Ten Ways to Write Better Fiction

Ten Ways to Write Better Fiction

By K.B. Jensen

Writing fiction is not an easy endeavor. It can take years or even decades to hone your craft. Here are ten ways to write better fiction that have helped me over the years.  

1. Read and write across genres. Read craft books and other books in and outside of your genre. What can a mystery writer learn from poetry? What can a poet learn from a mystery writer? You’d be surprised at the elements you can play with in fiction. You can learn a lot from different types of stories. What doesn’t jibe as a simple science fiction story, just might benefit from the elements of horror.

2. Eavesdrop. Steal dialogue from real life. Listen to how people speak and try to reflect that in your dialogue. Most native speakers use contractions for example. A conversation on a bus or in a coffee shop can also spark a story, because you have to imagine the context.

3. Read your work out loud alone and in front of an audience. Is it smooth? Does it flow? Do you use said a few too many times, so many that it would destroy your audiobook down the line? Reading it out loud will also trick your brain into finding errors or issues with the rhythm of your story that it may normally gloss over. Performing your work in front of an audience will teach you which lines resonate and show you how well readers relate to the characters and emotions, if they are gasping, laughing or sobbing.

4. Embrace your own voice. At a certain point, you have to trust your own voice as a writer. Imitating other writers will only take you so far. You have an authentic and unique voice. Don’t be afraid to use it.

5. Find a trusted critique partner or betareader. To be clear, they do not take the place of an editor, but used prior to editing can be helpful, especially as you whittle down. Ideally, find someone who’s knowledgeable about writing in your genre, whether as an avid reader or writer, and fits your target audience. I once had a critique partner who always asked on every page, do you need this? I still think of her words when I’m revising. Be careful using too many because opinions will always conflict.

6. Work with a professional editor developmentally. I’m not just talking about grammar and punctuation here. I’m talking about big picture story issues and craft. You will learn just as much if not more from a good, developmental editor than most writing classes, because their feedback is tailored to your work and type of writing specifically. If you pay attention to their comments and tracked changes and think critically as you revise, you may learn new ways of crafting your fiction that stick with you for future books. A good editor will enhance your voice, not replace it.

7. Learn the rules so you can break them. The digital edition of the Chicago Manual of style is your best friend and there’s a free 30-day trial. As a fiction writer, remember, you don’t always have to follow every single rule, in fact you shouldn’t, but be consistent and mindful as you create your book’s style. You can even make your own cheat-sheet style guide and give it to your editor.

8. Embrace emotion in your writing. Write what hurts. Don’t let your characters off easy. Embrace conflict. Don’t be afraid. Write honestly, even if it’s all made up. I like to say with fiction—the stories aren’t true, but the feelings are. I cry when my characters die, and fiction can reveal a lot of truths. Or you could also write what makes your heart sing. Sometimes, it helps to have a therapist or a life coach along for this part of the journey to help you gain awareness about your own emotions and the themes in your life that you may or may not be drawing from.

9. Practice. Writing is like playing the piano. You have to work the muscles. You do not have to write every day. But if weeks or months are going by without you opening your document or flipping open your notebook, you may find yourself rusty when you sit down to create. Find a rhythm that works for you, whether that’s daily or not. Sometimes it helps to schedule writing time on your calendar or write with friends on Zoom or in a coffee shop.

10. Get out and find inspiration. I actually find the idea of writing full-time to be nightmarish, like “The Shining” by Stephen King. I believe that sitting too long inside your office alone staring at a blank, white wall is terrifying and unhelpful. Write in different places in and outside of your home. Find a sunny spot. Go for a walk and think about your story. Get out and see the world. Live your life so you have something to write about. 

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K.B. Jensen is an award-winning author, with two novels, Painting With Fire, an artistic murder mystery, and A Storm of Stories, which veers literary and handles love, craziness and impossibility. K.B. lives in Littleton with her family and rescue mutt. She enjoys skiing and writing poetry. A former crime reporter and journalist, K.B. shifted to the publishing world in 2014, and is a senior publishing consultant and youth writing camp director for My Word Publishing. Her new collection of short stories, Love and Other Monsters in the Dark, will be published summer 2022.

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Category: How To and Tips