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Do you love murder mysteries? Do you want to write your own but don\'t know where to start?  Well, you\'ve come to the right place!  In this article, you will learn how to write compelling murder mystery stories that move the plot forward and keep your readers guessing until the end. We\'ll discuss structure, key moments, character development, and setting.  Whether you\'re a beginner or a seasoned pro, read on for all the tips and tricks you need to create an edge-of-your-seat murder mystery!  What Is A Murder Mystery?  A murder mystery is a fast-paced story in which a killing is committed, and the characters must solve the mystery by uncovering clues and identifying the culprit. The murder mystery genre includes elements of suspense and detective work, making it a popular choice for readers who enjoy puzzles and trying to piece together all the clues.  While the plot of a murder mystery can be complex, the basic premise is reasonably simple: someone has been killed, and it is up to the main characters to find out who did it.  How Are Murder Mysteries Different from General Mystery Stories?  There are many types of mystery stories, from classic whodunits to modern thrillers. But what sets murder mysteries apart from other types of mystery stories?  For one thing, murder mysteries usually involve much higher stakes. After all, the victim in a murder mystery is already dead, so there\'s very little chance of a happy resolution.  In addition, they tend to be darker and more violent than other mystery genres. They often explore the dark side of human nature and the motivations behind why someone would kill another person.  Finally, good murder mysteries typically have a larger cast of characters than other types of mystery stories. This is because each character usually has something to hide, and the murderer is often someone who was least expected.  These elements combine to create a unique and addictive genre that will keep readers guessing and turning pages!  Next, let\'s look at the critical aspects of a murder mystery novel.  The Key Elements Of A Murder Mystery  1. Start With A Strong Hook To Capture Your Reader\'s Attention  In any good murder mystery, the crime that sets the story in motion needs to be compelling enough to hook the reader from the very first page. After all, once somebody has been murdered, it\'s up to the private detective (and the reader) to put together the pieces of who did it and why.  A strong hook will keep readers engaged as they try to solve the puzzle along with the detective. To be effective, a hook should be mysterious and intriguing, making the reader want to find out more. It should also introduce the key players in the story so that readers have a sense of who they\'re rooting for (or against!).  2. The Protagonist Should Be Someone The Reader Can Sympathise With And Root For  In any good murder mystery, the protagonist should be someone with whom the reader can empathise. After all, it\'s hard to get invested in a story if you don\'t care about the main character!  A sympathetic protagonist gives the reader someone to identify with as they try to solve the mystery. They also provide a human element to the story, making it more relatable and realistic. Of course, this doesn\'t mean that the protagonist has to be perfect. In fact, many of the best murder mysteries feature protagonists with flaws and secrets of their own!  3. Create Believable, Complex Characters For The Supporting Cast  The murder victim is only the beginning. Creating a web of complex and believable characters for the rest of the supporting cast is essential to keep readers engaged. Each character should have unique motivations, secrets, and skills that come into play as the story unfolds.  Furthermore, the relationships between these characters should be rich and multi-layered, providing clues and red herrings for the reader to follow.  4. Include A Plot Twist That The Reader Won\'t See Coming  A murder mystery is only as good as its plot twist. The best plot twists are entirely unexpected but still make perfect sense retrospectively.  An excellent way to achieve this is to plant false clues throughout the story that point the reader in the wrong direction. This will make the true killer\'s identity all the more surprising when it is finally revealed.  5. There Should Be Plenty Of Red Herrings To Keep The Reader Guessing Until The Very End  A murder mystery is not a true mystery if the reader can figure out who did it long before the end of the book.  A key element in writing a successful murder mystery is to include a red herring - a false clue that points the reader in the wrong direction. These can take many forms, from physical evidence that appears to incriminate a character but is later revealed to be planted, to eyewitnesses who give conflicting testimony.  6. The Ending Should Be Satisfying  A vital element of murder mystery books is that the ending should be satisfying, with all loose ends tied up neatly. Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule, but generally, a well-written mystery should provide closure for its readers.  You can achieve this by providing a credible explanation for all of the clues that have been left throughout the story. This not only allows readers to see how everything fits together but also leaves them feeling satisfied that they were able to solve the mystery themselves.  Another way to create a satisfying ending is by ensuring that all of the characters get what they deserve. This means that justice is served and that everyone who played a role in the story gets their comeuppance.  Different Forms Of Murder Mysteries  Murder mystery stories are a popular genre that can be written as novels, short stories, screenplays, stage plays, or even television shows. While each type of story has distinct benefits, they all share one common goal: to keep the audience guessing about whodunnit! Let\'s take a closer look at the different murder mystery forms.  Murder Mystery Novels  The novel form of a murder mystery allows for more significant character development and a more complex plot than a short story or a screenplay, allowing the reader to delve into all the nuances of each character and their motives.  Murder Mystery Short Stories  A short story is a more concise, focused way of telling a story, with fewer characters and fewer distractions from the central mystery, while centred on the inner workings of a specific character\'s mind.  Murder Mystery Screenplays  A screenplay can be an excellent format for a murder mystery, allowing the author to control the pacing and tension of the story. Typically, a script for a film is best suited to fast-paced action and suspense, with an emphasis on characters and visuals. So, a murder mystery script exemplifies the strengths of the subgenre and the screenplay format simultaneously. Murder Mystery Stage Plays  A stage play is primarily dialogue-driven, which is an excellent format for a story based on a central character interviewing others to determine the culprit.  Murder Mystery TV Shows  Serialised television has always been popular for telling murder mysteries, with shows such as CSI and Law & Order, as it allows for complex plotlines and character development in a short time frame.   Murder Mystery Examples  Knives Out By Rian Johnson (Movie)  This offbeat film, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, follows the investigation into the death of a renowned crime novelist and every shocking twist and intriguing turn keeps you guessing until the end.  And Then There Were None By Agatha Christie (Novel, Movie, Stage Play)  One of the most famous murder mystery novels ever written, this story follows a group of strangers who are invited to an isolated island off the coast of England. Once there, after they are accused of various crimes and murders, they are picked off one by one by an unknown killer. As the body count mounts, the survivors realise that there is no way off the island and that they must find the killer before it\'s too late.  Columbo (TV Show)  If you\'re a fan of detective shows, you\'ve probably seen at least one episode of Columbo. The iconic series starred Peter Falk as a wily police detective who was always one step ahead of the killer. Unlike standard whodunnits, each episode began with the audience knowing who the murderer was, but seeing Columbo piece the clues together was always a delight.  Gone Girl By Gillian Flynn (Novel, Movie)  One of the most popular murder mystery novels in recent years, Gone Girl tells the story of Nick and Amy Dunne, a married couple whose relationship is on the rocks. When Amy goes missing, Nick becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. As the police investigation unfolds, dark secrets about their marriage are revealed, and it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems.  Hound Of The Baskervilles By Arthur Conan Doyle (Novel, Movie)  This classic story revolves around the investigation of a series of murders committed on the desolate moors of Devonshire. Sherlock Holmes is hired to solve the case, and he quickly realises that the culprit is a large, ferocious hound that has been terrorising the local villagers at the bidding of its secretive master. In the end, Holmes is able to put an end to the murders and uncover the culprit.  Mystery At Rogues\' Roost By Ellery Queen (Short Story)  Rogues\' Roost is a remote and isolated inn, the perfect setting for a murder mystery. When Ellery Queen arrives, he finds that the innkeeper has been killed and the other guests are all suspects. As Ellery begins to investigate, he quickly realises that each of the guests has something to hide. The question is, who is the murderer? Ellery soon discovers that the answer lies in a hidden room at Rogues\' Roost, a room that holds the key to a decades-old mystery.  How To Write A Murder Mystery  Step 1: Determine Your Setting & Main Character  The first step is to determine when, where, and who. Will your story take place in a small town or a big city? On a beach or in the mountains? Is it a period piece or contemporary?  Once you\'ve decided on the location, it\'s time to introduce your main character. Is she a famous detective or an amateur sleuth? A hard-boiled private investigator or an inquisitive novice? By understanding your protagonist\'s motivations and backstory, you\'ll be better equipped to write a compelling mystery.  Step 2: Who Is The Victim? What Is The Murder Or Crime Committed?  Is your victim innocent or guilty of misdeeds? Are they a good person or are they thoroughly nasty? How you paint the victim will reflect in how they\'re viewed by others, including your readers.  Once you\'ve chosen your victim, it\'s time to get into the nitty-gritty of the crime itself. Where did it take place? When? How was the body found? These are all essential details that will help to set the scene. You should also consider what kind of weapon was used and whether any evidence was left at the crime scene.  Step 3: Create A List Of Potential Suspects, Along With Their Motives, Opportunities, And Alibis  The best murder mystery stories always have a large cast of potential suspects. After all, part of the fun is trying to figure out who did it! So, once you\'ve decided on your victim and your crime, it\'s time to start brainstorming a list of possible killers. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you create your list of suspects:  Each suspect should have a motive for killing the victim. What would they stand to gain by the victim\'s death?  