Writing Techniques

Learn the writing techniques the masters use, plus a few new tricks from our professional writers. The advice they give is sound; many of them are published authors.

Some of the techniques they share include:

These are just a few of the dozens of articles designed to improve your writing. Browse the entire archive of writing techniques to learn the skill you want to master. You may also choose to subscribe to the article feed and read each one as soon as it's published.

Please send comments and suggestions to the Topic Editor, Suzanne Pitner.

Leading Contributors

Latest articles in Writing Techniques

Evaluating Writing - Specific Criteria for Assessing Quality

A look at how a UK university assesses quality in writing shows how to apply specific criteria for success in freelance writing and competitions.

Feb 8, 2012 – Janet Cameron

A Sense of Place in Writing - Nothing Beats Being There

Being there, combined with an exercise in creating concrete imagery, will help you to achieve a sense of place in your story.

Feb 2, 2012 – Janet Cameron

Fiction Writing Tips on How to Make Dialogue Sound Real

There are several aspects to writing a good story, and creating believable characters and dialogue. Try these tips on writing dialogue that sounds real.

Jan 24, 2012 – Michelle Wright

Ekphrasis: Describing Visual Art

When composing ekphrasis, writers need to be able to verbalize how a work of visual art makes them feel, then clearly describe to a reader the how and why.

Jan 19, 2012 – Amy Lynn Hess

Create Suspense by Frustrating the Novel Reader

The novelist must never give the reader what he or she wants. A good novel holds out on the reader and frustrates expectations.

Dec 17, 2011 – James Parsons

Subscribe to feed

1 2 3 4 ... Next last