How to Write a Great Story: A Roundup of Best Advice

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.