Over the last five years, I’ve had the good fortune and privilege to feature storytelling advice from many bestselling authors, as well as editors and agents. Here’s a round-up of the best and most popular advice on writing craft and technique I’ve featured since 2011.
Developing Strong Story Concepts
- The Big Reason Why Agents and Editors Often Stop Reading by Paula Munier
- How to Attract a Readership Based on Concept Alone by Matt Bird
- Craft a Compelling Novel Concept by Larry Brooks
- How to Build a Compelling Novel Concept—Something With a Kicker by C.S. Lakin
- How to Tell If Your Story Idea Is Mediocre—and How to Improve It by Laurie Scheer
Character Development
- Internal Dialogue: The Greatest Tool for Gaining Reader Confidence by Elizabeth Sims
- A Fatal Flaw in Weak Descriptions by Rachel Starr Thomson
Plot and Structure
- How to Tell If Back Story Is Sabotaging Your Novel by Roz Morris
- How to Effectively Handle Time Shifts in Your Story by Lisa Lenard-Cook
- Building a Believable Chain of Events in Your Novel by Steven James
- Writing Suspenseful Fiction: Reveal Answers Slowly by Jane K. Cleland
- 4 Big Pitfalls in Story Openings by K.M. Weiland
Point of View
- The Basics of Point of View for Fiction Writers by Joseph Bates
- Using Multiple Points of View: When and How Is It Most Effective? by Jordan Rosenfeld
Scene Building
- The Fundamentals of Writing a Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld and Martha Alderson
- How to Write a Great (and Not Schmaltzy) Love Scene by Jessi Rita Hoffman
Setting
- How Writers Can Craft an Effective Setting by Mary Buckham
What are your favorite writing craft & technique articles? Share in the comments.
Jane Friedman (@JaneFriedman) has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in digital media strategy for authors and publishers. She is the publisher of The Hot Sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2019.
In addition to being a columnist for Publishers Weekly, Jane is a professor with The Great Courses, which released her 24-lecture series, How to Publish Your Book. Her book for creative writers, The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), received a starred review from Library Journal.
Jane speaks regularly at conferences and industry events such as BookExpo America, Digital Book World, and the AWP Conference, and has served on panels with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund. Find out more.