How Can You Improve Your Fiction Writing Skills? 7 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer

How Can You Improve Your Fiction Writing Skills?

We all want to become better writers. It can be easy to doubt yourself and your skill. Every writer has worried about whether they're good enough to compete with other writers or effectively communicate the great ideas they have in their heads to the reader.

Maybe you've been trying to write that novel for years but can't seem to get past page three.

Maybe your short stories just aren't getting the attention they deserve from publications. Maybe you have even written and released multiple novels and the only thing you have gotten for it was a string of back reviews.

Whatever the case may be, improving your writing is absolutely possible—but it's going to take some work.

So, how can you improve your fiction writing skills?

This article is going to give you 7 steps for improving your writings skills and becoming a better writer.

You can improve your fiction writing skills by consistently doing these things:

1. Reading extensively

2. Studying how to write

3. Developing a consistent writing routine

4. Challenging yourself with writing exercises

5. Keeping a writing journal

6. Building cognitive flexibility

7. Developing self-confidence

Don't worry, we are going to go over each of these, what they will do for your writing, and how to put them into practice.

Building Your Knowledge Base

It's crucial to have a strong knowledge base that can support you. You can't make your own writing better if you don't know what makes a piece of writing good in the first place.

To master the art of storytelling, deliberate effort is required. Just like with anything else. Nobody wakes up one morning and and suddenly knows how to play the piano or speak another language. And just because you decided you wanted to be an author doesn't mean you are going to be good at it without putting in the work. So here is where we build the foundation for that growth. In Step 1, we emphasize the value of learning from those who have managed to do what you are looking to do, and in Step 2, you bring it back down the student-level.

Step 1: Reading Like a Professional

Reading is a must if you are ever going to grow as a writer. There is no ifs, ands, or buts about this!

Writers who refuse to read are a serious pet peeve of mine. (And not once have I ever met one that was even half-decent at writing.) It's amazing to me that they exist at all, but they do, so I warn you:

Don't you dare!

You cannot grow as a writer without having some sense of what others are doing. To not read is to assume that no one has anything to teach you on the subject. That it is easy, and therefore anyone can do it.

It's arrogant.

And hey, if you don't like reading fiction, why on earth are you writing fiction. I wouldn't want to watch a movie made by someone who hates making movies. Hell, I don't even want my hamburger made by a fast-food worker who hates his job. You can't trust him.

Now, I'm not just talking about mindlessly flipping through any old book you come across. No, no. You need to find books that you love, that you want to emulate. The crème de la crème, those top-notch books that make your heart race and your imagination soar, and leave you wondering:

How the heck did they do that!

So forget about filling the floor to ceiling bookshelf with hundreds of titles whose spines you've never even broken. You must focus on the best of the best, the literary legends only.

Whatever those be for you.

Pick a handful for masterfully written books and dive into them. Don't just read them once, read them dozens of times. For instance, The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite books of all time. I have religiously read it every single year since the day I discovered it in my teens.

And it has taught me more about character building, plotting, POV, and you name what else than any blog or "how to write" book ever could.

You must become so intimately acquainted with these books that you know them inside out, that you could give someone an exact quote from an exact page if asked.

Every time you revisit this (these) books, you will notice a new level of literary genius that you never considered. You'll start noticing subtle intricacies, the clever tricks, and the sheer brilliance that went into crafting those unforgettable characters and mind-blowing plots.

With each read, you are absorbing how they add rhythm to their prose, how they make such vivid descriptions, and more.

Each of these novels is a crash course in writing fantastic fiction.

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Step 2: Studying Literary Theory

Bear with me here, because I'm about to get nerdy.

Literary theory might sound intimidating (or perhaps just boring), but it's not as stuffy as it sounds. But studying literary theory has helped me a great deal and has taught me a lot about how to approach writing. People have been writing and studying writing for a very long time. it's silly to leave all that knowledge on the table.

