WRITER’S DIGEST

P.O. Box 42534, Cincinnati, OH 45242
Email: writers.digest [@] aimmedia [.] com
Website: www.writersdigest.com

Our Mission

Writer’s Digest, the No. 1 magazine for writers, celebrates the writing life and what it means to be a writer in today’s publishing environment. Through the voices of bestselling authors, buzz-worthy newcomers, and seasoned editors, we offer everything writers need to stay inspired, to improve their craft, to understand the unique challenges of publishing today, and to get their work noticed. Our pages are filled with advice and real-life experiences that go beyond the ordinary and delve deeply into what’s important to writers today. Whether they write fiction or nonfiction, poetry or essays, articles or scripts, our readers will walk away from every issue inspired and ready to write, satisfied in the knowledge that we get it, that we all share this passion for writing, and we’re all part of a grand literary tradition. And that’s worth celebrating.

General Focus

Founded in 1920, such classic literary icons as Joan Didion, Ray Bradbury, Jack Kerouac, Truman Capote, H.G. Wells, Margaret Atwood, Maya Angelou, and more have shared their thoughts on different aspects of the writing life through the pages of Writer’s Digest. We’re an instructive magazine that seeks to keep readers abreast of industry trends, of the latest writers who found success and what they did to achieve it, and of innovative ways to improve and empower the inner raconteur of our readers.

Our style is confident and authoritative, yet conversational. Our voice is that of an insider—your trusted friend in the business. Keeping informed on industry trends is essential to our readers’ success, so it’s essential for our editorial to address timely issues in publishing, and look forward to the future of writing in its myriad forms. Our goal is to provide readers with the inspiration, how-to instruction, and culturally relevant information they need to fulfill their writing goals and be a part of the larger community of writers.

Our Readership

Writer’s Digest is published six times per year, and has a paid circulation of 40,000 subscribers, while WritersDigest.com has 20 million pageviews/year. Our readers include people of all ages and varying levels of writing skill and success. We have a worldwide readership, but the majority of our readers live in the U.S. and Canada.

To obtain sample issues of Writer’s Digest, you can purchase copies via the newsstand or www.writersdigestshop.com. An index of each year’s contents is available at www.writersdigest.com.

How to Submit to Writer’s Digest Magazine

We consider completed manuscripts on spec, as well as original pitches. A query should include a thorough outline that introduces your article proposal and highlights each of the points you intend to make. Your query should discuss how the article will benefit our readers, why the topic is timely and why you’re the appropriate writer to discuss the topic.

Although we welcome the work of new writers, we believe the established writer can better instruct our reader. Please include your publishing credentials related to your topic with your submission, along with a brief bio.

Please submit pitches to the print magazine using one of the pitch forms on the editorial calendar. If your pitch doesn’t fit the issue themes, please submit your pitch using this general submission form (updated for 2026). Details for pitching WritersDigest.com are below. If you have clips available online, please include links. Accepted freelance articles must be submitted in electronic form, in text-only or Microsoft Word. We expect writers to thoroughly check all facts in their stories and to submit documentation to support the information included in their stories.

Because we receive hundreds of queries a month, please allow 2–4 months for a response. If you have a question about our submission guidelines, please email writers.digest [@] aimmedia [.] com.

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

• We don’t accept or respond to queries via snail mail, phone, or fax.
• We don’t accept pitches or articles generated by AI.
• We don’t buy newspaper clippings.
• We don’t buy reprints of articles previously published in other writing magazines or writing books.
• WD Interviews (our signature cover Q&A series) are almost always written in house. If you’d like to pitch an interview with a well-known author, we request that you get approval from the subject prior to your pitch.
• In today’s media environment, an article doesn’t just appear in print, but can become an interview on our podcast, a YouTube video, an extended blog post or a prompt for Facebook discussion. While it’s not required, writers who can cite supplemental ways in which their article might take shape in digital form will be given special consideration.

See our current editorial calendar here.

How to Submit to WritersDigest.com

Contributed articles and guest posts for online publication may be submitted to Senior Editor Robert Lee Brewer at rbrewer [@] aimmedia [.] com for review. Please include a brief summary of your proposed article or guest post, or attach a Word document containing a completed article, along with a headshot, bio, and any applicable book cover images. He will respond in a timely manner if the piece is a fit for the website.