Each suspect should have an opportunity to commit the crime. Where were they when the crime took place? Do they have access to the murder weapon?  Each suspect should have some kind of connection to the victim. How do they know each other? What is their relationship like?  Each suspect should have a seemingly valid alibi for where they were when the crime was committed. Think of each character\'s backstory and what they might have been doing at the time.  Always make sure to think about what clues and red herrings you want to include in your story when you are thinking about your suspects!  Step 4: Create A Unique Twist On The Actual Murder  This is where you take the basic concept of the murder and make it your own. It\'s essential to come up with something that will surprise your readers and keep them guessing until the big reveal.  One way to do this is to change the motives for the murder. Maybe the victim was killed for insurance money, or maybe there was a love triangle gone wrong.  You can also change the way the murder is carried out. Instead of a bullet to the head, maybe the victim is poisoned or drowned.  Whatever you choose, make sure to include a feeling of improbability or impossibility to the crime. This increases the mystery and engagement!  Step 5: Create A Timeline Of Events  The last step to writing a murder mystery is to create a timeline of events. This may seem daunting, but it\'s not as difficult as it sounds. Here are a few tips:  Start by brainstorming a list of all the events that take place in your story, no matter how big or small. Little details matter! Once you have your list, arrange the events in chronological order. If you\'re unsure about the order, that\'s okay - you can always go back and adjust as needed.  Next, flesh out each event with more details. What happened? Who was involved? Where did it take place? When did it happen? Why did it happen? Answering these questions will help you create a more detailed and believable timeline.  Finally, don\'t forget to include clues and red herrings to help keep your story suspenseful and unpredictable!  Tips For Writing A Murder Mystery  Plan out your ending before you write your story.  Ensure that everyone in the story is a potential suspect (the main character included!).  Set your murder mystery story in an exciting or unique location that adds detail to your narrative.  Frequently Asked Questions  How Do You Outline A Murder Mystery?  When outlining a murder mystery, it is essential to start with the basics: who was killed, where did the murder take place, and who are the possible suspects? Once you have these crucial elements in place, you can begin to flesh out the story. For example, what was the victim\'s relationship with the suspects? What was the motive for the murder? What evidence is there that points to a specific suspect?  How Many Suspects Should You Have In A Mystery Novel?  In a mystery novel, the number of suspects is important. Too few suspects, and the reader may feel that the answer is obvious. Too many suspects, on the other hand, can make the ending feel contrived. The key is to find the right balance. Ultimately, the story\'s plot will determine the number of suspects. However, as a general rule, having at least three suspects is advisable. This will give the reader enough options to consider without making the mystery too convoluted.  Murder Mystery Writing If you\'re excited to try your hand at writing murder mystery stories, start with a great hook that will capture your reader\'s attention. Once you have them hooked, include plenty of plot twists and red herrings to keep them guessing until the very end. And don\'t forget to create relatable characters that your readers will love (or love to hate!).  With these tips in mind, you\'re ready to write murder mysteries that will keep your readers glued to the page. Ready, set, solve! 

Are you looking to make a living out of writing? Or perhaps you\'re just starting out and want to practice various writing styles until you find the one that feels right for you. Making a living as a writer means being adaptable and able to write in different styles - whether creatively, for business, or for academic publications. In this article, I will be describing fourteen different writing styles, what they mean, and how to approach them. Why Must Writers Adopt Different Writing Styles? Every writer writes in a certain way; their style a little like a painter\'s technique - some of the best authors are recognisable by the tone, style and syntax of their work. But that doesn\'t mean all writers are limited to just writing books or resorting to just one writing style. If, like me, you are both a published author and a freelance writer, being able to adapt your writing style to fit with the publications you\'re writing for, the topics you\'re writing about, and your target audience, is key to getting plenty of work. Developing your writing skills is something all writers should aim to do. Even if you only wish to write novels for the rest of your life, being able to adapt your style of writing is a skill that will also strengthen your abilities as an author. Before we take a look at the fourteen different types of writing that you may need to learn as part of your writing career, let\'s start with the one thing you need to know before deciding on the style of writing required. What Is Your Objective? You can\'t know what style of writing is needed from you unless you know what the objective of the piece is. There are many different types of writing styles, each one catering to a different target audience and each one needing to do something different. Before you start writing, ask yourself what your objective is. Are you looking to: Inform Entertain Inspire Express your personal opinion State facts Share information Educate Expose Sell Review someone else\'s work Explain Investigate These are just a few different reasons as to why you may choose to write something, or why a certain piece may have been commissioned to you. Consider what you are trying to achieve before choosing your style. 14 Different Types Of Writing Styles Let\'s go deeper and look at fourteen very different writing styles that meet a variety of objectives. Narrative Writing Style Narrative writing is usually found in fictional work - namely novels and short stories - but you can also use a narrative writing style when writing non-fiction. Even if you are writing a blog post, when using the narrative style it should be structured using the usual story form, which means it must have a beginning, middle and an end. This style of writing takes readers on a journey, introduces them to a topic, delves into it, and then provides a conclusive ending. The piece should be engaging, creative and interesting to read, and can be written in the first person and include personal experiences. Each writer has their own writing style, so feel free to use the kinds of words that you feel comfortable with. It can be fun and informal, or more serious and formal. Things To Remember Ask yourself whether your piece of work needs to be presented as a story, or whether the reader is only after facts and you can communicate it in a simpler way. Remember, the narrative style of writing isn\'t limited to just fiction writing, it can include essays and articles, but is sometimes too informal for more academic or business publications. Descriptive Writing Descriptive writing is full of... description! Often combined with narrative writing, it can be used in fiction and poetry. For instance, if you were commissioned to write an article about tulips for a scientific magazine you would do well to research all facts on tulips, describe them from a scientific standpoint, and ensure your data is correct. But if you were writing a magazine article about your day at a tulip farm, or a scene from a book where your main characters are frolicking in a field of tulips, then you might prefer to use descriptive writing. Descriptive Writing Allows You To Use: Literary devices (metaphors, similes, allegories, archetypes etc) The five senses/sensory details Any tense you prefer Famous authors use descriptive writing in all their novels. Unlike a screenplay, where there\'s minimal need for narration and most of the story is based around dialogue, when writing a book or short story it\'s important to add as much description as possible. Persuasive Writing Persuasive writing is generally used in sales, marketing and advertising - although you might use it when trying to convince someone to work with you (such as in a query letter to an agent or a cover letter along with a job application). Convincing people to buy something, do something, or act a certain way through words alone is a very specific skill, which is why top ad agencies pay copywriters very well. Using A Persuasive Writing Style Means Applying The Following Approach: Write about what you know Understand your audience Hook their attention Research well Get your facts right Be empathetic Repeat yourself Use keywords Ask rhetorical questions (not too many) Creative Writing Creative writing generally refers to writing fiction - it\'s about creating characters, setting, and scenarios and bringing them to life. Although it\'s usually found in a novel or short story, creative writing styles can also be found in articles and even blog posts. An author\'s writing style is unique, and each one has a way of providing vivid descriptions of the human experience through their creatively descriptive writing style. They may choose flowery prose, they may keep it sharp and simple, or their stories may be unique and inventive in the way they are written. When choosing creative writing, consider the genre and study it well. Horror writers write very differently from erotic writers. And likewise, those who write for children approach their work very differently to authors who pen literary fiction. The beauty of creative writing is that there are no rules, so don\'t overthink it. Just be creative! Expository Writing Expository writing is a body of work that is either trying to explain, illuminate, educate or \'expose\' (which is where the word \'expository\' comes from). It may be an investigative piece by a journalist exposing a juicy story for a newspaper or magazine, or it may be a textbook or instruction manual explaining how something works. Even a blog post such as this one is expository writing because I\'m outlining all the different types of writing styles you can adopt and (I hope) you are learning along the way. The key to writing in an expository style is to keep things clear and succinct. Expository Writing Is Supported By Using: Diagrams Quotes or examples Bullet points Clear headers Images Subjective Writing Subjective writing is all about writing from your own point of view and sharing your opinion. Subjective writing is generally written in an individual\'s own voice and may discuss real life topics, often based on personal experiences. An example of this is a writer with their own column in a magazine or newspaper, a blogger, a reviewer, a non-fiction author writing a book about a topic they are knowledgeable in, or someone writing their memoirs. Although non-fiction work should feature accurate data and shouldn\'t include made-up facts or figures, with subjective writing the author is allowed to express their opinions freely. Review Writing A review writer focuses on the works of others (or products) and gives their subjective opinion on the topic they are covering. Critics and