So, what exactly is literary theory?

It's an exploration of the principles and frameworks that scholars and writers have developed to analyze and understand literature. By becoming familiar with these theories, you'll expand your own creative repertoire and gain a deeper understanding of what great writing is made of.

One example of a literary theory that you'd do well to study is Structuralism. When structuralism came around, it began to examine fiction with a, you guessed it, structural lens. It examines the underlying patterns within a novel like plot, character, and symbolism.

Another example is Reader-Response Theory, which studies the ways that readers place meaning on a work and that the book actually is incomplete until it is read, ore like a performance than a static thing.

The Book is Not Finished Until It's Read

To dive deeper into these theories and more, there are various resources at your disposal. You can explore books dedicated to literary theory, such as Literary Theory: An Introduction by Terry Eagleton, or visit any of the numerous blogs, academic journals, and educational websites dedicated to the topic.

All of this sounds pretty boring though, I'm sure. But, unfortunately for you, it's this boring stuff that makes the most difference to your skill level. That's just the way life goes.

It's all about expanding your creative toolkit. By familiarizing yourself with these theories, you'll develop a sharper critical eye and a deeper understanding of the choices available to you as a writer.

Literary theory allows you to explore new perspectives, challenge conventions, and experiment with different narrative techniques. It helps you push the boundaries of your writing and infuse your work with layers of meaning and complexity.

Like I said, there are (and have been) a lot of people out there who have dedicated their academic careers to studying fiction writing/reading. I don't know about you, but I'd rather learn from someone like than some random schmo on the internet.

And yes, I'm painfully aware that includes me.

There are a ton of different literary theories from all sorts of perspectives. When you study them, it is important that you don't just absorb them and accept them as truth. That is not what they are for.

You must use them to help you develop your own theory, you're own paradigm about what writing means, what it is, and how it works. At that point you will develop a unique voice and perspective that will make your work stand out and make it important.

Was it Kobe who said something along the lines of, if you just get so far ahead of the competition, by the time they realize what's happening, no one can touch you?

That's what you need to do with your writing.

Part 2: Practice and Writing Exercises

When it comes to improving your fiction writing skills, there are a few cliches that you are just going to have to accept. The most important one of those is:

Practice makes perfect.

If you want to get better at something, you have to do it a lot.

How do you develop your writing skills? By writing every day.

By practicing consistently and pushing yourself to try new things—challenging yourself to push harder and learn to focus.

Step 3 - Consistent Writing Routine

A consistent writing routine is essential to improve your writing skills. I can't exactly tell you what that will look like for you, but it will have to be something that complements your lifestyle and aligns with your writing goals.

It means setting aside a specific time each day to write uninterrupted, even if it's just 15 minutes. This schedule builds discipline and helps you develop a writing habit that you can sustain over the long-term.

Some writers prefer early mornings when their minds are fresh, while others prefer late nights when there are fewer distractions. Find out what works for you and stick to it.

Over time, the consistency will help improve your writing skills because well....it has to.

Someone somewhere once said that excellence was achieved by doing mundane things consistently.

One tip on how to improve writing skills is to start with achievable goals and gradually increase them as you become more comfortable with the routine. For example, aim to write 50 words each day. Having a seriously easy goal like this will take a lot of the pain out of actually doing it.

Chances are once you get started, you will write more than that. Maybe even 500 to 1k words. But you do not owe yourself that many, those are just icing on the cake. And when you regularly show up for yourself everyday to do even the smallest thing, you will begin to gain confidence and will soon be able to trust yourself. Rather than feeling in the back of your head that you are a big fat failure who always lets yourself down.

Moreover, having a consistent routine allows you to track your progress over time, which is an important aspect of self-improvement.

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Step 4 - 15 Minute Writing Races

This is actually something I discovered while trying to learn how to improve my art. I heard it somewhere (though I can't for the life of my remember where), that to improve, you need to start challenging yourself in a way that keeps you from second guessing.

