Building a successful career in writing is not a simple process, it’s different for everyone. Some writers are lucky just the way other things in life go. Writing fiction whether it’s a short story or a long one is a challenging and nerve-wracking experience.

But several techniques could help you build a loyal audience and make a living with your creative imagination and writing skills. If you wish to excel as a fiction writer, then you need skills, determination, patience, and plenty of time.

Here are some amazing tips to help you improve your fiction writing skills and win the hearts of the audience.

Write About Things You Know

You must adhere to the writing style that you know well. Yet many fiction writers fail to stick to this basic rule. Write your work in the category you specialize in whether it is historical, literary, science, fiction, fanfiction, or children’s fiction. When you write about things you know and experiences you have had, the writing comes across as more authentic and easier to read.

Withhold Information from the Readers

The best part of fiction stories is that readers can imagine the scenes according to how they like them. So when writing fiction, only give readers the information they need to know at the moment. You can keep the backstory of any details a mystery so readers get creative with it in their way.

Using such a writing style prevents readers from getting overwhelmed with information.

Write Sentences With a Clear Purpose

Even though complicated lines and sentence structure may seem like you are a highly qualified writer, using simple language can sometimes be more profitable.

There is a time and place in the story for denser text, otherwise, you can get the story across to the readers in simple language. When writing, you can use succinct language so that every sentence has a clear purpose.

Try Different Styles of Writing

You should explore different writing styles to become a better writer. For example, if you are known for writing novels, you can try short stories for a change. And similarly, if you mostly write fiction stories, then switch to non-fiction for another piece of work.

Besides delivering narrative stories, also try out the causal writing style by blogging. Since each piece of writing offers a different point of view, it can help improve your writing skills. To figure out different styles, check out this infographic from slidesgo.com.

Set a Habit to Write Everyday

Successful writers have a habit to write almost every day even if it is a small piece of work. They dedicate every day to the craft of writing which improves their skills. Some writers assign themselves a target to write a certain number of words.

But it is hard to stay motivated and write every day. For this, you can join a writing group so that being accountable to other people can motivate you. Some days will be more productive than others but you don’t have to worry about it. The more practice you have in writing, the easier it gets for you.

Find a Place to Write

When you have decided to write a story, make your preparations accordingly. You need a place to tune the rest of the world out. When you are distracted by your surroundings, it’s hard to focus on the story and you may lose the rhythm.

If you are planning to write a long story, you will need to live inside it to produce the best results. Sometimes it’s only possible to bring the best tale to life if you shut yourself from many things.

Keep Moving Forward

When you start writing, avoid taking breaks to look back on what you wrote before. If you do so, it breaks the storyline that you have been thinking about, and may lose the ideas that you formed in your mind. Don’t get caught up in the past and keep writing the story.

Dedicate the time for writing first to complete it sooner. Revise the previous text later when you have finished the project. You can even hire literary fiction book editors to polish your craft to the tiniest details.

Learn Character Development Techniques

To deliver a story that can grab the reader’s attention, you should figure out which information about the character you should reveal to the audience. The information should increase tension in the story to keep the readers turning a page one after the other.

Your main character is the most important part of the story and it should have a backstory that informs their motivations and goals.

Use Active Voice in Your Story

Your target should be focused on writing a book that keeps the readers hooked from start to finish. You can do this by using active voice in your writing style.

The sentences you write should follow the basic structure of a noun-verb-object. Try to limit passive voice in your fiction writing.

Take a Break When Needed

No matter what kind of stories you tell, there should always be room for a break. When the writing profession gets the best of you, take a step back and leave the desk for some time.

Staying at your desk most of the time can get you exhausted and you may run out of creative ideas. Being in a different environment can ignite ideas that can help you write better stories.

Read Other Stories

Take out time and read books or novels by other famous writers. It can help you find your voice and perfect your writing skills. Don’t stick to reading a specific genre, but explore a variety of them.

If you are writing thriller stories, then read other thrillers to get an idea of how to build tension in the story and create interesting plot points. The art of unraveling things at the end is also an important element of the thriller genre.

Write to Sell

Many writers love what they do and hope to make a living out of it. As a fiction writer, you should think like an editor and publisher. It will help you create a story that can sell well and amaze the readers.

Approach your story with a marketing sensibility and a creative one to sell your book. To improve credibility, ask for honest feedback from experts in the field.