bloggers make a living from writing reviews which are widely read. In many cases, those reviews can make or break a movie/product/event, depending on the weight that the reviewer\'s words carry. To Be A Reviewer You Need To: Be knowledgeable about what you are writing Be credible Understand your audience Be prepared for reactions/backlash Back your findings with facts And (although your opinions are subjective) it always helps to be fair Anyone can review anything nowadays, so if you are passionate about something and want to practice your review writing, you can... Set up your own blog Create videos for social media Write reviews on pages such as Netgalley, Goodreads and Amazon Review books etc for recognised publications Poetic Writing Poetic writing isn\'t simply about writing poetry (although it does include that too). Writing poetically means creating a piece of work with emotional appeal. That may be a novel, a beautifully-written feature in a magazine, or even a piece of sales copy that really captures the hearts and imagination of your target audience. When considering whether to write your piece poetically, ask yourself what the objective of the work is. What Can Be Written Poetically: Poems Short stories Feature articles Novels Blogs Advertising copy What Can\'t Be Written Poetically: Academic papers Business papers Expository writing Scientific papers If you are really creative you may attempt to combine more than one style, such as writing a persuasive piece in a poetic fashion... but that, of course, is dependent on what you are selling and who you are selling it to. Formal Writing Unlike the other styles of writing above which give the writer the opportunity to express themselves creatively, use literary devices, and figurative language; the aim of formal writing is not to entertain or sweep the reader away with a compelling story but to outline facts and be accurate. You can find formal writing styles used in business publications and textbooks, non-fiction books, manuals and academic papers. Here are some examples of formal writing styles and how they differ from one another. Objective Writing Writing something objective means that you are unbiased - something a news journalist should strive to be. It is the very opposite of an opinion piece. With formal writing it is often important to be subjective because the focus of the work is on the subject and not on the point of view. An objective writer generally uses the third person (because they are not talking about their own experiences or what they think) and they stick to the facts. Examples Of Objective Writing May Include: News articles Press release Web copy Fact sheet Any type of report Academic papers Scientific, technical and business writing One exception may be in academic writing. Although the style is normally formal, if the student has been asked to give their review or opinion on something (such as their interpretation of Lady Macbeth\'s soliloquy) then the work will remain subjective. Technical Writing Technical writing is writing communication used in technical fields such as computer hardware and software. It can also include other technical industries such as: Architecture Engineering Aeronautics Robotics Finance Science Consumer electronics Medical Biotechnology Technical published works may include articles for technical or internal corporate publications and websites, reviews, consumer-facing literature or product information. To be a technical writer is really helps to understand both the industry you are writing for/about, as well as the audience. Technical writing is very... well, technical... so it\'s vital that all the information you share is factually correct. Scientific Writing Much like technical writing, if you wish to write for scientific journals and publications you really need to understand (and preferably be qualified in) what you are writing about. Scientific writing can centre around a number of topics; everything from robotics, AI and medicine, to historical scientific discoveries and climate change. Places That Feature Scientific Writing May Include: Scientific publications or websites News articles covering scientific discoveries Internal communication for the science industry Product descriptions or reviews Academic Writing For many of us, the first piece of writing we were ever asked to produce was an academic paper at school. Whether that includes an essay, a thesis, or a dissertation - scholarly writing takes a different type of skill from the other types of writing styles above. Writing academically involves a lot of research. Whether you set out to write an objective essay (ie if you are writing an essay on a time in history or a geographical location) or a subjective piece (ie your opinion on a piece of art, literature or music) it is still really important that you research and gather all the information required, use quotes and examples to back up your theories, and use citations/a bibliography to explain your findings. An academic essay should be written in three parts - somewhat like a narrative piece of writing. How To Structure An Essay Writing an essay is a little like writing an expository article (such as this one). Once you have collated your research and made notes, split your essay into three parts. 1. IntroductionThis is where you approach the topic and explain what you are going to do. You can even write \'In this essay I will...\' 2. Main CopyThis is the part of the essay where you address the question. Depending on the length of the essay you may want to split it in to 3-6 parts. Present each argument with clear references, citations and examples (always ensuring you address the initial question). 3. ConclusionThis is the last part of the essay where you include a shorter summary of what you have discovered, answer the initial question and make your final opinion/conclusion clear. Business Writing Writing for business is one of the more lucrative types of freelance writing as the corporate world tends to have bigger budgets for copywriters. Writing about business can be both objective and subjective, covering a large range of topics from economy and finance, to politics and business development. This can range from serious pieces in publications such as Time Magazine and the New York Times, to more personal articles on a business blog or website. Business writers also cater directly to consumers. They may write expository articles and How-To guides. There is also a large market for self help business books that assist readers with their business acumen or help them gain confidence in the corporate world. Once again, it\'s important when writing for business that you understand both the subject matter and the audience, as each industry varies greatly and the tone of what you write should do too. 6 Things To Consider Before Writing When you are commissioned to write a piece, there are a number of things you must know before you start. It goes without saying that the fee and deadline are important, especially if you are a freelancer, but if you are writing as part of your day job, you need to really understand the task you have been set. Here are 6 things to consider before writing: Word Count & Objective How many words is your piece? I knew, before writing this blog post, that the word count had to fall between 3,100-3,500 words. When you know what you have to work with, you can think about flow and pacing, and how to set out your article. If you are writing for online and the object of the piece is to attract traffic, then SEO and the layout are really important. Alternatively, if your goal is to persuade a brand\'s key demographic to buy something and you are only given a small word count, it\'s vital that you choose your words carefully and are as succinct as possible. This is especially important in advertising when the designers only have a small amount of space for your words. Unique Writing Styles Every writer has a unique writing style, and that may be why you\'re commissioned to write a certain piece. Ask yourself what the client/your boss is looking for and ensure your tone fits not only the topic and style of writing you are aiming for, but that it\'s in line with everything else that publication has released. Sentence Structure How you structure a sentence matters. If you are writing something creative or poetic, you can allow yourself to have long, descriptive prose. If you are writing something technical or expository, then it\'s a lot easier for the reader to see each sentence broken down into bullet points, with lots of headers. Word Choice As above, the style of writing you have chosen will determine the choice of words you use. Will you get technical, descriptive, creative or simple? That all depends on the... Audience It is impossible to write effective sales copy, a novel, or even a blog without knowing you who are talking to. If you are writing a thriller novel, you will use a completely different writing style than if you write romance. Likewise, if you are writing for a scientific journal it will sound very different than if you are writing toy reviews. Before I began planning this article I knew I was writing for adult writers. But this blog would have looked completely different if I were describing different writing styles to high school students. Publication/Platform Likewise, it\'s really important to know where your work is going to be published. All magazines and newspapers have a house style (even book publishers do). When you are commissioned to write for a publication they will send you a guide as to what your writing should sound like (as well as what they don\'t want). Always read other pieces of work in that publication to get an idea of your audience, their style and the tone required. Frequently Asked Questions What Are The 5 Main Styles Of Writing? Narrative - a piece of writing that has a start, beginning and end. Descriptive - prose that goes into detail and pulls the reader in. Persuasive - reserved for writers trying to sell products and services, or convince readers to do something or join somewhere. Expository - a style of writing that exposes something, illuminates, educates or reveals; this can include journalism, How-To guides, non-fiction and blogs such as this one. Creative - this normally applies to novels and short stories, although you can have non-fiction work that\'s creative, such as essays and memoirs. How Do I Identify My Writing Style? An author\'s writing style is defined by two things: Voice - this is how the piece of writing sounds, what makes it unique to that writer and their point of view. Tone - the tone is identified by the vibe the piece of writing conveys. Is it serious, humorous, eerie, or pompous, even? Get It Write Getting to write for a living is an honour, but getting it right is no easy feat. The key to success as an author and freelance writer is to be adaptable, to keep learning and to understand where your strengths lie. My one piece of advice to any writer starting out in this field is to focus on two to three types of writing. Perhaps you have a background in marketing, so are good at persuasive writing and expository writing, and are also an author. In which case stick to those three. Or perhaps you come from a technical and scientific background and have written a number of How-To non-fiction books. In which case specialise in the styles you are already familiar with. However and whatever you choose to write, I hope this article has been a useful reference guide and has inspired you to get your work out there. Happy writing!

