers get to release monsters in whatever forms they may take. There’s no replacing an in-person event, but this is the next best thing. If you must cancel for any reason, please notify us via email at writersdigestconference@aimmedia.com by July 31, 2020. Poetic Form Fridays are made to share various poetic forms. Using fictional and human examples, Dustin Grinnell takes a deep dive into how and why evil develops in story and in real life and how you can apply these concepts when writing villains. Bestselling romance and women's fiction novelist Robin Wells shares why her latest novel (She Gets That From Me) took longer than normal to complete, how her editor surprised her, what we all deep-down yearn for, and more! Learn when you're writing or reading a homonym vs. homophone vs. homograph with Grammar Rules from the Writer's Digest editors, including a few examples of each. Author Heidi McCrary digs into when a memoir is a novel (or at least, when it should be a novel) and examines the thin line between fabricated fact and real fiction by looking at her own novel, Chasing North Star. This week, we look at the Italian octave, also known as the first eight lines of Petrarchan sonnet. Poetic Form Fridays are made to share various poetic forms. Here are seven ways he lived up to those aspirations. November 5-7, 2020 The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference is going virtual but it will still offer everything you need to advance your writing career creatively and professionally all from the comfort and safety of … This week, we look at the Sicilian octave, which is similar to last week's Italian octave. Kurt Vonnegut once said he wanted his novels to "catch people before they become generals and Senators and Presidents," to "poison their minds with humanity. Pre-Conference Workshop (11/5) – The Compass of Character, Pre-Conference Workshop (11/5) – Personal Essay Essentials. On-Demand access to Conference session (some sessions may not be recorded), Invitation to the attendee-only Facebook group, Pitch Perfect Prep session, this will happen as a webinar with Q&A per-conference, 60-Minute Pitch Slam slot, Saturday, November 7, Entry in 2020 Query Letter Directory (post-conference), Query Letter Webinar: Query Better Basics for Books (post-conference), If you must cancel for any reason, please notify us via email at, Writer's Digest, a division of Active Interest Media, Pre-Conference (11/5) – The Compass of Character, Pre-Conference (11/5) – Personal Essay Essentials, All sessions starting at 10:15 AM on Friday, November 6th, All sessions starting at 10:00 AM (EST) on Friday, November 6th through Saturday, November 7 for both the, On-Demand access to conference sessions (some sessions may not be recorded), Thursday, November 5 starting at 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. While you maintain your physical distance, you’ll learn from and engage with presenters in real-time, connect with peers in lounge areas and network with brands in the virtual expo hall. About The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference is brought to you by Writer’s Digest—publishers of the most-trusted instruction and resources for writers in the industry. In honor of WD's 100th-anniversary year, this week's writing prompt will be a blast from the past. This WD article from 1993 offers an in-depth look at how a writer's voice makes or breaks their work and provides some tips that will help writers of all genres. This week, have something unexpected and uncontrollable happen. Learn more about Writer's Digest's two big events, the Annual Conference and the Novel Writing Conference. Cancellations after September 1 will not be refunded. In this post, he shares some of his cartoons along with tips for conference goers. Your registration fee will be refunded at 100% until that date. Encourage them to make a better world." See the complete 2020 list here. Emily Gray Tedrowe shares how a perspective shift improved her latest novel (The Talented Miss Farwell), what she hopes is not a one-time thing, and more! Each year, Writer's Digest compiles the 101 Best Websites for Writers. Author, screenwriter, and lyricist Leticia Sala shares her best advice for fellow writers, what happened on the night of her engagement in Rome (besides getting engaged), her feelings on healthy love, and more! © 2020 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. In this article, author Sariah Wilson explains the key elements that make a romantic comedy a hit. Novelist and screenwriter Karol Hoeffner shares what inspired her latest novel (Knee Deep), what surprised her the most in writing it, her best piece of advice for other writers who may be feeling writer's block during the pandemic, and more! Cancellations starting August 1 will be refunded less a $100 processing fee. New literary agent alerts (with this spotlight featuring Aria Gmitter of the Whimsy Literary Agency) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list. Writer's Digest is the No.1 Resource for Writers, Celebrating the Writing Life and What it Means to be a Writer in Today's Publishing Environment. Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and an example poem to get things started on the Poetic Asides blog. SAVE YOUR PLACE AT THE 2020 VIRTUAL WRITER'S DIGEST ANNUAL CONFERENCE! Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. Writer's Digest, a division of Active Interest Media. Author Tim Waggoner explains how to avoid clichés and create an inventive horror plot in this excerpt from his book Writing in the Dark. Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. In 2020, both have gone virtual and will be held November 5-7 with the unprecedented opportunity for writers to get an All Access pass to both. Cartoonist Bob Eckstein Returns to the 2019 Annual Writer's Digest Conference. Dubbed the "Godfather behind creative nonfiction" by Vanity Fair Magazine, Lee Gutkind shares his first experience with memoir, what makes it different than his previous books, what writers can't take back, and more! Gain invaluable tips to improve your craft, explore publishing options and learn how to establish a sustainable career—all while being inspired by successful authors and your fellow attendees. This week, write an autumn poem. Award-winning and bestselling novelist Clare Mackintosh shares why it took three novels to write her most recent (After the End), what she learned about writing thrillers, and more! And it’s all brought to you by Writer’s Digest, the experts at nurturing and developing writers at every stage of their career for 100 years. In this article from 1989, author Orson Scott Card shares his understanding of the four factors that are present in every story and how they determine the kind of story the writer is attempting to tell. Read our statement about COVID-19 here. Debut novelist Jane Igharo shares her experience writing and publishing Ties That Tether, why some immigrants forbid their children to marry outside their ethnicity, and more! REGISTRATION OPTIONS Now - November 5 Basic Conference (11/6-11/7) $349 All Access YA author Hanna C. Howard shares why she feels fiction is a bit like Brussels sprouts, especially when sautéed with olive oil, salt, and pepper: good for your health and soul. Cartoonist Bob Eckstein will be covering the 2019 Annual Writer's Digest Conference with his art and tweets on Twitter and in a post-conference post for LitHub.com. The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference is going virtual but it will still offer everything you need to advance your writing career creatively and professionally all from the comfort and safety of your own home.