To write a great story, there are areas where you should focus on to make your story memorable. I’ve come up with eight examples of techniques that can help you get started. You can focus on one or two, or multiple techniques, depending on your writing skill level. The simplest way is to pick a situation to put your character in and then take a technique and work your character into it.

1. Compelling Characters: Create characters with depth and complexity, each with their own motivations, flaws, and desires. Readers should be able to empathize with them and become invested in their journey.

• Engaging Plot: Develop a well-paced and intriguing plot that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Include twists, turns, and moments of suspense to maintain their interest and drive the narrative forward.

• Theme and Message: Infuse your story with a theme or message that resonates with readers on a deeper level. Whether it’s about love, redemption, or the human condition, a well-developed theme adds depth and meaning to your story.

• Dialogue: Write authentic dialogue that reveals character traits, advances the plot, and enhances the overall storytelling experience. Each character should have a distinct voice, and conversations should feel natural and dynamic.

• Conflict and Tension: Introduce conflict early on and escalate it throughout the story to keep readers engaged. Whether it’s internal struggles, interpersonal conflicts, or external challenges, tension drives the plot forward and keeps readers invested in the outcome.

• Vivid Description: Use descriptive language to paint vivid images in the reader’s mind, bringing the setting to life and immersing them in the story’s world. Show, don’t tell, by using sensory details to evoke emotions and create a sensory experience for the reader.

• Foreshadowing and Symbolism: Incorporate foreshadowing and symbolism to add layers of meaning to your story and create a sense of anticipation in readers. Plant clues and hints early on that pay off later in the narrative, and use symbols to reinforce themes and motifs.

• Satisfying Resolution: Provide a satisfying resolution that ties up loose ends and provides closure for the reader. Whether it’s a happy ending, a bittersweet conclusion, or a cliffhanger that sets up a sequel, the resolution should leave readers feeling fulfilled and satisfied with the journey they’ve taken.

Let me know if you try any or all of these. I’d be thrilled to read what you’ve written.

(Image purchased from Depositphotos and edited in Photoshop.)