One of the hardest things to gauge as writers is, perhaps, whether our writing is any good. Honestly, many published authors experience this too.   There is one thing we can do to ensure we keep improving though – refine our stories by using writing techniques.  In this article, we’ll go through different writing techniques, list writing technique examples, and note how we can use them to take our stories to a whole new level.  What Are Writing Techniques?  As authentic, racy, or tear-jerking as your plot might be, the storytelling comes down to every single sentence. The skilful execution of sentences and their syntax is called a writing technique. We can observe this skillfulness in the choice of tense for a scene or setting, point-of-view narrative, and other literary devices chosen by the writer.   Useful Writing Techniques To Enrich Your Work  Using writing techniques, consciously, makes our writing stronger. So, let’s look at some of the best techniques and writing styles we could adopt:   Playing With Time  Using time in certain ways can be very effective. It can involve literal time travel or just a travel in time, like a flash-forward or a flashback.   You could even use time to slow down a situation in the story, or speed it right up. This is often a well-handled technique in popular fiction. Take a look at this passage:  Hermione didn’t turn up for the next class and wasn’t seen all afternoon... Harry and Ron overheard Parvati Patil telling her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls’ bathroom and wanted to be left alone.  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling The passage of time here is not as important as the passage of that time in Hermione’s absence is. Time (a whole afternoon) has been squeezed in to drop in information that’s important later on in the story.   Point Of View Narratives  Every narrator is unreliable to some degree, because they’re human, even if fictional. Using POV narratives with multiple characters takes this human limitation to a whole other level. Naturally, it works very well in mysteries, thrillers, and crime fiction. Think The Da Vinci Code, Gone Girl, and The Girl On The Train.   Using various POV narratives is a good way to eliminate stagnation, especially if your plot is complex and your story is somewhat slow. George R R Martin does this in his mammoth fantasy novel series A Song Of Ice And Fire, popularly known as the Game Of Thrones television series.   Subversion Of Clichés  Every writer is bound to have fallen into the cliché sinkhole at one point or another – the mousy librarian, the girl in high heels, the good-looking chauvinist. Well, you know them. Nothing wrong with clichés, except sometimes they’re overdone and boring.   Lately though, one of the frontrunners in subverting clichés is Disney. In aiming to stay relevant for kids of the new generation, they’re now rich with a Cinderella who wants nothing but to design and sell dresses; a male fairy-godparent with an exquisite taste in fashion; Princess Merida (from the movie Brave) who runs wild, loves archery and couldn’t care less about princes; Princess Fiona who sacrifices her beauty to be with the love of her life – an ogre, Shrek; and Maleficent who becomes an adoptive mother (and true love) to Sleeping Beauty Aurora.   These subversions make for very satisfying stories retold for the current times. They add immense didactic value to a whole genre – fairytales. Comparative Descriptions  We’re all fond of metaphors and similes, aren’t we? But it can get tiring to read the same old Her eyes were blue as the seas or Her words cut him like a knife in descriptive writing. There’s a line from a debut novel When Dimple Met Rishi by author Sandhya Menon that has a descriptive writing style which is neither cliché nor purple: His eyes reminded her of old apothecary bottles, deep brown, when the sunlight hit them and turned them almost amber.  When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon There are other kinds of comparative descriptions too: personification (Look at that sad bungalow; no one lives in it); pathetic fallacy (Even the sun gave up soon that day and by the time he reached home the sky was well and truly blue);and anthropomorphism where the personification is very literal (Pinocchio, the wooden boy that came to life).   Lyrical Writing  One of the things we might not often think about when we write is how the text sounds. This is important in all kinds of writing, from persuasive writing to narrative writing. Those with a flair for lyrical writing are able to create compelling prose, using sounds to great effect.   Using assonance (repeated vowel sounds), consonance (repeated consonant sounds), and alliteration can easily draw the reader’s attention. Here’s a passage from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, where Rowling uses consonance and alliteration to draw the reader’s focus toward Professor Umbridge’s speech:   “The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance... There again, progress for progress\'s sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering...” Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling Funnily enough, most characters don’t pay much attention to it, even though we as readers can see, clearly, that Umbridge (on behalf of the Ministry) intends to meddle with the school’s affairs. It’s a clever usage of lyrical quality in expository writing to foreshadow the plot development.   Irony  The above scene, where readers are privy to Professor Umbridge’s true intentions, yet the characters are not, is an instance of dramatic irony. Situational irony is another variation, where a character finds themselves in the exact opposite situation of what’s normal for, or expected of, them. There’s an episode in the popular 90s sitcom Friends, where Joey plays a neurosurgeon in a fictional television drama who then dies of brain damage.   Irony sure spices things up, be it for comedy or foreboding development, or in the above case, both.   Sensory Appeal  There’s a common tendency to describe a setting as the narrator sees it. Not including what they smell, hear, feel and taste can sometimes make the writing stale. All the text needs is a bit of varied sensory language. There’s a passage from the bestselling thriller Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn that captures the first kiss of the protagonist and her husband with a literal, kind of sickening, sweetness:  As we turn the corner, the local bakery is getting its powdered sugar delivered... we can see nothing but the shadows of the deliverymen in the white, sweet cloud... Nick pulls me close and smiles that smile again, and he takes a single lock of my hair between two fingers and runs them all the way to the end, tugging twice, like he’s ringing a bell. His eye­lashes are trimmed with powder, and before he leans in, he brushes the sugar from my lips so he can taste me. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Flynn has made use of the senses of taste and touch, to turn a kiss into something ominous. This is further pronounced by Flynn’s use of kinesthetic imagery in the phrases “turn the corner” and “like he’s ringing a bell”.   Suffice it to say that making use of these writing techniques consciously can bring about great results. Now, let’s look into a few ways in which you can use these writing styles in your own stories to develop good prose.  Useful Writing Techniques To Enrich Your Work  Foreshadowing If you’d like to keep your reader hooked to your story, then, try foreshadowing to make the reader feel anxious for your character.  Multiple POVs  If your story is a family drama and rather slow, consider moving the plot along through multiple-character POV narrations. Subvert Clichés Why not try subverting the cliché of ‘happy endings’ in your romance? What if your protagonists decide that marriage is not for them, and instead explore how a platonic friendship is actually a better fit for them? The happy ending, then, is a healthy and mature friendship instead of the idealised marriage.  Try Something Unique Let’s say you’d like to write a story on environmental pollution. What if you anthropomorphised water and detailed its struggle with contamination of various kinds?  Experiment If your character is on the hunt for a killer, try sending them to a blues concert where the singer sings a song with alliteration in the lyrics, hiding clues. This can draw the reader’s attention while leaving your character clueless. That’s dramatic irony and lyrical writing in one go.  Use The Senses If you need to describe mundane information, try drawing the reader into the intimate sensory perceptions of your character. It is a sure-shot way to hold the reader’s attention.   Frequently Asked Questions  What Are The 7 Writing Techniques?  The seven writing techniques are: Playing with time Point-of-view narratives Subversion of clichés Comparative descriptions Lyrical writing Irony Sensory appeal  What Is Good Writing?  If you put some time between the first edit and the final one, you can pay more attention to the creative writing techniques used and see how well they serve your story. Conscious self-editing of these writing styles is perhaps the closest measure of good writing.  Writing Techniques Whether you\'re looking for ways to enliven your writing style, or are keen to develop your writing skills, I hope this article has been helpful. Experiment, have fun, and see what works for you!

