GET STARTED
In the Know
By the editors of Writer's Digest
Here are some of the basics you'll need to know before putting pen to paper.

Read Like a Writer
By Linda Busby Parker
You (should) read a lot. Use that time wisely. A careful reader can easily pick up trade secrets from writers they love.

Kids Teach the Darndest Things
By I.J. Schecter
A fun—and surprisingly informative—essay on learning about writing from toddlers.

A Guiding Hand
Edited by Kara Gebhart Uhl
Famous authors talk about the people who inspired them to become the writers they are today.

GET INFORMED
Your Biggest Writing Questions Answered
By Brian A. Klems
Answers to readers' writing-related questions.

In Jen's Shoes
By Maria Schneider
Blockbuster author Jennifer Weiner keeps readers close—and sales soaring—with a combination of honesty and humor.

The Tao of Po
By Maria Schneider
Po Bronson captures readers' attention by posing provocative questions—then really listening.

Famous Writers Confess!
Edited by Kara Gebhart Uhl
Even successful writers have made mistakes. Here's how they face themselves in the morning.

GET WRITING
12 Random (But Useful) Thoughts About Dialogue
By Michael Levin
A veteran writing coach offers clever tips for keeping your characters' conversations lively.

Cut to the Chase
By David A. Fryxell
Make your prose powerful and succinct.

Branching Out
By LeAnn Keenan
When all else fails—or even if it doesn't—try this unique approach to fleshing out your fictional characters: Create their family trees.

Getting the Joke
By Jeffrey Cohen
Fiction, nonfiction, genre novels on any topic—a few touches of humor can go a long way toward connecting with readers.

The Intruder
By Kristen Johnson Ingram
Remember that once you're in a character's viewpoint, you stay there until the end of the scene. Here's how to handle viewpoint seamlessly in your fiction.

Killer Personalities
By Charles Atkins
A psychiatrist and published novelist breaks down four psychological profiles worth mining when creating your next villain.

GET OUT THERE
Bringing Life Stories to Life
By James McGrath Morris
Here's how to make your biography subjects come alive through their actions.

From Zero to Hero
By Dawn Wilson
What do you do when your own protagonist starts getting on your nerves? Step back, regroup and make him likable again. Here's how.

What's My Line?
By Michael J. Vaughn
How to choose the right occupations for your fictional characters.

More Bang for Your Buck
By Kim Campbell
Here's a breakdown of what's worth investing in when it comes to your writing career.

Are You Ever Really Going to Finish That Novel?
By Kevin Alexander
We'll see—find out if you've got what it takes to reach The End.

An Eye for the Exact
By Jack Clemens
Michael Chabon employs precise details to reveal important truths in his fiction.