Payment and General Terms

For manuscripts, we pay 50 cents per word, on acceptance, for first world rights for one-time print use and perpetual electronic use. Should we want to reprint anything we’ve purchased from you in anything other than electronic format, we’ll pay you 25% of the original purchase price per use. Contributor copies are sent to writers and artists whose work appears in that issue.

We do not offer payment for unsolicited online articles and guest posts, except in rare cases when the content is highly focused or unique. In such cases, writers may be paid $50-$100 depending on the depth and length of the work. If payment is not offered, we may agree to include links to the author’s website, social media accounts, and book outlets.

What to Pitch 

Below are the spaces to pitch for the print magazine.

Inkwell
This upfront section of the magazine is the best place for new writers to break in. Each Inkwell features an 1,600–word lead story that kicks off the magazine. The article ranges in style and tone every issue, but often takes the form of an opinion-based or human interest piece, weaving a narrative and drawing out tips for readers. It can be a great place to discuss theoretical or timely concepts. Inkwell also features shorter articles of 1,200 words (trends, humor, insight on news that will still be relevant when our next issue hits stores, weird and intriguing tidbits about the writing world). Please note that all product and book reviews are handled in house—as are columns like Breaking In, Poetic Asides, and Worth a Thousand Words. 

Author Profiles
These are profiles of prominent, specialized, or lesser-known authors that are placed in Inkwell, and can include both debut and veteran writers. They generally run at 800–1,200 words and must have a strong, unique angle of interest to writers. Please don’t pitch profiles on authors who’ve been recently featured in our magazine or other writing magazines.

Writing Technique Articles
These features highlight a writing method and detail how to use it successfully. Examples include how to write an effective lede, how to use dialogue to establish character, how to write a modern-day romance heroine, etc. They typically run between 1,200–2,500 words and may appear as a feature, in a column, or in Inkwell.

Articles may cover fiction, nonfiction, freelance, poetry, or scriptwriting techniques. Writers must have published successfully in the area they’re writing about. Every piece will need to:

• Define the technique and its importance.
• Break the technique down into distinct parts and deal with each part individually. When appropriate, use step-by-step explanation.
• Give relevant examples of its usage. Using examples is a vital part of technique articles. Illustrate points with examples—either from your own writing or from well-known works (preferably both). Avoid relying on movie plots for examples.
• Special consideration is given to technique articles that can be tied to the theme of the issue.

For All Ages

A 1,200-word, guest-written column about the craft of writing and the business of publishing for children, middle grade, and young adult readers (though we argue those books can and should be enjoyed by adults as well). Topics should be specific and written by those with experience in that area. Examples include: rhyming or page turns in picture books, advice for setting up school visits to connect with readers, using accurate and contemporary language and references for YA, etc.  

On Nonfiction

A 1,200-word, guest-written column that focuses on all-things nonfiction. From instructional articles featuring tips for writing specific types of nonfiction (personal essays, memoirs, instructional or prescriptive nonfiction, history, etc.) to business considerations unique to nonfiction writers. 

Market Reports
These are market reports highlighting publishing trends in a particular market. Genre reports detail what’s changing or hot in a particular segment of the industry: fantasy, mystery or romance, for example.

There are several essential elements in market reports. Anecdotes, specific examples and quotes are important here, too. Interview and quote relevant sources. Describe the market including its target readership. Explain how to find ideas for the market. Point out how writers can generate salable ideas and provide tips on matching ideas to publications.

Also detail how to write for the market and describe the process of turning ideas into salable stories. What are the special requirements of writing for this market? Point out common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Other Features
Please see our editorial calendar for upcoming topics. Query only if you feel you are the best person to write on each topic, and be sure to explain why.

The post Submission Guidelines appeared first on Writer's Digest.

The 5-Minute Memoir is a column favorited by both WD editors and readers alike. At just 600 words, this front-of-the-book piece recounts the personal experience of a new writer each issue and offers a short but meaningful dose of writing inspiration.

Unlike other WD columns and features that are usually written by seasoned writing instructors, bestselling authors, or our regular group of contributors, the 5-Minute Memoir is a column that editors look forward to featuring new voices in each issue and a great place to break in as a contributor to WD.

That said, it can be difficult to write a perfect 5-Minute Memoir that both encapsulates a moving personal story and imparts a lesson for fellow WD readers. Here are a few tips from editors that have read hundreds of 5-Minute Memoir submissions:

Don’t try to condense your life’s journey to writing into 600 words.