So, you want to write a sci fi novel but don\'t know where to start... If you\'re a huge sci fi fan who has read all the books and watched all the movies, it may well feel like every idea has already been written. It hasn\'t! The joy of being a writer is that YOU are writing the story, which means even the most unoriginal trope can be made unique and original because you have given it your own special twist. But you still need an idea. In this article, I will be sharing tips on where to find sci-inspiration, and giving you 110 sci-fi ideas to use as a starting point for your own science fiction story. Yes, 110 FREE ideas! What Is Sci Fi? Many people mistake sci fi for fantasy, which is understandable. Both are full of things that don\'t yet exist in real life. The simplest way to define sci fi is to remember that although it is about something outside of our known reality - ie life on another planet or living among cyborgs - most sci fi stories are based on existing concepts; science and technology. Fantasy, on the other hand, is completely made up and often uses inexplicable concepts such as magic. Although, you can mix sci fi with other genres. Star Wars, for instance, is set in space but also includes a magical system - so it\'s often described as sci fi fantasy. And you can have dystopian sci fi which shows our real world in the future and how our actions have caused it to change for the worse. Science Fiction Story Ideas When it comes to finding inspiration for your sci fi stories, ideas can be found absolutely anywhere. Here are just a few places where you can start looking: Old newspaper articles Current news Scientific developments Science and history museums and exhibitions Environmental concerns Animal and plant life (the more you know about mushrooms, for instance, the more you realise you wish you didn\'t know) Space travel Planets and the solar system Science Fiction Writing Prompts If that\'s not enough to get your imagination going, I\'ve put together some one-line prompts for your writing. These ideas are categorised by themes, and feel free to add your own twist or mix them up. The joy of writing sci fi is that there are no limits, so take your sci fi story to places no one has ever gone before. To infinity and beyond! Let\'s start with alien races and all the fun that theme can bring... Alien Prompts Aliens aren\'t scary, in fact they are already living in our house. We just have to find them. An alien planet looks to earth to save it. When it comes to ask for help it divides human kind between those who want to save them - and those who want to kill them. A woman keeps seeing visions of an alien world. She thinks she\'s going crazy, until she realises they are memories and she\'s not human. Every galaxy is destroyed and planet Earth becomes the prize that five alien races are fighting over. A man with no womb finds himself pregnant. Is it a miracle? Or has he been implanted with an alien child? A young girl has a special ability - she can communicate with other planets. But can she be trusted to tell scientists the truth? An alien invasion is imminent and humans must come together to protect our planet. Can they put their differences aside forever and unite? Archeologists discover an old relic buried deep in the desert. It\'s an alien ship. The pyramids are not what we thought they were - hieroglyphics are in fact an alien language, changing the course of history as we know it. Scientists have been keeping a big secret; they have an alien in captivity that can reverse death. Who will it bring back first? A planet called Earth has been discovered. Is it worth investigating? Or are humans best left to destroy themselves? Environmental Disasters Prompts The planet is getting hotter and some humans have evolved to withstand extreme temperatures. But how long until the world completely burns itself out? Global warming melts all the ice caps and half the planet is about to drown. Will humanity survive the destruction or learn to adapt to a watery world? After a giant nuclear war humans have been living in the earth\'s core for five hundred years. It\'s safe to go back up now, but how has the planet changed in that time? And what creatures are awaiting them? Humans have cut down that last tree and are manufacturing oxygen in factories. But then the factories are destroyed. Is humanity about to take its last breath? Animals and fish refuse to be eaten by humans anymore and begin to fight back. We\'ve been burying our waste for too long and now huge sink holes are appearing all over the world - some large enough to destroy entire cities! Water is about to run out on Earth and the race is on to find another alternative... or another planet. Volcanoes which have been dormant for centuries have started erupting, and, as if the lava and smoke they produce aren\'t devastating enough, the creatures they\'ve been concealing rise with them. Outer Space Prompts Crew members of a spaceship sent to explore a new planet discover that it\'s exactly like earth. Except for one fundamental difference. A distant planet is discovered that has oxygen and water, the only problem is that it also has monsters. A space station full of scientists trying to save the planet is under attack by its own government which is benefitting financially from the destruction of the human race. A spaceship travelling at light speed finds itself in a parallel universe where Earth is very different indeed. A space pirate finds himself aboard a ship containing the one thing that may save humanity. Science And Technology Prompts It\'s 3000 AD and humans survive solely on genetically modified food. Then one family learns to grow their first real tomato putting them in danger from the government, the media, and those who will do anything to get their hands on it. Thanks to artificial intelligence, there are no human cops left. Yet the AI police force become sentient and realise they are the bad guys. Some humans have started to grow wings and others have begun to breathe underwater. What is happening? A scientist discovers a way for us to read the minds of dogs - and it turns out they weren\'t man\'s best friend after all! A scientist clones his ex-girlfriend after she breaks up with him, leading to a series of hilarious but unfortunate events. A hundred years after the invention of human flight, things start to go very wrong. Time Travel Prompts A time traveller from the year 2998 tries to warn those living in 1998 of what will happen if they continue to treat the planet badly. Do they listen? A Sliding Doors-type movie where we see the world in two ways. What if we had the ability to swap lives with someone? Memories, bodies and souls? Would you do it? Two people living in parallel universes fall in love. Except one is suffering from a serious mental illness. Is this real? A teenage girl\'s boyfriend goes missing. 15 years later she becomes a scientist and invents a way to go back in time and look for him. A time traveller who has had a family with a woman from one hundred years ago must discover a way to bring them back to the future. Dystopian Sci Fi Prompts A woman never knew she has a twin sister - or that both of them were created in a lab. They set out to discover more people like them. The last human being on Earth hasn\'t seen another human in 12 years. But then he sees smoke coming out of the chimney of a hut in the woods. A group of women escape prison, only to find themselves in a world made up of only men. No one has died in sixteen years. How is the world going to survive if no one\'s life can end? A man tries to find his best friend in the aftermath of a nuclear war. But he doesn\'t realise that the man is out to kill him. One woman fights to protect her child in a world where every baby is brought up in a farm and trained to work for an evil government. A fight is on to find the last survivors of Europe after the entire continent was destroyed. The world is either ocean or desert, but one man and his gang believe they can find the lost city of Londonburgh - their only hope for survival. Combine Well-Loved Sci Fi Stories With One Another Agents, editors and film producers love to ask writers for a \'comp\' - a comparison title to position your own work against. So why not start with a well-loved comp or two when coming up with your idea? Some of the most unlikely parings can make for the best ideas! Alien and Children of Men: After years of no babies being born on Earth, a woman is finally pregnant. But it\'s not human. The Invisible Man and Men In Black: Special forces are sent out to find the invisible people living amongst us. Independence Day and Attack the Block: Aliens are going to attack the Houses of Parliament, but only London\'s street gangs can save them. Planet of the Apes and The Abyss: Creatures from beneath the sea have evolved and have taken over the human race. Ghost Busters and Donnie Darko: Humans are being haunted by the ghosts of people who are yet to die, visiting them from the future. Godzilla and The Hunger Games: A group of children must fight for survival in a dystopian world full of giant monsters. Frankenstein and Predator: A scientist creates a monster made up of all the bodies of notorious murderers - but the monster escapes! Who is hunting who? The Fly and E.T: An alien hides in the basement of a family\'s house. Except it\'s not an alien - it\'s their scientist father after an experiment went wrong. Will he be able to tell them before they kill him? Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Robocop: A group of kids try to rescue aliens but it all backfires when it turns out they\'re here from the future to arrest those who are about to commit a crime. Jurassic Park and Back to the Future: A young man invents a time machine to mend his love life and discovers he\'s gone back 5 million years instead of five! Don\'t Look Up and Alien. Experts warn the world that we are about to come under attack... but no one listens until it\'s too late. The Faculty and The Thing: A group of science students on a school trip to Alaska discover an alien presence, only to realise it\'s been with them all along. Romeo and Juliet and I-Robot. When a teenager falls in love with a cyborg, it creates a deadly battle between man and machine. Science Fiction Fantasy Ideas A secret society of scientists and mathematicians invent magic. But how long can they keep it a secret? A scientist creates the world\'s first flying unicorn, leading to an entire cast of fairytale creatures coming to life. A wormhole leads a group of astronauts to a world full of magic. A company starts to manufacture wands that can make any wish come true. The world is about to look very different! Sci Fi Horror Prompts A small town is invaded by what they believe are ants - until the tiny things start to grow into terrifying monsters. An old lady on vacation takes a rare plant cutting from a holy site. After tending to it, the plant turns out to be something a lot scarier. A family move into a haunted house and, one by one, they meet a gruesome death. Will the odd neighbour fix his ghost-hunting machine in time? In this town nothing can be trusted - not people, not animals, and especially not household appliances. A group of teenage girls discover a cave on a school trip. Inside that cave is a ship. Inside that ship is the answer to the salvation of the human race. Kid Lit Sci Fi Ideas Scientists realise they were wrong about gravity - and now all the children are floating away. Two children compete to win top prize at the science fair, unaware they have invented something that will change the world. A plague is sweeping through the world that only affects those over the age of 18. It\'s down to the children to save the human race. Two teenagers in love are separated when, thanks to global warming, their country is split in two and slowly crumbling into the sea. Will they ever find one another again? Eric can control electricity - and it\'s not as much fun as he thought it would be. A boy and his friend are told not to touch his scientist father\'s new invention. But they do - leading to one very big disaster. Other Fun Science Fiction Ideas Write a story based on sci-fi-sounding songs: The Killers – “Spaceman” Blondie – “Rapture” Flight of the Conchords – “The Humans Are Dead/Robots” Elton John – “Rocket Man” David Bowie – “Starman” Think about a time in your own life, and give it a sci fi twist. ie What if, that time you found a stray dog... it was really a creature from out of space? Look at old family photos. What would make them out of this world? What if the inventions of the past had turned out a little differently? How would that look today? Look at myths and legends and give them a scientific twist. How do they look now? As yourself... What If? What if: Animals could talk? The sun disappeared? The moon was really a portal to another world? Plants wanted to eat us? Scientists were wrong about how our bodies work? The Bible was actually written by aliens? All the countries in the world merged together? All world leaders were aliens? Schools became dystopian training camps? Everyone developed a superpower when they turned 50? Babies went straight from a year old to 21? Humans could fly? Animals swapped abilities? Your parents were really robots? Your pet was an alien? Fish decided to grow legs? Robots and aliens united to wipe out the human race? Time To Get Writing! After reading through all these ideas, you should now be inspired enough to go where no one has ever dared to tread before! I hope you have found these 105 sci fi writing prompts and ideas useful for writing your next novel or short story. And remember, you don\'t have to pick just one - why not combine two or three prompts and see where they take you? Good luck with your next sci fi project. May the force be with you and the odds be forever in your favour!

