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When I'm writing, I usually have music on in the background. Sometimes it's classical. Sometimes it's pop. Sometimes it's a sad song like REM's "Everybody Hurts" and sometimes it's an upbeat song like OK GO's "Here We Go Again." Sometimes it's an energetic song like "Nitro" by The Offspring and, on occasion, it's something silly like the theme to "Growing Pains." I try to match the music to my writing mood. It seems to help the words flow. But the song that really gets me is ... Read more

The Writer's Digest staff knows a thing or two about horror, so we decided to embrace the Halloween spirit and dress up (it helped that there was a company-wide prize at stake). Here are a few photos of the "WD Skeleton Crew" and the spooky burial ground of cubicles. Enjoy! Read more

I've always thought that if I were to ever write a memoir, it'd be the most boring 80,000 words in the history of publishing (or at least a close second to this). My life has, thus far, been fun, entertaining and interesting to me, but how would that translate into an interesting story? Then I started reading the 5-Minute Memoir. Read more

November is known by most literati as National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short. How it works: Start writing a 50,000-word novel on November 1 and finish by midnight on November 30th. I've participated in the event twice. First, let me share these three important takeaways from my experience. Read more

So, it looks like over the weekend someone was tinkering with the WriterDigest.com system and accidently changed a setting to ban everyone. That's right, everyone. Heck, even I was banned—can you believe that, someone as awesome as me! Anyway, the setting has been restored and we're all back in business. Read more

It's unclear to me how to properly thank someone I never personally knew, but considering Steve Jobs changed the way I live, work and even dream, I feel I need to find a way. Apple's head honcho wasn't just a spark that pushed the envelope of technology; he completely changed the way I (we) consume media. He lead a group of innovative people and encouraged them to think big and ignore the term "impossible." That's something I find quite admirable. Read more

I really hate it when doom and gloomers say, "No one reads anymore." October is National Book Month and I'm asking everyone to pick up that book they've been "meaning to read" and read it. Or go to your local bookstore, roam around a section, pick a book with the most interesting cover, and read it. Or drop by your local library, ask the librarian for a suggestion and read it. Post what you are reading in the comments to help me show the world that there are still some readers out there, and we are a loud, rowdy bunch! Read more

Apparently, it's the complete opposite: Typewriters are alive. Maybe a little too alive. They are being dissected and reassembled to look like human heads and bodies. It's quite amazing. Check it out here. Read more

Fall has so much to offer writers. The leaves change to beautiful and inspiring colors. The sun sets earlier, making for a nice dinner backdrop. And our New Year's writing resolutions, that we've ignored since mid-January, have one more chance to blossom before the end of the year. It's time to get motivated and I'm going to help. Read more

Kurt Vonnegut could bend words like no one else and create satire that deconstructed complicated themes into relatable, entertaining stories. In other words: He made fun of us. All of us. And millions loved him for it. I am one of those millions. (You may remember I've mentioned this before.) Read more

Thanks to so many people for sharing their clever and fun (and often funny) pseudonyms with me. As promised, I randomly selected a commenter to receive a 1-year free subscription to Writer's Digest magazine. And the winner is ... Read more

There comes a time in every writers life where, if even for a split second, he thinks to himself, "Should I consider using a pseudonym like Max Powers or J.P. Awesome or Stephen Kingg (with two Gs)?" Most writers will ultimately stick with their given name, but others will take the leap. Should you take the leap? Read more

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the tragic attack on the World Trade Center Towers. Like most people, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing that day. I was just three weeks into my first post-college job as an associate editor for Plumbing & Mechanical magazine, whose office sat a mile or so from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. I'd only been to work for minutes when a close friend instant messaged me. Read more

As writers who receive piles of rejection letters, it only seems fair that, from time to time, we be given an opportunity to return the favor. There are many books I’d love to reject (here’s my #1 choice), if only for the satisfaction of releasing some pent up frustration and envy. Or, perhaps, just to be funny. Thanks to a few witty writers, we have some fake rejection letters that are pretty hilarious. (Plus, you’re chance to write a rejection.) Read more

I often get asked from readers if it's feasible for them to quit their day jobs and make writing their full-time career. The answer, of course, is: I have no clue! The reason I don't know is because everyone's situation, desires and goals are different. Some folks have a mindset for writing 70 hours a week and trying to sell. Others prefer to have the security of weekly paycheck. And some actually like to sleep from time to time. The best way for me to answer this is to point everyone to ... Read more

A close friend (and poet) named JanuaryFairy dropped me a note on Twitter this morning: "Come on, @BrianKlems .. this is right up your alley! Trending topic: #replacebooktitleswithbacon." And she's right! I love books. I love bacon. This is totally up my alley. So I jumped in a came up with a few. Read more

Most of us want to know: How do I woo an agent? We've all read the basic advice--make sure you format your query letter right, pick an agent that actually represents the genre you're pitching, send a barbershop quartet to the agent's office to sing Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up." The best way to learn how to land an agent is to listen to stories from writers who actually got agents. Here are a few good ones. Read more

Maybe I'm a nerd, but I love the editing process. I love recasting sentences to make them stronger, choosing specific words to make dialogue sing, correcting grammar until it's fit to print and drawing little squibblies all over the page (mainly because I like the way squibblies look). Honestly, I use editing marks so much that sometimes I get bored with the usual suspects and make up my own. Read more

I don't know about you, but I revise everything I write. Heck, sometimes it takes me five or six tries of rewriting for a 140-character tweet. It's taken me years of practice to fine-tune my revision process. Truth is, if I had help learning how to properly revise my work years ago, I'd be in even better shape today. That's why we've lined up an excellent webinar on "How to be a Ferocious Self-Editor" taught by the bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins. Get details here. Read more

We’ve all read a book that our friends have ranted and raved about, finished the final sentence of the final page and thought, “That was lame. My friends should get their heads … Read more

Talk about an inspirational story: Kathryn Stockett, author of the bestselling book (and now highly successful movie) The Help, received 60 rejection letters over 3 and a half years—and still didn't give up. Good thing she didn't. You have to read this great article by Stockett about her determination. Read more