Episodes

  • Evoking Emotion and Conflict In Your Writing

    Evoking Emotion and Conflict In Your Writing
    May 21 2024
    When you think of "emotion" with regards to your writing, what comes to mind? Is it your own emotion when you're writing, the emotional quality of the work itself, or is it the emotion you hope readers feel as they read? In this episode of "Writer's Digest Presents," content editor Michael Woodson leads a roundtable with editor-in-chief Amy Jones, managing editor Moriah Richard, and senior editor Robert Lee Brewer about emotion and conflict in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—plus stick around for book recommendations at the end of the episode!
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    57 mins
  • Writing Speculative Fiction: A Chat With Waubgeshig Rice

    Writing Speculative Fiction: A Chat With Waubgeshig Rice
    Apr 16 2024
    In Waubgeshig Rice's series of novels Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves, the author sets up a world in the midst of the apocalypse and more than a decade after the end. But readers are left with the lingering question: What exactly happened? Editor-in-chief Amy Jones and content editor Michael Woodson sit down for a chat with the author about his journey with these stories, the speculative quality of unanswered questions, and more.
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    41 mins
  • 5 Books In 2 Years: Catching Up With Mazey Eddings

    5 Books In 2 Years: Catching Up With Mazey Eddings
    Mar 19 2024
    In March 2022, managing editor Moriah Richard held a roundtable with three debut authors in our debut authors episode—one of those authors was Mazey Eddings. Now, Eddings is set to publish Late Bloomer, her fifth book in two years; an impressive feat for any author! Here, editor-in-chief Amy Jones and managing editor Moriah Richard catch up with Eddings two years into her publishing career to discuss how her writing has changed, how her perspective on publishing has changed, and her advice for other authors!
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    34 mins
  • How to Adapt a Novel Into a Screenplay

    How to Adapt a Novel Into a Screenplay
    Feb 20 2024
    More than half of what we see in the theaters or watch on TV are adapted from books, graphic novels, video games, and more. Which begs the question: What makes an adaptation good? Is it being 100% faithful to the source material? Is it making necessary updates to literary classics? Is it including the author in the adapting process? In this episode, WD's editor-in-chief Amy Jones and content editor Michael Woodson sit down for a chat with Script magazine's editor-in-chief Sadie Dean about what makes a good adaptation, what makes a bad one, and the times when the adaptation was better than the book.
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    59 mins
  • Writing Advice For 2024

    Writing Advice For 2024
    Jan 16 2024
    New year, new goals! With the start of the new year, people across the world have stated new resolutions and goals for themselves. Writers are no different, and often we set lofty goals at the start of the year in the hopes that they come to fruition by the end of the year. We want to help you on the right track by looking back at some of the best writing advice we received from authors, editors, and publishing experts last year.
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    23 mins
  • How to Write a Dramedy (with Byron Lane)

    How to Write a Dramedy (with Byron Lane)
    Nov 21 2023
    How to write a dramedy is more than simply mixing jokes with the tear-jerking moments. Combining comedy and drama is a tight-rope act that, if done wrong, can lead to tonal disparity within your story. But done right and you'll have your readers going from crying to laughing (and crying laughing) page after page. Editor-in-chief Amy Jones and content editor Michael Woodson sit down with bestselling author Byron Lane (A Star Is Bored, Big Gay Wedding) to chat all about how to write a dramedy.
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    49 mins
  • How to Self-Edit Your Novel (with Tiffany Yates Martin)

    How to Self-Edit Your Novel (with Tiffany Yates Martin)
    Oct 17 2023
    Do you know how to self-edit your novel? If your answer is "no," you're not alone. While creative writers know a thing or two about building worlds and imagination, self-editing our work—and editing in general—is an art form we don't spend enough time understanding. In this episode of "Writer's Digest Presents," content editor Michael Woodson sits down with professional editor, author, and instructor Tiffany Yates Martin to discuss self-editing, how to self-editing your novel, when to seek outside advice, and more.
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    32 mins
  • Combining Genres to Keep Readers Guessing

    Combining Genres to Keep Readers Guessing
    Sep 19 2023
    Writers: curious about how to combine genres? Want to know what it's like to incorporate elements of mystery, science fiction, espionage, and romance? Look no further than the curious mind of author Rob Hart. In this interview with Writer's Digest, editor-in-chief Amy Jones and content editor Michael Woodson sit down with Rob to discuss his newest novel, The Paradox Hotel, why combining genres means you get to break all the rules, and more.
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    38 mins