As with most personal essays, the 5-Minute Memoir works better when writers focus on one specific experience and how it affected them rather than trying to cram a much longer story into a few hundred words. Tell us about a specific experience you had related to writing or the writing life that you think other writers might be able to relate to or learn from.

For example, in some of my favorite 5-Minute Memoirs, Tawny Lara writes about how she quit drinking because it was taking time and money away from her writing, and her newfound sobriety made her a better writer. Will Dowd writes about his struggles writing after developing binocular vision disorder and how an AI voice created to sound just like his own made his writing experience enjoyable again

Write your essay about writing.

This should go without saying, but WD only publishes 5-Minute Memoirs about writing and the writing life. Sometimes we find beautifully written essays in our submissions inbox that have all the elements of a great personal essay, but they don’t tie back to writing so they aren’t a good fit for the 5-Minute Memoir column.

Some other quality submissions have been passed on because they had another main focus and tied back to writing as an afterthought or didn’t focus on writing enough. The best 5-Minute Memoirs will focus on the author’s life as a writer throughout the beginning, middle, and end.

Some 5-Minute Memoir submissions focus on the author’s relationship with the WD brand, which have been published on occasion for special anniversary issues—but this isn’t the best angle to write from. 5-Minute Memoir readers care about you and your writing journey or lessons learned—not how much you also love the same magazine they are reading. While it is fine to mention that you found a particular WD article or book helpful, it shouldn’t be the focus of your story

Submit on spec.

The best way to submit a 5-Minute Memoir is to submit a completed essay—no rough drafts, no pitches. The reason for this is that we select the 5-Minute Memoir for each issue by comparing a few of our favorites from the submission inbox side by side, ultimately deciding which one we like the most and will fit best in our issue.

For personal essays, it can be hard to tell what a final piece will read like based on a pitch alone, because much of what makes this genre of writing unique is the writer’s voice. While it can be time-consuming to write an entire piece without any guarantee that it will be picked up for publication, submitting on spec is still how we prefer to bring new writers into WD, both with our 5-Minute Memoir and beyond.

Find a unique opening.

This is true of anything you write. Your submission isn’t going to be the only one in the inbox, or the only thing readers can turn their attention to once it is published, which is why you want to grab readers from the start. Give them a reason to follow your story to the end.

The best openings drop readers in the middle of the action—this is a column of only 600 words, after all. It will benefit your piece not to start at the beginning. Instead, think about in what moment the stakes are highest.

In her 5-Minute Memoir about the time a tax-themed Star Trek parody video she wrote for her job at the IRS went viral, Barbara Neal Varma begins with: “William Shatner Appalled.” Not the moment her boss asked her to write a video script for a training conference, her writing sessions with her coworkers, or even her joy as she watched the video premiere at the conference. The 5-Minute Memoir begins with Varma’s shock as she reads headlines about her viral video and the not-so-nice commentaries from people who saw it—including the beloved Star Trek star. Only after piquing readers’ curiosity about how something she wrote garnered such controversy does Varma back up to explain how she landed the assignment, how the video was made, and what her life looked like after that moment.

Look to previously published 5-Minute Memoirs as your guide. 

The best way to see what makes a great 5-Minute Memoir is to read the magazine to see what we’ve published in the past. After reading just a few 5-Minute Memoirs, you’ll get a feel for the pacing needed to tell a story in such a short amount of space and the types of stories that caught our attention.

This 5-Minute Memoir column only runs in the print edition of WD and is rarely reprinted online, so in order to read it you’ll need to subscribe to WD, pick it up at your local library, or visit WritersDigestShop.com for back issues.

If you have a 5-Minute Memoir to submit to the editors of WD, submit your completed essay to wdsubmissions@aimmedia.com with the subject line “5-Minute Memoir.” Paste your submission in the body of the email, and include a short bio about yourself. Happy writing!

The post Writer’s Digest Columns: How to Write a Five-Minute Memoir appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Our upcoming May/June issue will feature our annual Best 101 Websites for Writers. As a result, we would love to know how the internet has impacted our readers. For instance, I no longer get to collect rejection letters from publishers; instead, they pile up in an inbox.

Our formal question: How has the internet changed the way you write and publish?