You find a way to practice that removes your self-judgement from the picture so you can focus on the things that really matter. For this, they recommended 15-minute speed painting.

This is where you would start painting and aim to finish the entire thing in only 15 minutes. Now, this seemed like an insane task to me. How the heck could I finish any painting that was even OK-looking in 15 minutes where normally a painting would take me 50-100 hours to complete.

God, this cover for Worldender took me 90 hours!

But I tried it anyway.

In the first week or so, I put out some of the worst pieces of crap ever made (most incomplete), but as time went on, I got better. Not only did I get faster, my brain was forced to focus on only the parts of the painting that really matter like contrast, lighting, form, and composition.

I did it for about a month, and it was the greatest thing I could have ever done for my art. I quickly applied it to my editing and writing.

And here is how you can do the same thing:

Decide on something that you are going to write (not your novel!), like from a writing prompt or a story generator. And start a timer for 15 minutes.

Then write a whole story, beginning, middle, & end, in 15 minutes. When the timer goes off, you are done. You cannot write any more.

Do this for the next few weeks or months (better yet, do it forever) and track how far you come in that amount of time. You'll be amazed. Your goal is to eventually write an incredible short story within the 15 minutes. Something you can be legitimately proud of.

Keep the prompts different everyday and challenge yourself to write things that you don't normally write like if you write science fiction, try romance. If you like mystery, write a 15 minute fantasy.

By doing this, you will force yourself to focus on only the most important aspect of a good story, the plot, the characters, the dialogue etc.

While some writers may view short timed-exercises as too simplistic or gimmicky, they can actually be an incredibly valuable tool for improving your writing skills. By challenging yourself in this way on a regular basis, you'll be able to push past writer's block and develop a stronger voice and style in your work.

Part 3: Building Cognitive Flexibility and Perspective

Developing cognitive flexibility and the right perspective is crucial for improving your fiction writing skills.

By nurturing these essential qualities, we unlock new depths of creativity and gain a deeper understanding of our characters and narratives. The techniques will help break through mental barriers, foster problem-solving abilities, and infuse our writing with fresh insights.

As a writer, it's essential to remain open-minded about new ideas and perspectives while being adaptable enough to incorporate them into your writing process. Only when you're willing to step outside of your comfort zone will you be able to achieve true growth as a writer.

Step 5 - Keeping a Writing Journal

Maintaining a writing journal is one of the most important tips I can think to give you. I suppose that's a given considering it's on this list.

Never mind.

Writing can be a solitary and isolating career, but it doesn't have to be.

Keeping a journal is like having a daily conversation with yourself, which can help improve your writing in countless ways. I set that up to sound pretty pathetic. Sorry.

One of the best ways to use your journal is to record inspirations from daily experiences.

Be a Hoarder of Inspiration

Inspiration can come from anywhere—a thought-provoking conversation with a friend, an overheard comment in the street, or even something as simple as watching bird take a crap on your neighbors car. By recording these moments, you're creating a valuable resource for future writing projects.

You're also changing your perspective on life. You become a researcher on human behavior, you pay close attention to every encounter or story you hear. There is no limit to the inspiration that the real world can give you if you are just willing to look for it.

Journalling is also an excellent way to keep track of character development and plot ideas. You can jot down notes about potential storylines or character traits that you could use in a future book. By keeping all your ideas in one place, you'll never forget them again; if you're not sure where to take your story next, turn to your journal for inspiration.

Another benefit of maintaining a writing journal is that it helps you develop self-awareness as well as heal by providing an outlet for emotions and thoughts that may be difficult or uncomfortable to express out loud.

Step 6 - Enhancing Cognitive Flexibility

What exactly is cognitive flexibility?

Well, cookie, it's the mental superpower that allows us to adapt, shift perspectives, and think outside the box.

