Seven skills every fiction writer should master

Whether you're just starting as a fiction writer (yay, we're so glad to have you!) or have been writing stories for years (thank you for your service), working on and improving your craft is essential.

So, what critical skills do you need to master to create compelling and engaging stories that resonate with your readers? Here are seven of our favourite areas to focus on – from creating compelling characters and plotlines to building immersive worlds and mastering the art of dialogue.

Plot development

Excellent plot development involves developing complex and nuanced characters, creating tension and conflict, and using various storytelling techniques to keep the plot moving forward. Let's look at some ways you can develop your plot muscle:

• Study: Get familiar with one or two plot structures, and the obligatory scenes and conventions of your chosen genre. The more you understand about how these are constructed, the more comfortable you'll become with shaping your story ideas into cohesive, compelling plots.
• Read (and watch) widely: Reading other writers' work (or paying attention to this when watching movies and shows) can be a great way to learn about different plot structures and techniques. Look at how different authors build their plots and keep readers/viewers engaged. Consider what works well in the stories you love and want to emulate, and what you might do differently in your writing.
• Seek feedback: Other writers and writing instructors can help you identify areas where your plot needs to be more substantial or clearer and offer suggestions for improvement. Sometimes it's hard to tell if something is landing for the reader, so getting this insight from a friendly set of eyes can be a huge help.

Read more about: How to build strong plot development skills.

See our other articles on plot & structure.

Character development

Character development is the key to creating fully realized, believable characters that become fan-favourites with your readers. You can achieve this by giving characters distinct personalities, flaws, and motivations, and by using dialogue and compelling action to reveal their inner lives.

• Observe and interact with people: Gaining a deeper understanding of human behaviour and motivation can help you create more believable and compelling characters. Observe real-life people or conduct interviews to gather insights that can inform your writing. Preferably in a non-creepy way.
• Create character profiles (but be sparing): Developing character profiles can help you flesh out your characters and make them feel more natural and well-rounded, but be careful not to be too detailed and prescriptive upfront. The most important information about any character is their internal goal and external goal. Everything else only matters if it moves the story forward (ie: the fact that they are allergic to hamsters is only important if there's a hamster in the same room as the safe they're trying to break into).
• Use prompts and exercises: Many writing prompts and exercises are available to help you practice character development and explore different aspects of your characters. For example, if you're feeling like a character feels flat to you, you could write a character's life story from start to finish or create a character sketch that focuses on a specific aspect of their personality or background.

Read more about: How to build strong character development skills.

See our other articles on character development.

Worldbuilding

To fully immerse your readers in your stories, you need to create a rich and believable setting. You can do this by developing the history, culture, geography, and social norms of the world where the story takes place.

• Get inspiration from other writers: Reading works by other writers skilled at worldbuilding can be a great way to learn about different techniques and approaches. Pay attention to how different authors create and describe their worlds, and consider what works well and what you might do differently in your writing.
• Learn from the real world: Examining history, existing cultures, and maps can provide inspiration and ideas for your writing. For example, you might research the history and culture of a particular time or place or study how a specific type of society functions.
• Draw on your own experiences: Your experiences and observations can be a valuable source of inspiration for worldbuilding. Consider drawing on your travels, hobbies, and other interests to inform your writing and create a world that feels authentic and personal.

Where ever you're drawing your inspiration from, remember to re-contextualise your references, and be respectful of cultures that are not your own.

Read more about: How to become a master worldbuilder.

See our other articles on worldbuilding.

Dialogue

Good fiction writers need to create authentic and natural-sounding dialogue that helps reveal character, advance the plot, and create tension and conflict. You should also be able to vary your use of dialogue to suit different characters and situations. Eves-dropping helps (but, you didn't hear it from me).

• Pay attention to real-world dialogue: How people talk can help you write more authentic and believable dialogue. Consider listening to conversations and taking note of common phrases, idioms, and other elements of natural-sounding speech.
• Experiment with different dialogue techniques: You can use many techniques to add depth and complexity to your dialogue. As an exercise, try using subtext (where a character's words imply something different from what they're saying) or attempt to write dialogue in a dialect or accent.
• Vary your characters' speech patterns: Giving each of your characters distinct speech patterns can help them sound more authentic and feel separate from each other. Consider using different vocabulary, syntax, and delivery styles for each character to create a sense of individuality, but be respectful of cultural patterns of speech and accents that are not your own.

Read more about: How to build strong dialogue writing skills.

Point of view

Never underestimate the power of effectively choosing and using a point of view that better serves your story. You need to know when to wield each point of view: Should you write in the first person? The third person? Or, should you use multiple points of view?

• Consider your story's needs: Choosing the right point of view for your story can depend on the type of story you're telling, the tone and style of your writing, and the perspective that will best serve your characters and plot. Consider what will work best for your story and its needs.
• Experiment with different points of view: Trying out different points of view can be a helpful way to determine which one works best for your story. You could write a scene or chapter from another point of view to see how it feels or write the same scene or chapter from multiple points of view to compare and contrast.
• Consider your strengths and preferences: As a writer, you'll likely have your strengths and preferences regarding point of view. Consider what feels most comfortable and natural for you and what allows you to best connect with your characters and story.

Read more about: How to use point of view effectively in your writing.

Show, don't tell

Effective fiction writing uses specific, concrete details to make the story come to life rather than simply saying what happens next. Writers should strive to use descriptive language and sensory details to bring their readers into the story.

• Use descriptive language: Using descriptive language and imagery can help readers to experience the scene or character through their senses. Consider using specific and vivid details to create a sense of place and atmosphere rather than simply stating how a character feels or what they're doing.
• Use action and dialogue: Action and dialogue can be powerful tools for bringing the story to life. Consider using physical actions and dialogue to reveal character and advance the plot rather than simply telling readers what a character is thinking or feeling.
• Use sensory details: Incorporating sensory details can allow readers to experience scenes and characters more vividly. Consider using details related to sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to create a more immersive and sensory-rich reading experience.

Read more about: How to master descriptive writing.

Revising and editing

Good fiction writers revise and edit their work and seek feedback from others. Be open to feedback and critiques, and be willing to make changes to improve your story development or technical writing ability.

• Take breaks between drafts: Taking breaks between drafts can help you approach your work with fresh eyes and a clearer perspective. Consider setting aside your work for a few days or longer between revisions to give yourself time to rest and clear your mind.
• Read your work aloud: Reading your work aloud can help you catch errors and awkward phrasing that you might miss when reading silently. It can also help you get a sense of the rhythm and flow of your writing (this is especially important if you're writing books for young children, which will often be read to them by caregivers!).
• Use resources like style guides and dictionaries: Style guides and dictionaries can be helpful resources for revising and editing your work. Consider consulting a style guide to ensure that you're using consistent formatting and language conventions. Use a dictionary to help you choose the most precise and appropriate words for your writing.

Read more about: How to build strong revision and editing skills.