Writing a compelling story, whether it\'s a novel or a short story, can be hard work. As an author, I\'ve had the pleasure of judging a number of writing competitions, and I have always known by the very first page if a story is going to be good or not. How? Because the writer has combined that wonderful mix of intrigue, character, voice and theme right from the onset. In this article, I will be highlighting the twelve key elements that make a great story, helping you turn your tale into something that will stay in the minds of readers for years to come. How Can You Write The Best Story Possible? Sadly, with a world full of books vying for the attention of readers it\'s not enough to simply be a good writer. There are many excellent writers out there, yet not all of them find success with their books. If you want to catch the attention of a literary agent, editor, competition judge, or (and especially) your readers, you need to know how to write a story that will really grab everyone\'s attention. When I first started writing fiction I learned things the hard way. I used to think that writing a good book simply meant having the right story ideas - but it\'s a lot more than that. Good writers know that a great book needs to enthral its readers in a way that feels completely incidental, but is actually strategically planned and plotted. So before you start writing your bestseller, take a look at this checklist of twelve things your story should contain. 1. The Pitch Personally, I like to start with a great story pitch well before I start plotting my book. If you can sum up your story in just one line, then it will be a lot easier to sell to agents and editors in the future. Here\'s an example. \"When a young man named Pi survives a shipwreck that kills both his parents, he finds himself stranded at sea on a life raft, along with a collection of wild animals... including a vicious tiger.\" Did you recognise my description of The Life of Pi? In one sentence you are summing up not only what the book is about, but also the reasons why a reader will be compelled to find out what happens next. If you can\'t do this with your book, then you will find getting the attention of an agent a lot more difficult. 2. The Hook A great hook is what makes people keep reading beyond the first line. Not every story needs to begin with a kick-ass sentence, but you only have one chance to make a good first impression so it helps to pull your readers in by page one. Once you have your story idea think about how and where you will begin your book. Here\'s an interesting example: \"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.\" The first line of Orwell\'s novel, 1984, instantly tells you that it\'s set in a world and time we are not familiar with. You\'re instantly asking yourself \'what is that all about\'? 3. Strong Voice Ensuring your novel has a strong voice doesn\'t mean that it necessarily has to be written in the first person, as this can be achieved in third person too. It simply means that the narrative is so beguiling or striking that the reader instantly understands your main character (or the one whose point of view they are experiencing) and is intrigued to find out more. Let\'s take a look at how Irvine Welsh achieves this in his bestselling book, Trainspotting:\"Ma room is bare and uncarpeted.  There’s a mattress in the middle ay the flair with a sleeping–bag oan it, an electric–bar fire, and a black and white telly oan a small wooden chair.  Ah’ve goat three brown plastic buckets, half–filled wi a mixture ay disinfectant and water for ma shite, puke and pish. \" Not only does he write in the Scottish dialect, but this first person description of the character\'s bedroom tells you all you need to know about him, his life, and the themes of the book. 4. Memorable Characters Talking of characters, your main character needs to be a hero the reader is rooting for. They may be (should be) flawed, realistic, and hopeful, have a goal, face challenges, and their interaction with every other single character in the novel should be for a reason. Give them quirks, unique features or personalities, a memorable backstory, and a reason for being who they are and doing what they\'re doing. Don\'t be tempted to make your MC perfect. No human is perfect. Make them relatable and make sure they learn something by the end of the book. 5. Insightful Theme What is the core message of your story? If you don\'t know, then there\'s a chance it may fall flat. I\'m not saying every book has to be didactic or preachy; this isn\'t about teaching people lessons, it\'s about that one word that encompasses a story. For instance, The Life of Pi is about survival. And 1984 is about rebelling against a fascist regime. When choosing a theme it helps to draw inspiration from our own lives, so write your own story. Not literally, I\'m not talking about memoirs. But if you are passionate about something, whether it\'s working-class lives or saving the planet, centre your work around that theme. You will write it a lot better than something you have no personal experience of. Remember you want people talking about your book one day, so it helps to give them a discussion piece. 6. Know Your Genre This is very important as agents, editors and readers want to know what they are getting. It\'s okay to mix your genres (ie fantasy romance or historical horror) but the more precise you make it the easier it will be to attract readers. 7. Interesting Plot Well, this one is obvious. You may tick off all the above but if nothing interesting happens in your book then no one is going to enjoy it. The hardest part of the writing process is coming up with an idea that is original yet will also appeal to readers of similar books. If you\'re inspired by other novels in your genre look at how they keep your interest, including the twists and turns the story takes that make it so memorable. 8. Great World Building World building isn\'t reserved solely for the fantasy genre. Whether your book takes place in the future, in the scorching desert, or on Middle Earth, how you describe the backdrop to your story makes a huge difference. Let\'s take Harry Potter, for example. What people love about J K Rowling\'s world building is the details - from the decor of Hogwarts, to the description of Ron Weasley\'s home, to the Ministry of Magic building. They also love how it\'s all interwoven into the real world, including magic happenings in everyday places like King\'s Cross station and the centre of London. It\'s that magic that not only captured the imagination of children and adults alike, but also turned it into the biggest book franchise the world has ever seen. 9. Realistic Dialogue There is nothing worse than reading a great story and then coming across unrealistic dialogue. It\'s jarring. How your characters speak has to describe them, their surroundings, the genre you are writing in, and how they\'re feeling at that moment. Ensure that what your characters are saying is: Relevant Concise Appropriate Matches their personalities Either moves the plot along or gives the reader an insight into that person\'s character 10. Good Structure And Pacing Have you ever read a book and thought it was confusing or boring? That will be because of two things- structure and pacing. Story Structure The very least a story needs is a beginning, a middle, and an end. I like to work to the Save The Cat beats, which means sticking to the usual three act structure but breaking them down into 15 beats. This includes: Act 1: Opening Image Theme Stated Setup Catalyst Debate Break Into Act 2 B Story Fun and Games Midpoint Bad Guys Close In All is Lost Dark Night of the Soul Break Into Act 3 Finale Final Image This may sound prescriptive but it can be applied to everything from Austen to Tolkein, Blyton to Brown. But there are many ways to structure a story, so see what works best for you. Pacing It\'s very tempting, as a writer, to info dump everything you want the reader to know right at the beginning of the story. Don\'t do that. Remember, that even if the book is a thriller, no reader wants to be exhausted the whole way through. So... much like running a race... pace yourself. Build up to the climax, then give your readers a lull, then raise the stakes again, then lead them into a false sense of security. It\'s all the ups and downs that make the ride so much more enjoyable. 11. Conflict And Tension Talking of ups and downs, rising action is key to a great story. Without conflict and tension, there\'s no reason for your readers to keep reading. If a hero goes on an adventure and everything goes swimmingly and they achieve their goal, well... it may be nice for the MC, but it\'s very boring to read. Make sure that you make your main character suffer. Not so much that they totally give up - but nearly. Then, when they get to the end... 12. A Fantastic Ending ... give them a happy ending. Or not. A great ending means that the reader is satisfied, even though it may not be all that happy for your hero. Include an extra twist, maybe a nice surprise, but most of all make sure there\'s hope. Not only must your hero learn their lesson but the reader must come away feeling like the story is complete and they have no further questions. Frequently Asked Questions What Are The Three Things That Make A Good Story? The three main things that make a good story are the hook, characters, and the voice. Hook - start your story in a way that will hook your readers and keep them interested. Characters - make sure they are interesting and that (although most probably flawed) your readers will root for them until the end. Voice - ensure your style of writing is fresh and matches the genre of the book. What Are The 4 P\'s Of Storytelling? The four P\'s of storytelling are people, place, plot, and purpose. People - Who are the characters in your book and why are they there? Place - Where is your book set and how can you bring it to life? Plot - What happens in your book and why should we care? Purpose - What theme or message are you trying to convey? Why did you write this book? That\'s A Wrap If you reached the end of this article feeling invigorated and eager to write your best book ever, then hurray! Good luck to you. And if you have run through my checklist and feel a little worried that your current manuscript doesn\'t include all of these things, then I have great news for you. The best thing about writing a book is that you can keep editing it until it shines. So take what you have, go deep with your characters, wider with your story, and really hook your readers from the very beginning. Have fun making your good story even greater!

