Cover Reveal: Writer’s Yearbook 2025

Presenting the Writer’s Yearbook 2025, the special newsstand-only edition of Writer’s Digest!

The 2025 Writer’s Yearbook, presented by Writer’s Digest, is a comprehensive resource for writers who need a boost to finish the year on a strong note or start planning their new years’ writing goals. Featuring the top websites and markets for writers, plus articles on freelancing, creativity, writing book-length works, and attracting an agent, this special publication has something for any writer looking to get their work published.

Available on newsstands only, now through February 11, 2025.

What’s Inside:

2024 The Year in Publishing: Publishing expert Jane Friedman explains the most important publishing topics of the year, and how they affect you. By Jane Friedman

Preparation & Progress

- Kill With Your Critique—The Good Way: Learn techniques to give valuable feedback to critique partners. By Ryan G. Van Cleave

- Hone Crucial Content Editing Skills: Work on revising your own work by understanding two critical elements: point of view and setting. By Kim Catanzarite

- The Art of People Watching: Observing people can help you create characters on the page, if you know what to look for. By Michael La Ronn

Freelancer’s Workshop

- How Much Should I Charge: The creator of Funds for Writers did all the research on the going rates freelancers can and should charge. By C. Hope Clark

- Milking the Cow, Part 1 and Part 2: Don Vaughan gives advice for how freelancers writers can make most of every article idea to boost their revenue and portfolio. By Don Vaughan

- Tantalizing Titles: Submitting article pitches with a catchy title can sometimes be the difference between getting the assignment or not. Estelle Erasmus breaks down her techniques for creating tantalizing titles. By Estelle Erasmus

Book Building

- Turning Real People Into Characters Is an Act of Translation: How to balance truth and subjectivity when writing about the self and others in memoir. By Lilly Dancyger

- The Big Reveal: Write a compelling story by understanding how and when to reveal crucial information to readers for maximum impact. By Tiffany Yates Martin

- Thematic Writing: How to use symbols and allegory to add richness and depth to your writing. By Jane K. Cleland

- Anchoring Characters in a Series: Seven techniques for writing a series-sustainable character. By Yasmin Angoe

For Your Reference

- The 26th Annual 101 Best Websites: This list singles out the best resources for established and beginning writers across all genres. By The Editors of WD

- Top 100 Magazine Markets for Writers: The editors of WD have found 100 of the hottest markets and shares all the details for your best bet at publication. By Moriah Richard and Hannah Spicer

- Demystifying the Author Website: Whitney Hill breaks down why it’s critical for authors to have their own websites (and not rely on social media), and how you can get started. By Whitney Hill

- Reach Out to Readers: Author Newsletters 101: Just as it’s important to have an author website, having a corresponding author newsletter can be just as beneficial. Whitney Hill shares the value of newsletters and steps for starting your own. By Whitney Hill

- Analyzing Agent Responses: Former editor and literary agent Kesia Lupo explains the different kinds of common responses from literary agents to your query letter. By Kesia Lupo

- Understanding Agency Agreements: You got the offer from a literary agent. Should you sign? Literary agent Caryn Wiseman explains what you should look for in a legitimate agency agreement before you say yes to the agent. By Caryn Wiseman

- How Writing Software Can Help Your Craft: Two writing programs offer unique ways for writers to organize their creative process. By Jennifer Chen

Amy Jones
Amy JonesAuthor

About Amy Jones

Amy Jones is the Editor-in-Chief of Writer’s Digest and was the managing content director for WD Books. She is the editor of the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market and Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market. Prior to joining the WD team, Amy was the managing editor for North Light Books and IMPACT Books. Like most WD staffers, Amy is a voracious reader and has a particular interest in literary fiction, historical fiction, steamy romance, and page-turning mysteries. When she’s not reading, Amy can be found daydreaming about Italy or volunteering at her local no-kill cat shelter. Find Amy on Twitter @AmyMJones_5.