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THE WRITER’S CRAFT explores various principles, techniques, and guidelines to help authors of all genres improve writing and storytelling craft.

Anatomy of a Character-Driven Mystery A guide for authors striving for emphasis on characterization in all genres of popular fiction

[by Ross Browne]

“Character driven” is a phrase one hears a lot in editing and publishing. In simple terms, it’s something we say when the experience of a book is shaped as much (or nearly as much) by the characters as by the story itself. 

It’s generally a compliment and often thought […]

By |2025-02-12T22:06:11+00:00|The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on Anatomy of a Character-Driven Mystery A guide for authors striving for emphasis on characterization in all genres of popular fiction
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Perfectly Good Words Christian Writers Need to Avoid Why Faith-Based Language Can Confuse—or Alienate—General Readers

[by Marcia Ford]

Christians, and much of the population outside that demographic, realize that, as with any subgroup of society, believers have their own lexicon—a collection of words that convey specific religious concepts common to their everyday experiences, but words that are often misunderstood by those beyond the fold.

Take the term “born again.” […]

By |2025-06-30T17:38:02+00:00|The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on Perfectly Good Words Christian Writers Need to Avoid Why Faith-Based Language Can Confuse—or Alienate—General Readers
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How Ten Bestselling Authors Introduce Protagonists in First-Person Narratives A guide for novelists of all genres

[by Ross Browne]

I’ve been editing novels for more than 30 years, and one thing that still fascinates me to no end is the art and craft of introducing (and cultivating quick engagement with) viewpoint characters when writing in the first person.

Like many readers, I enjoy first-person narratives because of […]

By |2025-02-12T22:12:19+00:00|Behind The Bestsellers, The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on How Ten Bestselling Authors Introduce Protagonists in First-Person Narratives A guide for novelists of all genres
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In Praise of Literary Writing An editor's primer on the unique allure of literary fiction—and what it takes to write it well

[by Gregory Collins]

The lines are blurry and the exceptions are many, but if literary writing tends to emphasize character and realism while genre writing tends to emphasize plot and tropes, then I trace my interest in literary writing to my childhood and adolescence in Kenya, east Africa. My parents—and grandparents and great grandparents—were missionaries there and […]

By |2025-02-12T22:13:12+00:00|The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on In Praise of Literary Writing An editor's primer on the unique allure of literary fiction—and what it takes to write it well
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FLASHING THE READER: A Practical Guide to Clearly Managing Transitions of Time, Place, and Viewpoint in Fiction

[by John Robert Marlow]

TRICKY TRANSITIONS

Few works of fiction relate events in a continuous flow, from start to finish. Sometimes the story moves back in time (as with flashbacks); more often it jumps forward, sparing the reader the dull details of ordinary life. Frequently, the transition will take the reader from one location (and set of characters) […]

By |2024-01-13T19:00:05+00:00|The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on FLASHING THE READER: A Practical Guide to Clearly Managing Transitions of Time, Place, and Viewpoint in Fiction
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KEEP IT OR CUT IT? Four Questions To Help You Get Your Manuscript Down To Size

[by Whitney Bak]

When an editor takes the literary equivalent of a hedge trimmer to your bountiful, blossoming book baby, the process can feel more than a little personal. While some authors begin working with an editor in the very early stages of developing their manuscript, many don’t solicit editorial help until they’ve produced a […]

By |2024-02-08T18:47:36+00:00|The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on KEEP IT OR CUT IT? Four Questions To Help You Get Your Manuscript Down To Size
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