A premise refers to the core structural elements of our story. In simpler terms: a summary of what our story is about. In this article, we will discover how to craft and distil our story’s premise so that we have a strong sense of its purpose and direction, allowing us to relay this to our readers. Constantly referring back to a good premise when we begin to pen our books is the key to creating the best story that we can, ensuring we stay true to the plot and our mission statement. It\'s an important part of the writing process. A focused and well-defined premise continues to deliver, opening many doors for us as writers once we have typed those magic words, THE END… What Is A Premise? The literary definition of a premise is the principle idea behind a work of fiction. It is the first impression statement that tells our potential audience - reader, blogger, agent, publisher, publicist, bookseller, librarian, influencer, or movie producer - what our story is trying to do. Getting it right is crucial if we want our book to be noticed and shouted about, especially in today’s highly competitive publishing industry where we are up against the clock - quite literally - now that platforms such as TikTok are encouraging us to think of those precious first seconds of audience exposure. As the saying goes, ‘you only get one chance to make a good first impression’. Premise In Fiction A solid premise should express the plot of your story in a one or two-sentence statement. A story premise is often shorter than an elevator pitch (or logline), albeit quite similar. Its job is to succinctly highlight the major story elements, which is why it can be done effectively in just a single sentence. Obviously being able to explain a story\'s essence in as few words as possible is a skill that requires honing. Luckily for us, there is much to learn from those who have crafted their premise before us, so let us zoom in on the core structure elements in the stories we are already familiar with. What Should A Premise Include? When writing fiction, a solid premise should include a number of important elements pertaining to story structure. To start with, we obviously need to divulge something majorly important about the main character so our readers have an immediate impression of them (and reaction to them - hopefully an empathetic one!). Typically, this will highlight their desires or needs. But we also need to let readers glean the protagonist’s objective. Then we need to tell our audience the primary obstacle or situation our characters are facing (the more extraordinary, the better) and finally, we need to impart the unique selling point of the story. Sometimes you can express the foundational idea in just a short sentence, other times it takes a few more words. All of which can sound a little overwhelming, so let’s read on to see how those who have trod the literary path before us have pulled their premises off: Charlie And The Chocolate Factory By Roald Dahl The premise: Charlie Bucket wins one of five golden tickets to tour a magical and mysterious chocolate factory run by eccentric candy maker, Willy Wonka. With the help of his diminutive co-workers, Wonka reveals the real reason for offering the lucky children the tour, after each of them shows their true colours. Immediately we are invested in the plot. This example of a premise tells us so much in so few words, painting the picture of a Technicolour roller coaster of a story - whether we are going to read the book or watch the film version. Yet those of us who are familiar with the story will also know its plot contains large bursts of action. If our own story is equally busy, it’s important that we pare down the bare essentials of its plot in a similar fashion so we can effectively communicate the premise. This may take a number of attempts but practice makes perfect. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine By Gail Honeyman The premise: Socially outcast Eleanor Oliphant is beguiled with a singer, and believes she is fated to be with them. In this concise example of a story premise, once again, we are told so much and the unique selling point of the plot really shines through, making us want to dive into the book immediately.  Similarly, we can play about with our own premise to see if our story’s hook works best in a one or two-sentence statement. Bridgerton, Season Two (Based On The Books By Julia Quinn) Now let’s look at Netflix and the popular second series of Bridgerton. The premise: The Duke (Anthony Bridgerton) finally comes of age and maturity, eager to find himself a suitable wife. During his courtship with Edwina, he finds himself at constant loggerheads with her older sister, Kate, whose interference threatens to make him lose his head and his heart. Inevitably, if we are writing a romance featuring a love triangle, we will need to mention both love interests in our premise. The sequence of events which takes Anthony from Edwina’s arms to Kate’s is complex but we don’t need to flesh the premise out with those details, lest we turn it into a plot… The Body By Bill Bryson      The premise: An exploration of the body, its functions, and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Non-fiction books require a strong premise too. Diverging from his customary travel fiction, Bill Bryson’s The Body literally ‘does what it says on the tin’. This is the kind of precision you are aiming for; a snappy, punchy premise that relays everything. Of course this depends on the complexity of your story, and the genre you write in, but when it can be achieved, it should be. The One By John Marrs The premise: What if science could eradicate the need for dating by setting people up with their perfect DNA match? Last but definitely not least, let’s look at the premise for John Marrs’ sci-fi psychological thriller, The One. Sometimes a premise can be a simple (and tantalising) question. Sometimes a premise doesn’t require you to mention the main character, particularly when if you write in certain futuristic genres, or if your book is bursting with personalities who all share an equal spot in the limelight. The One’s premise is as intriguing as it gets, appealing to an impressively wide audience, and it very cleverly achieves that just by asking ‘what if’?  ‘What if’ is a popular storytelling exercise technique to get the creative juices flowing and we can put it to good use when crafting our premise too. It’s definitely worth us posing the ‘what if’ question in relation to our premise when we first get that seed of an idea about our story. Writing is also about breaking the rules (once we have learnt them) so why not see if we can craft our book’s premise in the form of a question? It’s a powerful way for our story to be remembered, and in Marrs’ case, it led to a highly successful adaptation of his book via Netflix. How To Write A Perfect Premise As with mastering any writing skill, penning a solid premise takes practice - and then some. In fact, as per the premise examples above, often the best way to polish your technique is to learn from those who have done so before you by deconstructing the premise of their stories and labelling those different parts of the equation, looking at how everything fits together. Some basic rules will always apply, however: All Premises Should Begin With A Theme When we write about the things that interest us, we are already halfway there. Bringing your unique point of view to a story helps make your premise stand out from the crowd. Writing To Market On the other hand, there is much to be said about writing to market. It’s always good to consider the themes that are trending so you can figure out how you can take advantage of those popular tropes and weave them into your story’s premise. Keep It Simple You should also aim to explain your book’s premise in as few words as possible. Asking yourself questions about your story before you start to write your premise is also a really useful exercise. That way you can that you\'ve included all of the main details in your one or two-sentence story statement. Characters’ Motivations Should Be Plausible Even if you have an unlikable protagonist, their flaws should elicit a degree of empathy from readers. Often you can only hint at this in a one or two-sentence premise but with practice, it can be pulled off. Writing A Premise In One Sentence Whether you are writing a query letter, or sending your agent a summary of your latest book, being able to write a premise line is key. This sometimes means conveying the central idea in just one sentence - a little like an elevator pitch. If you can sell a story idea to an agent in one breath, then that means they too can sell it to an editor, who can hook distributors and media, who in turn will convince readers to buy it. Can Your Premise Sell Your Idea? Explaining a clear premise in a condensed way is also a good test for a writer as to whether an idea is viable or not. If you tell a friend what the book is about in one line and they want more...you already know you\'re on to a possible bestselling novel. And if they don\'t care...then why will anyone else? So How Can You Tell A Whole Story In Just A Single Sentence Summary? Let us look at the one-line summaries of some famous works of fiction and see if we can recognise them from just one sentence. These are all about children having a difficult time, yet each premise is completely different! (Answers at the end.) A Victorian orphan escapes the workhouse and joins a London street gang, learning how to steal from the rich; yet little does he know his long-lost family are one of those rich people. An Indian boy loses his family when their ship sinks, trapping him on a life raft with a medley of dangerous animals. A smart young girl, raised by uncaring parents, discovers she has magical powers which she uses to teach her tyrannical headmistress a lesson. An orphan, treated terribly by his aunt and uncle, discovers he\'s a wizard and that a magical school awaits him; but he\'s also the key to overcoming the wizarding world\'s most evil lord. A group of school boys are marooned on a deserted island with no adults to look after them; left to their own devices they prove humanity always resorts to brutality and violence. A diary of a Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis during WW2, showing us all that even during the hardest of times love is all that matters. A Black American girl learns the importance of speaking up when her best friend is unlawfully killed by the