And if you grew up with the internet, then let us know how it’s enhanced the way you write and publish—because the internet is always changing. Share your answers with us in the comments below for a chance to be published in the May/June issue of Writer’s Digest.

Here are the guidelines:

• Provide an answer to the question “How has the internet changed the way you write and publish?” in the comments below.
• Answers can be funny, weird, poignant, thought-provoking, entertaining, etc.
• Remember to include your name as you would like it to appear in print.
• Deadline for commenting this time around is March 17, 2020.
• Only comments shared below will be considered for publication, though feel free to share your answers on social media with the following hashtags: #WDReaders and #HowTheInternetChangedWriting.

The post The Impact of the Internet: From Our Readers (Comment for a Chance at Publication) appeared first on Writer's Digest.

In 2020, Writer’s Digest is celebrating 100 years of publication. As a result, we’re putting together lists of 100, and we would love your help. For this list, we’re trying to compile our favorite authors, whether they’re fiction, nonfiction, poetry, literary, mystery, science fiction, romance, western, etc.

Our formal question: Who are your favorite authors?

Pick one author (your absolute favorite), or pick several (because it’s so hard to pick just one). And share your answer below in the comments.

We’re interested in authors of all genres: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s, and/or some other hybrid. So include the author names and what you like about them.

Here are the guidelines:

• Provide an answer to the question “Who are your favorite authors?” in the comments below.
• Answers can be funny, weird, poignant, thought-provoking, entertaining, etc.
• Remember to include your name as you would like it to appear in print.
• Deadline for commenting this time around is February 4, 2020.
• Only comments shared below will be considered for publication, though feel free to share your answers on social media with the following hashtags: #WDReaders #FavoriteBooks.

The post Who Are Your Favorite Authors? (From Our Readers) appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Our upcoming April issue will feature small presses for writers. As a result, we would love to know what our readers’ favorite small press books are. For instance, one of my semi-recent favorites is the poetry collection Calling a Wolf a Wolf, by Kaveh Akbar, published by Alice James Books. I enjoy every poem, and some still take my breath away.

Our formal question: What is your favorite small press book?

Small presses are those that aren’t tied to the big publishers like Penguin Random House, Macmillan, HarperCollins, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and Harlequin obviously. But the smaller the better.

We’re interested in all genres: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s. So include the book title, author, publisher, and what you like about the book.

Here are the guidelines:

• Provide an answer to the question “What is your favorite small press book?” in the comments below.
• Answers can be funny, weird, poignant, thought-provoking, entertaining, etc.
• Remember to include your name as you would like it to appear in print.
• Deadline for commenting this time around is January 31, 2020.
• Only comments shared below will be considered for publication, though feel free to share your answers on social media with the following hashtags: #WDReaders #BestSmallPressBooks.

The post Share Your Favorite Small Press Book: From Our Readers (Comment for a Chance at Publication) appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Autumn is that special season when the nights lengthen, leaves fall from trees, and editors plan for the next publishing year. Or, at least, that’s how it goes around Writer’s Digest, which will be celebrating 100 years of publication in 2020!

One of our exciting new things is a column called “From Our Readers” that will share a question we pose with our favorite reader responses.

Our first question is the following: What are your 2020 writing goals?

It’s never too early to start thinking about your goals, whether it’s to finish that first novel or publish your tenth memoir, which would be a lot of memoirs. Once you have a goal or three, share them with us in the comments below for a chance to be featured in the January/February 2020 issue of Writer’s Digest.

Here are the guidelines:

• Provide an answer to the question “What are your 2020 writing goals?” in the comments below.
• Answers can be funny, weird, poignant, thought-provoking, entertaining, etc.
• Remember to include your name as you would like it to appear in print.
• Deadline for commenting this time around is November 1, 2019.
• Only comments shared below will be considered for publication, though feel free to share your answers on social media with the following hashtags: #WDReaders #2020WritingGoals.

The post Announcing New Writer’s Digest Column: From Our Readers (Comment for a Chance at Publication) appeared first on Writer's Digest.

A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

1. ELIGIBILITY: Open to all ages. Employees, officers and directors of Active Interest Media (“Sponsor”) , its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies (collectively, “Sponsor and its agents”) and immediate family members (spouses and siblings, children and parents and their spouses, regardless of where they live) or members of the same households (whether related or not) of such individuals are not eligible. Void where prohibited.

