The Writer

Since 1887 The Writer has provided the motivation, writing techniques, expert tips and compelling author insights that turn good writing into great writing. We’ll help you become a better writer, find markets for your work, understand the business of writing, follow industry news and trends, reach your goals, and more!

The Writer

Prologue

No fear

Charlotte Brontë • Celebrate Charlotte Brontë’s birthday with a gift to a literary friend. Or yourself.

Flash Characterizations • Excerpted from his new book, The Art of Brevity, NaNoWriMo’s Grant Faulkner shows you how to push your characters to the hilt when you’re writing flash fiction.

Dog Tags • Read the grand-prize winner of our 500-Word Essay Contest.

In her own words • The grand prize winner of our 500-word essay contest, Michelle Y. Green, is a longtime author of historical fiction and biographies for kids. We asked her to reflect on what it was like to write her winning essay.

Broadening the Bookshelves • This month, we’re focusing on Jewish literature.

Getting to know Jewish literature

Talk to the Practitioner: Kathleen Alcalá

The Nightstand

TO THE FUTURE AND BEYOND • Fidelity to science, technology, and certainconventions will make your sci-fi stories fly.

CIRCLE OF POETS • Community, support, accountability, and high-quality work: These are some of the benefits of being in a good poetry group. Here’s how to go about finding the right group for you – or starting your own.

TRUE STORIES • Why dramatic technique is not enough to write great creative nonfiction: You need an unwavering blend of hard-won facts and the drive to find them.

ADVICE FROM THE FRONTLINES • Against everything from gig economics to ChatGPT, how do you make it in the 2023 world of freelance writing?

THE MONTH AHEAD

Postscript

Gigi • Will Know