In fiction writing, cognitive flexibility enables us to effortlessly slip into different mindsets, explore diverse viewpoints, and breathe life into our fictional personas. By honing this skill, we become masters of weaving intricate narratives that resonate with human honesty and authenticity.

So, how can we enhance our cognitive flexibility?

Well, for this, writers need to look beyond the page. You can't write great characters and stories without engaging with the world outside your own experience. Sorry, introverts.

Exposure to different environments and cultures will allow you to expand your perspective and bring more nuance and depth to your writing. Another way of enhancing cognitive flexibility is through building empathy.

Writing a story is a way of empathizing with characters that you may not have encountered in real life. But in order to do this, you will have to read widely, including books from viewpoints that you disagree with so that you familiarize yourself with viewpoints different from yours.

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Writing exercises are also an excellent way of improving cognitive flexibility, especially the 15 minute one I gave you above. Because it forces you to take different mental routes than you normally would.

For instance, try writing a scene from multiple character viewpoints and see how it changes the story's meaning. Or switch up character traits in different scenes—make the protagonist more confrontational or introduce a random quirk for one chapter. (For the exercise of it, don't ruin for your actual work in progress.)

Don't be afraid of failure or experimentation in your writing process. Take risks; try new things, including genres outside your comfort zone.

Enhancing cognitive flexibility requires pushing yourself out of your happy place time after time until it becomes second nature to approach things differently every day.

You will be able to come up with answers quicker and more creatively. Perhaps the best way I have found to increase cognitive flexibility is to use productive thinking brainstorming. I have written extensively about this so if you want to learn more about my number one method for building your creativity, go to this article.

The Power of Productive Thinking

Part 4: Trusting Yourself and Your Ideas

This part is by far the most important.

I have been editing fiction for about a decade now. In all that time, I have come to a conclusion about writers.

They are some of the most self-critical people I have ever known. They are hard on themselves and their work and suffer greatly for it. Literally every writer I know has gone through serious moments of depression, self-hatred, or anxiety.

This is why I started The Writer's Cabin, and why I spend most of my time writing articles like this one and focusing on helping writers grow.

I am not a clinician or a doctor, so for god sakes don't take what I say as anything close to medical advice. But I have experienced enough of the existential crisis that comes with being a creative, and have talked enough authors off ledges that I have some experience in what needs to be said in this space that others seem too afraid to say.

We need to start protecting ourselves and our work...

Step 7 - We Need to Build Confidence

We need to shut out the noise and voices that don't serve us, especially when it comes to our writing. In this digital age, social media can be a double-edged sword. While it provides a platform for connection and exposure, it can also become a breeding ground for comparison and self-doubt.

It's essential for writers to be mindful of their online interactions. Be cautious of the validation-fishing trap and the endless cycle of seeking approval from others. Remember, external validation is fleeting, but your love for your own work should be unwavering.

Instead of seeking constant external validation, turn inward and ask yourself a fundamental question:

Do I like my own work?

Trusting your own ideas and instincts is vital. Embrace the uniqueness of your voice and the stories you want to tell. Your writing is an expression of your inner world, and it deserves your own admiration and respect.

Protecting ourselves and our work also means setting boundaries. It's okay to distance yourself from negative influences, whether they come from individuals or even your own inner critic. Surround yourself with supportive communities, mentors, and fellow writers who uplift and encourage your growth (and that is not the same thing as the fake-supportive itching-for-clicks Twitter #WritingCommunity.)

Remember, dear writer, your journey is your own. You have the power to shape your narrative and define your success. Trust in your creative abilities, embrace self-care, and nourish your writing spirit. By protecting ourselves and valuing our work, we can create with greater freedom, authenticity, and joy, and purpose.

Finding Meaning in Writing

At The Writer's Cabin, we stand by the belief that every writer deserves support and understanding. We're here to provide resources, guidance, and a safe-haven for writers to flourish. Together, let's embark on this journey of self-discovery, self-trust, and creative empowerment.

And just keep writing.