2. TO ENTER: The every-issue “Your Story” Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) begins the day the new issue is mailed out to subscribers and ends at 11:59 PM ET on the day specified below the prompt above. To enter, email yourstorycontest@aimmedia.com. Submit prior to the deadline. Limit one entry per person.

3. PRIZE/ODDS OF WINNING: During mid-month of the deadline date, representatives of the Sponsor will choose entries (five or 10) from all eligible entries received to be voted on by members of the Writer’s Digest forum. The Sponsor will award one (1) Grand Prize: publication in a future issue of Writer’s Digest. Odds of winning will be determined by the number of eligible entries received. No prize transfer or cash redemption permitted. No prize substitution, in whole or in part, except by Sponsor due to prize unavailability, safety or security considerations, or any other reason as solely determined by Sponsor in which case a prize of comparable or greater value will be awarded.

Winner will be notified by email at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Return of a prize notification or other documentation as undeliverable will result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Winner may be required to complete an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release and (where legal) a publicity release, which must be returned within the time period specified in the notification letter or an alternate winner may be selected.

4. GENERAL: Taxes on prize and all expenses related to acceptance and use of prize and not specified are the sole responsibility of winner. Winners of prizes valued at $600 or more will be issued an IRS 1099 Form for the value of the prize. By participating, entrants agree [a] to these rules and decisions of Sponsor and judges, which shall be final in all respects relating to this Sweepstakes; and undefined to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor and its agents from any and all injuries, liability, losses and damages of any kind resulting from their participating in the Sweepstakes or their acceptance, use or misuse of a prize including, without limitation, personal injury, death and property damage; and if a winner, [c] to permit Sponsor to use his or her name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice, voice likeness and city and state address for advertising, publicity and promotional purposes in all media, including but not limited to on air and online, in perpetuity, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) and agree to execute specific consent to such use upon request. Sponsor and its agents are not responsible for and shall not be liable for: [a] electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, computer or other technical malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind, including without limitation, server malfunction or by any human error which may occur in the collection, processing and transmission of data; undefined lost, late, misdirected, illegible or incomplete entries or postage-due mail; [c] any type of graphical or other error in the advertising or printing of the Sweepstakes or in the administration of the Sweepstakes; or [d] any condition that may cause the administration, security or proper play of the Sweepstakes to be disrupted or corrupted; and in such event Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend the Sweepstakes or any portion thereof and to award the prize(s) via a random drawing from among all eligible entries legitimately received prior to cancellation. Entry information becomes property of Sponsor.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE PROMOTION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Internet entry must be made by the entrant only at the authorized Web site address. Entries may not be made by any other individual or any entity, and/or originate at any other Internet Web site or e-mail address, including but not limited to commercial sweepstakes subscription notification and/or entering service sites. Any winner who enters by any of the methods described above will be disqualified and an alternate winner selected. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting an online entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered at the time of entry. Potential winner may be required to provide evidence that winner is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry. Use of any device to automate entry is prohibited. Judge’s decisions are final and binding.

5. DISPUTE RESOLUTION/CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited, by participating each entrant agrees that all issues and questions concerning these official rules shall be governed by Ohio law without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law of any jurisdiction. Entrant agrees that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to this Sweepstakes shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in Hamilton County in the state of Ohio , United States , and entrant hereby consents and submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action. Except where prohibited, by participating in this Sweepstakes, entrant agrees that: [a] any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and undefined any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with participating in this Sweepstakes but in no event attorneys’ fees; and [c] under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain awards for and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.

6. USE OF ENTRANT INFORMATION: As permitted by law and in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy , each entrant agrees that the Sponsor may share his/her entry information (including name, address, email address, etc.) with Sponsor’s promotional partners and other parties and grant Sponsor, its promotional partners and other third parties with whom Sponsor chooses to share your information, permission to contact you about upcoming promotions, special offers or for other reasons via electronic and ordinary mail. If you would prefer not to hear from us or prefer us not to share information about you, please opt out in accordance with our on-line privacy policy, available for viewing at http://writersdigest.com/privacypolicy .

SPONSOR: Active Interest Media, 4445 Lake Forest Drive, Suite 470, Blue Ash, OH 45242

The post Your Story Official Rules appeared first on Writer's Digest.