police. A teenage girl and boy, from warring families, fall in love; but instead of bringing everyone together, their relationship leads to a huge feud and eventually their death. (1. Oliver Twist, 2. Life of Pi, 3. Matilda, 4. Harry Potter, 5. Lord of the Flies, 6. Diary of Anne Frank, 7. The Hate U Give, 8. Romeo And Juliet.) Frequently Asked Questions How Do You Find The Premise Of A Story? One of the best ways to build your premise is to start with the seed of an idea. This might be a theme, plot, protagonist, setting or inciting incident. Once you have this you can begin to construct your story’s mission statement. Getting feedback from fellow writers and/or avid readers is a great way to know if you are on track, or if tweaking is needed. If you can impart your book’s message in one or two sentences and leave your readers wanting to dive straight into the story, you are pretty much there. But even at this point, you may like to experiment with a few different versions of your premise until you know you have drilled it down as succinctly as you possibly can. Does Premise Mean Summary? A premise can be described as a summary, but only insofar as it is a one or two sentence outline of the main narrative of the book. It should be short, hooky, and to the point. It is longer than an elevator pitch (or logline) but it still needs to effectively inform your readers so they know what they can expect from your title and genre. A successful premise will encourage a reader to guess at the plot almost immediately, lighting up their imagination before they have turned page one. What Is The Difference Between Premise And Plot? The premise deals exclusively with the concept of the book, whereas the plot tells us what happens in the book. The plot is far more detailed as it covers all the main events that make up the story. Whereas the premise will typically feature the main character and their objective, the main hurdle to be overcome, and the story’s USP. Knowing Your Story No matter where you are in your writing journey, a well-written premise can be a game-changer career-wise, particularly in the traditional publishing world where time is money, and agents and digital publishers are typically inundated with submissions. You can write an amazing story, and you can polish your manuscript until it gleams, but if you can’t capture the essence of your book in a short and powerful statement, the chances are your query will be missed. That’s how competitive the industry is. Similarly, a great premise helps us immensely as indies too. If we are working with the question style premise mentioned in an earlier paragraph, we can weave this into our blurb, creating an enticing opening to our online sales pitch. And you can better distil the essence of your story by using your premise when you talk about it in video or TikTok-style marketing, too, reeling viewers in within seconds - and hopefully keeping their attention long enough to buy your book. Mastering a solid premise then, is time extremely well-spent. Whilst there are never any guarantees in the book world, it will only increase your story’s chance of being spotted… and snapped up. However that acquisition may happen.

Guest author and blogger Lauren Sapala is a writing coach, the author of The INFJ Writer, and writes about writing, creativity, and personality theory on her blog. She currently lives in San Francisco. It’s often empowering to understand what helps you as a writer, but types only take us so far. First and foremost, you’re you. What builds your own creativity and what holds you back? If you’re struggling to make headway on a writing project, think how you best work, how maybe a “weakness” could be a strength, and what’ll most help you finish – will it be a deadline? Or a designated day of the week to write? For more on the MBTI system, the Myers & Briggs Foundation website is a great place to start. However, I’d urge every writer to experiment with many different methods of writing to find what works best for them. There can be great variation, even among the same type. Every artist is an individual. All artists should give themselves the permission to do whatever works best for them. Are You An Intuitive Writer? I struggled for years as a writer. I wanted desperately to write a novel, but I couldn’t even write the first page. Then, when I finally worked up the courage to take a creative writing course in college, I failed miserably. I stopped writing altogether for seven years. Oddly enough, it wasn’t until I discovered my Myers-Briggs personality type that I began to shine as a writer. Finding out that I was an intuitive personality was just the information I needed to finally move forward. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a system of 16 personality types that divides people along a spectrum of traits that determine how an individual interprets and reacts to the world. The MBTI system focuses on such tendencies as introversion versus extroversion, and intuition versus sensing (i.e. relying primarily on concrete information gleaned from one’s five physical senses). The complexity of the MBTI system is too vast to be addressed fully in this article, so if you don’t already know your type or you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating area of psychology, I recommend you make use of the wealth of helpful resources that can be found online. If you do already know your type, and you want to know a bit more about how this affects your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, look at my selection of “writers by type” below, to discover how you can start using your type as a creative advantage. These below are intuitive personalities on the MBTI system – ones I seem to work oftenest with, encouraging their ideas and intuitive talent. Tips For INFJ Writers I’m an INFJ writer myself, and so I’m intimately acquainted with many of the most common obstacles INFJ writers face. The number one challenge I see INFJ writers struggle with is perfectionism. INFJs have a rich, all-consuming inner life, and they excel brilliantly at seeing the big picture and imagining the ideal version of how something could take shape in the future. Because INFJs are such amazing abstract thinkers, it’s easy for us to bring together different elements in our mind to form a perfect whole. It’s when we try to make this “perfect whole” a physical reality that we’re confronted with the real world and all the messiness, pitfalls, snags, and less-than-perfect elements it contains. INFJ writers who are unconscious of their own perfectionistic tendencies will get stuck at this stage, always dreaming and never making any of their dreams a reality. It’s only when INFJ writers realize that the real world is never perfect, and anything they create will necessarily be bound to this real-world truth, that they can begin to accept their writing for what it is, flaws and all. Tips For INFP Writers INFP writers suffer the most from too many ideas, and a feeling of being overwhelmed by all the choices and different creative paths they could take. I’ve written on my site on the non-linear way I’ve often seen INFP writers work. This can be a strength, though – a means to connect patterns between scenes, images, characters, and ideas. It’s also not uncommon to see an INFP writer working on several writing projects at once, but the problem is not that INFPs work on too many things at the same time. Instead, the problem is that they tend to judge themselves harshly and resist their natural tendency at every turn. INFPs need a lot of variety. They also need a sense of flexibility and the freedom to be spontaneous and fluid in their artistic pursuits. Out of all the types, INFPs are most likely to work in circles. This means that the INFP writer usually works on one story, then moves onto painting for a few days, then moves onto writing a poem, and finally circles back to the story. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this approach and, in fact, it can work quite well for INFPs who have accepted their nature and embrace this circular way of working. INFP writers run into trouble though, when they compare their creative processes to others and try to force themselves to work in a linear manner. Tips For ENJF Writers Out of the four intuitive feeling types (INFJ, INFP, ENFJ and ENFP) the ENFJ is the type that is most likely to fall prey to an extremely harsh inner critic. ENFJs are almost preternaturally aware of the relationship dynamics surrounding them, and that includes a thorough assessment of how others view them and how they measure up in the larger order of any community of which they happen to be a part. This leads many of them to easily play the comparison game, and many times feel like they’re coming out on the losing end. ENFJs also have a strong need for connection and community. If they feel isolated in their writing pursuits, or like no one understands them or “gets” what they’re attempting to do with their writing, they can quickly shut down and then begin isolating themselves even further. ENFJs must feel emotionally supported by a group of peers they love and respect. This is when they will do their best work. Tips For ENFP Writers ENFPs are similar to INFPs in that they suffer from the feeling of being overwhelmed by too many ideas, but with ENFPs this includes an outer world component that can contribute to even more overwhelm. Simply put, ENFPs are unabashed extroverts. They love people and they love getting out and having adventures with people. A healthy ENFP might work two jobs, have a family, and still take up demanding hobbies such as snowboarding or Spanish classes in their spare time. This kind of schedule usually leaves little time for writing. The number one problem most ENFPs struggle with is finishing things. They begin novels, plays, and short stories full of enthusiasm for the project, but then a sparkly, too-interesting-to-resist person or cause comes along and immediately distracts them. The best method for ENFPs is to devote one day a week to a certain piece of work (maybe the novel they’ve always dreamed of writing) and keep firm boundaries in place around that day so that the project gets a guaranteed slice of their creative energy on a regular basis. Never feel boxed in, though. Find your best writing habits. Always do what works for you. Learn about Lauren’s journey and read more at her site. Learn more about all different MBTI types and writing styles – and check out more free writing advice on us.