Techniques of the Selling Writer

1. Master the Fundamentals of Story Structure

A story is experience translated into literary process.

The three-act structure. Every compelling story follows a basic three-act structure: beginning, middle, and end. In the beginning, introduce your focal character and establish their desire or goal. The middle consists of a series of escalating conflicts and obstacles as the character pursues their objective. The end provides resolution through a climactic confrontation and its aftermath.

Key story elements. Incorporate these essential elements:

• A clear protagonist with a specific, concrete goal
• A formidable antagonist or opposing force
• Rising action with increasingly difficult challenges
• A climax where the protagonist faces their greatest test
• Resolution that provides satisfying closure

By mastering this fundamental framework, you create a solid foundation for crafting engaging stories that resonate with readers. Practice outlining stories using this structure until it becomes second nature.

2. Cultivate Emotional Intensity in Your Writing

All your life you've lived with feelings . . . inner awarenesses, pleasant or painful, that rose in you when you bumped a knee or bit a lemon, kissed a girl or soothed a hurt child.

Tap into universal emotions. Great stories evoke powerful emotions in readers by tapping into universal human experiences and feelings. Develop your emotional awareness and ability to articulate subtle gradations of feeling. Pay attention to how you and others react emotionally to various situations in daily life.

Show, don't tell. Instead of simply stating emotions, bring them to life through vivid sensory details, physical reactions, dialogue, and actions. For example, rather than writing "John was angry," you might describe his clenched fists, flushed face, and terse words spoken through gritted teeth. Use metaphors and similes to make abstract emotions more tangible and relatable. By making readers feel rather than just intellectually understand, you create a visceral, memorable experience.

3. Develop Compelling Characters That Come Alive

A character is a person in a story.

Create multidimensional characters. Develop characters with depth by giving them:

• Clear goals and motivations
• Strengths and flaws
• A distinct voice and manner of speaking
• A rich backstory that shapes their worldview
• Internal conflicts and contradictions

Show character through action. Reveal who characters are through their choices and behaviors, especially under pressure. Put them in difficult situations that force them to make revealing decisions.

Use vivid, specific details. Bring characters to life with concrete, sensory details about their appearance, mannerisms, and environment. Instead of generic descriptions, focus on unique, memorable traits. For example, rather than saying a character is "tall," you might describe how he has to duck to avoid hitting his head on doorways.

4. Create Vivid Scenes and Sequels

A scene is a unit of conflict lived through by character and reader.

Scene structure. Craft dynamic scenes using this framework:

1. Goal: What does the POV character want?
2. Conflict: What/who opposes them?
3. Disaster: How do they fail or face a setback?

Sequel structure. Follow intense scenes with sequels that show the character's reaction:

1. Emotional reaction to the scene's outcome
2. Review and analysis of what happened
3. Decision about what to do next

Alternating between scenes and sequels creates a natural ebb and flow of tension that keeps readers engaged. Scenes provide action and conflict, while sequels offer introspection and character development. Master this rhythm to pace your story effectively.

5. Build Tension and Conflict Throughout Your Story

A story is the record of how somebody deals with danger.

Escalate conflicts. Start with smaller conflicts and steadily increase the stakes and difficulty as the story progresses. Each obstacle should be more challenging than the last, forcing the protagonist to grow and adapt.

Create multilayered opposition. Develop conflicts on multiple fronts:

• External conflict: Physical obstacles and antagonists
• Internal conflict: The protagonist's inner struggles and flaws
• Interpersonal conflict: Tension in relationships

Use time pressure. Add urgency by imposing deadlines or time limits on your protagonist's goals. This ratchets up tension and forces decisive action.

Introduce unexpected complications. Throw curveballs at your characters by introducing unforeseen problems or twists. This keeps the story unpredictable and maintains reader interest.

6. Craft a Satisfying Resolution

A story is movement through the eternal now, from past to future.

Climactic confrontation. Build to a final, decisive confrontation between the protagonist and the main opposing force. This should be the most intense and high-stakes scene in the story.

Character growth. Show how the protagonist has changed or grown through their journey. The final challenge should require them to apply what they've learned or overcome their primary flaw.

Tie up loose ends. Resolve major plot threads and character arcs. While some ambiguity can be effective, don't leave readers feeling cheated by major unresolved issues.

Emotional payoff. Provide catharsis for readers by delivering an emotionally satisfying conclusion, whether happy, bittersweet, or tragic. The ending should feel earned based on everything that came before.

7. Establish Effective Writing Habits and Rituals

Writing is murderously hard, lonely, frustrating work, upon occasion.

Create a dedicated writing space. Designate a specific area solely for writing to train your brain to focus when you're there. Minimize distractions in this space.

Develop a consistent routine. Set regular writing times and stick to them. Treat writing as a job with set hours.

Set achievable goals. Establish realistic daily word count or time-based goals. Start small and gradually increase as you build the habit.

Overcome resistance. Push through initial resistance by committing to write for just 5-10 minutes. Often, you'll find momentum and continue beyond that.

Balance discipline and flexibility. While consistency is key, allow for occasional breaks and adjustments to prevent burnout. Listen to your body and mind's needs.

8. Research Strategically to Enhance Authenticity

As a fictioneer, however, you have special problems.

Focus on relevant details. Research selectively, gathering information that directly enhances your story rather than getting lost in tangents.

Use primary sources. Whenever possible, consult firsthand accounts, interviews, and direct observations for the most vivid and accurate details.

Balance research and writing. Don't let research become a form of procrastination. Gather enough information to write confidently, then start drafting. You can always fill in gaps later.

Integrate research seamlessly. Weave researched details naturally into the narrative without resorting to info-dumps or showing off your knowledge.

9. Revise and Polish Your Work Relentlessly

Writing is like playing in vaudeville, except that you have to devise a new act for each performance.

Let it rest. Set your first draft aside for a period of time before revising. This allows you to approach it with fresh eyes.

Read aloud. Reading your work out loud helps identify awkward phrasing, dialogue that doesn't sound natural, and pacing issues.

Cut mercilessly. Eliminate any scenes, descriptions, or dialogue that don't move the story forward or reveal character. Be willing to "kill your darlings."

Seek feedback. Share your work with trusted readers or a writing group. Consider their input, but ultimately trust your vision for the story.

Polish at multiple levels. Revise for:

• Overall story structure and pacing
• Character development and consistency
• Scene-level tension and conflict
• Paragraph and sentence flow
• Word choice and clarity

Remember that great writing is rewriting. Embrace the revision process as an opportunity to elevate your work to its highest potential.

Last updated: March 21, 2025