Writing is an interesting and complicated profession. One writer may have a very different experience from another writer. Writers may also vary greatly in how they go about completing their work. This section features posts about the writing life from the perspectives of different writers. You can also find out more about the lives and routines of many authors in our author interviews section.

Video: John Irving: How to Tell if You're a Writer (2024-07-28): John Irving explains some things in his younger life that let him know that he is a writer. This includes a new to journal and to be my himself.

Write A House Giving Away Second House to Writing Resident (2015-04-29): Write A House is giving away its second house in Detroit to the next Writing Resident. Applications are open until June 5th for the innovative project.

Janet Evanovich Discusses How Success Has Changed Her and Why 50 Shades of Grey is Dangerous (2012-06-27): Author Janet Evanovich talked to Forbes magazine about how she got her original inspiration for her bestselling Stephanie Plum series, how success and being financially secure has changed her life.

John Irving Writes the Last Sentence of the Story First (2012-06-26): John Irving talked about his writing process with Time magazine. He says he writes the last sentence of a story first.

Cressida Cowell on Writing the How to Train Your Dragon Series (2011-09-28): Cressida Cowell, the award-winning author of How To Train Your Dragon talks to The Telegraph about how her upbringing influenced her writing.

Harry Turtledove Writes Because He Can't Not Write (2011-04-23): Alternate history master Harry Turtledove explains why he writes in an article on Publishers Weekly's website.

Video: John Irving Shares His Writing Process (2009-06-19): John Irving talks about his writing process in this interview. For one book the last line of the book came to him in a flash.

Ian Fleming and the Glamorous Writing Life (2008-05-19): Former spy and bestselling author of the James Bond series Ian Fleming was known for his glamorous writing lifestyle at his Jamaican home.

Jeffery Deaver's Ode to Outlining (2008-05-15): To outline or not to outline, that is the question.

Ruth Rendell's Writing Routine (2007-08-11): For some reason we've always been obsessed with hearing about other writers' work schedules.

Paulina Porizkova Thinks She's Prettier Than You (2007-04-07): Former supermodel Paulina Porizkova was the first contestant to be booted off this season's Dancing With the Stars, but she's not sad about it.

Stephen King and His Creepy Muse (2006-10-17): Stephen King has a very creepy beast-like muse that eats half-finished stories and is attracted to the odor of hopeful ideas.

When Writers Confess Their Darkest Secrets (2006-09-06): A Bravo Canada show promises to reveal working writers' deepest, darkest secrets about their profession.

Being An Author Is Glamorous Again (2006-04-25): British students are now flocking to creative writing courses taught by published authors in droves.

Khaled Hosseini Discusses The Kite Runner (2005-11-05): Khaled Hosseini talks about how he wrote The Kite Runner originally as a short story in a 12-hour stretch.

Brian Jacques Returns to Redwall (2005-10-21): Christian Hill of The Olympian interviewed children's author Brian Jacques, which is actually pronounced "Jakes.

Joss Whedon and Neil Gaiman Discuss the Writer's Life (2005-09-27): Lev Grossman of Time magazine did a very interesting interview with Neil Gaiman and Joss Whedon at the same time.

John Marco and The Sword of Angels (2005-08-30): Patricia Kitchen of Newsday has an interesting article about why so many people say they long to write a book, but so few people ever achieve their writing goals.

The Writer's Lifestyle: From Scotch to Yoga (2005-03-21): Ellen Gilchrist, author of 25 books, won the National Book Award for Victory Over Japan, a collection of short stories.

Alexander McCall Smith Talks Success (2005-03-07): Alexander McCall Smith says success can be overwhelming.