10 Ways to Become a Better Fiction Writer Online

Becoming a better Medium fiction writer requires practice, dedication, and an understanding of the craft. Fiction writing is a blend of creativity and technical skill, requiring a solid foundation in narrative structure, character development, dialogue, and style. If you want to improve as a storyteller, here’s a detailed guide on how to develop your writing abilities.

Read Regularly and Widely

The first step in becoming a better writer is to become a better reader. Read extensively across different genres, styles, and periods. By reading, you internalize different ways of telling stories, expanding your imagination and understanding of what’s possible in fiction.

Study the masters: Read authors who have made a lasting impact on literature, from classical writers like Jane Austen and Leo Tolstoy to contemporary authors like Haruki Murakami and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

1. Read critically: Analyze how the story is structured, how characters are developed, how tension is built, and how the author uses language. Take note of what works and what doesn’t.

2. Explore diverse genres: Don’t limit yourself to one genre. Each genre has unique storytelling conventions. For example, fantasy may teach you world-building, while literary fiction might emphasize character development and introspection.

Understand the Basics of Storytelling

Storytelling follows certain foundational principles that have existed for millennia. While there’s room for experimentation, having a grasp of these fundamentals is essential before you can break them.

1. Plot: Every story needs a plot, whether it’s a complex epic or a slice-of-life narrative. Plot is the sequence of events that propel your story forward. A well-structured plot often follows a basic arc: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Understanding this arc helps you create stories with compelling momentum.

2. Conflict: Conflict is at the heart of fiction. It can be external (a character facing obstacles in the world) or internal (a character grappling with personal dilemmas). Conflict drives character growth and keeps readers engaged.

3. Theme: Think about what your story is about on a deeper level. Is it about love, loss, identity, or the struggle for power? Knowing the theme helps you create a coherent and resonant story that connects with readers emotionally.

Create Three-Dimensional Characters

Readers connect with stories through characters, so it’s essential to create characters that feel real, relatable, and multi-faceted. When crafting characters, go beyond surface traits and delve into their desires, fears, and contradictions.

1. Give them goals: Every character, even minor ones, should have goals or motivations. What does your protagonist want? What’s at stake if they don’t get it? These motivations drive their actions and create conflict.

2. Develop flaws: Perfect characters are boring. Flaws make your characters human and relatable. Whether it’s insecurity, arrogance, or an inability to trust others, these imperfections can shape a character’s journey.

3. Use backstory: While not everything about your character’s past needs to be revealed, knowing their backstory can help you understand how they behave in the present. A traumatic event, a formative relationship, or a defining failure can influence how your character interacts with the world.

Show, Don’t Tell

One of the most common pieces of advice in writing is to “show, don’t tell.” Instead of telling the reader that a character is angry or sad, show their emotions through actions, dialogue, or body language.

1. Use actions: Instead of saying, “She was angry,” show the character clenching her fists, pacing, or slamming a door. These actions allow readers to infer the emotion.

2. Engage the senses: Fiction is about creating a vivid experience for the reader. Use sensory details—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—to bring scenes to life. Describing the scent of rain on pavement or the sound of a door creaking open can make your writing more immersive.

3. Trust your reader: You don’t need to explain everything. Allow readers to draw conclusions based on the details you provide. This not only engages them more deeply but also respects their intelligence.

Write Realistic Dialogue

Writing believable dialogue is a skill that requires careful observation and practice. Good dialogue can reveal a character’s personality, build tension, and move the plot forward.

1. Keep it natural: Dialogue should feel like real speech, but not exactly like it. In real life, people often ramble, hesitate, or speak in incomplete sentences, but too much of that in fiction can bog down the pace. Aim for a balance between realism and clarity.

2. Give each character a distinct voice: No two people speak the same way, and neither should your characters. Consider their background, education, and personality when crafting their dialogue. A professor might use formal language, while a teenager might use slang.

3. Use subtext: People rarely say exactly what they mean. Much of real conversation is about what’s unsaid—this is called subtext. Characters might hide their true feelings, speak evasively, or lie. Using subtext adds depth and complexity to your dialogue.

Find Your Unique Voice

Every writer has a unique voice that sets them apart. Voice is the combination of your tone, style, and perspective, and it emerges naturally over time as you write more. While it’s important to learn from other authors, don’t try to mimic them. Your voice is what will make your writing distinct and memorable.

1. Experiment with style: Try writing in different styles, tones, and narrative perspectives to discover what feels most authentic to you. Write in first-person, third-person, or even second-person to explore how perspective influences voice.

2. Be honest: Write what feels true to you. Even in fiction, honesty resonates with readers. This could be emotional honesty, vulnerability, or a raw portrayal of a difficult situation.

3. Write regularly: The more you write, the more your voice will develop. Over time, you’ll find rhythms, themes, and stylistic choices that feel like yours.

Master the Art of Revision

1. Writing is rewriting. The first draft is about getting your ideas on the page, but the real magic happens during revision. This is where you can sharpen your prose, deepen your characters, and fine-tune your plot.

2. Take a break after the first draft: Once you’ve finished your draft, step away from it for a while. This gives you the distance needed to view your work more objectively.

3. Revise with purpose: Don’t just tweak sentences. Think about the big picture. Does your plot make sense? Are your characters’ arcs satisfying? Does your story build tension and resolve in a meaningful way

4. Kill your darlings: Sometimes, you’ll need to cut scenes, characters, or even entire subplots that you love because they don’t serve the story. It’s painful, but necessary.

Seek Feedback

1. Sharing your work with others can be intimidating, but it’s essential for growth. Fresh eyes can catch things you might miss, from plot holes to unclear dialogue.

2. Join a writers’ group: A good writers’ group provides constructive feedback and support. Look for groups where members are serious about improving their craft and willing to offer honest critiques.

3. Take writing classes: Workshops and writing courses offer the chance to learn from experienced authors and connect with fellow writers

4. Develop thick skin: Not all feedback will be positive, and that’s okay. Learn to separate constructive criticism from personal opinion and use it to improve your work.

Write Regularly and Set Goals

The most important thing you can do to become a better writer is to write consistently. Writing is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with practice.

1. Set a routine: Whether it’s every day or a few times a week, establish a regular writing routine. Even writing for 20 minutes a day can make a difference.

2. Set measurable goals: Goals like “write 500 words a day” or “finish a short story this month” can help keep you on track.

3. Embrace failure: Not every story you write will be great, and that’s okay. Failure is part of the process. Every story, even the ones that don’t work out, teaches you something valuable.

Stay Curious and Keep Learning

Writing is an ongoing learning process. Be open to new ideas, techniques, and perspectives that can elevate your craft.

1. Study writing craft books: Books like On Writing by Stephen King, The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, and Story by Robert McKee offer invaluable insights into the craft of writing.

2. Analyze movies and TV shows: Narrative techniques aren’t confined to books. Films and TV series can teach you a lot about pacing, dialogue, and visual storytelling.

3. Keep exploring your own voice: Writing is deeply personal. Continue evolving your style and perspective as you grow as a person and a writer.

By embracing the process of growth and maintaining a dedication to your craft, you can become a better fiction writer over time.