How do I vote?
You must be create a free account to participate in voting. Click here to register.

Once registered, simply click here and you’ll be able to see the finalists and participate in the voting.

How many times can I vote?
You may only vote one time per contest.

Can I vote for myself?
Yes. But, remember, you can only vote one time. Voting more than once will disqualify your votes entirely.

Where can I find out who won?
Winners will be posted here.

Where can I read the winning entry?
The winning entries are posted here.

The post Your Story Frequently Asked Questions appeared first on Writer's Digest.

We urge writers to get creative in their interpretations of our 2026 issue themes. We offer a brief description of how we interpret them, but look forward to ideas we weren’t necessarily expecting.

Find out more about our submission guidelines here.

Editor’s Note: After trying a year of using forms to accept pitches instead of email, we’d like to continue this process for 2026. Instead of emailing editors or a general submission inbox with your pitch for the print magazine, we ask that you use the links below to submit pitches for each issue. Each link is specific to that issue and will ensure we collect all the info we need and stay organized. If you have a pitch not directly connected to an issue theme, please use this form (also updated for 2026). While you are more than welcome to submit more than one pitch per issue, please reuse the form for each idea rather than submitting them all at once. Thanks in advance for submitting your ideas using these forms! 

March/April 2026

THEME: Achieve Perfect Pacing 

An issue dedicated to pacing in any and every interpretation of the word as it relates to writing and publishing. That means, how to keep the pace going in a specific genres, or how to write dialogue that comes across as quick banter. It also means, advice for indie authors on how to pace the release of their books and understanding traditional publishing timelines, and much more.  

+ WD Self-Published Book Awards Announcement + Profile 

This issue is now closed to submissions.

May/June 2026

THEME: Write Like a Pro 

While this may sound like a more business-focused issue than usual, with this “Write Like a Pro” theme, we’re not only looking for articles on demystifying aspects of the publishing industry for both traditional and indie writers or providing advice for freelancers, we’re also looking for craft-related articles that help writers elevate their writing to the next level.  

+ WD’s 101 Best Websites for Writers 

+ WD Personal Essay Awards Announcement + Profile 

This issue is now closed to submissions.

July/August 2026

THEME: Writing That Matters, Writing the Truth  

In this issue, we’re focusing on writing what matters, because writing matters more than ever. Whether it’s advice for writing emotions that give fiction deeper life truths, writing about so-called taboo topics that deserve to be addressed, or writing about hard truths in memoir, this issue aims to give writers the courage to create writing that matters. 

+ WD Self-Published E-Book Awards Announcement + Profile 

+WD Poetry Awards Announcement + Profile  

Click here to submit your pitch for July/August 2026: https://forms.gle/ukm39gp7qiKhZwJG8  

September/October 2026

THEME: Fostering Individuality in Writing 

For this issue, featuring the Annual Agent Roundup, we’re interested in including articles related to individuality (and celebrating one’s identity) in writing. Things like, how a writer can create their public author persona (including deciding what they do and do not share with their readers), how to create characters that feel like distinct individuals, turning life into literature (whether fiction or nonfiction), and any other ways you can think of for writers to foster individuality. 

+ The Annual Agent Roundup 

+ WD Short Short Story Awards Announcement + Story/Profile 

Click here to submit your pitch for September/October 2026: https://forms.gle/TdAEbuLtvDUf3kc5A 

November/December 2026

THEME: Harness Your Creativity 

For this end-of-the-year issue, we’re looking for articles to help spark readers’ creativity during the busy holiday season. That means, articles to help get words on the page when life is chaotic, how to make the most of the writing they did during the year even if they might not have hit their goals, or even non-writing activities writers can do to get bring back their creative spirit. 

+ WD Annual Competition Announcement + Profile 

Click here to submit your pitch for November/December 2026: https://forms.gle/KfdvzavBQurU68EGA 

January/February 2026

THEME: Write Your Book in 2027 

With a sub-theme of The Rejuvenated Writer, this issue aims to help writers start the new year strong. That means, articles to help writers get motivated to finally finish their manuscript, tips for building a writing routine, and craft articles on the various parts of writing a book.  

Click here to submit your pitch for January/February 2027: https://forms.gle/2aXEc2qQpzenxqyPA 

The post Editorial Calendar appeared first on Writer's Digest.