As part of her series on fantasy writing, our author helpfully takes a look at the bewildering variety of subgenres.

After the economy did in his “secure” career in retail, this Michigan writer took a fresh look at writing.

Writing while lying down unlocked our writer’s creativity and playfulness—and made him more productive.

A weak setup and some overdone adverbs mar an otherwise engaging treatment of a grandmother’s confession.

In topics ranging from skyscrapers to Nazi war criminals, bestselling author Neal Bascomb grabs readers’ attention, regardless of his surprisingly varied topics.

Where to look for speaking opportunities, and how to pitch the show organizers.

Here are 20 ways to create more of the kind of congestion you want on the digital highway.

An Emmy Award-winning cameraman and director turned award-winning novelist offers wise thoughts on keeping a fresh eye for small details.

The real work of writing a novel, our novelist reminds you, “lies in your ability to embrace revision.” Here are five steps to doing so—and in the process improving the condition of your novel.

How one writer found that radical revision can sometimes bring the essence of a tale to life.

These questions will make sure you’ve accomplished an ironic, but vital, task—thwarting desire. Plus, a sidebar by veteran book editor Elizabeth Lyon titled “When are you finished? 9 steps to the final revision.”

If you need to compress your fiction, consider the information that is truly needed—or not needed.

Ever wonder what behavior will land you on an editor’s do-not-call list? Look no further.

A fiction writer and editor explains why a popular but worn-out line of advice won’t reel in readers.

Here are some tips on deciding whether a small book advance is worth it.

This top copywriter discusses four key factors to help you determine if you’re charging the right fees, even in a recession.

Break in by knowing your target publication and querying with ideas from your experience.

This month’s spotlight is on the literary journal Eclectica.

The implications of e-book lending, a festival that makes writers pen a play in a day, plus other literary notes, Stephanie Dickison’s bi-monthly column on the freelancing life, a question for our Ask The Writer column, and more.

Reviews of What There Is to Say We Have Said: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and William Maxwell, edited by Suzanne Marrs; Alphabetter Juice or, The Joy of Text by Roy Blount Jr.; and Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho.

This month, a list of history, hobby and literary publications. Plus, information on agents, writing conferences, contests and publishers, and helpful tips from editors at Rock & Gem and Fine Books & Collections.

No matter what type of writing you do, you must get out from behind your desk and do some reporting, says Tom Wolfe.