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Crafting Novels & Short Stories: The Complete Guide to Writing Great Fiction
Learn How to Create Stories That Captivate Agents, Editors, and Readers Alike!Inside you'll find the tools you need to build strong characters, keep your plots moving, master the art of dialogue, choose the right point of view, and more.
This comprehensive book on the art of novel and short story writing is packed with advice and instruction from best-selling authors and writing experts like Nancy Kress, Elizabeth Sims, Hallie Ephron, N.M. Kelby, Heather Sellers, and Donald Maass, plus a foreword by James Scott Bell. You'll learn invaluable skills for mastering every area of the Define and refine your characters.Make your plot and conflict high-energy and intense.Hone your story's point of view.Create a rich setting and backstory.Craft dialogue that rings true.Select the right words and descriptions throughout your story.Revise your story to perfection.
Throughout you'll find supplemental sections that cover special topics like getting started, beating writer's block, researching your work, and getting published. They'll help you integrate your skills into a balanced, productive, and fulfilling career.
Whether you're writing flash fiction, a short story, a novel, or an epic trilogy, you'll come away with the tools you need for strong and effective storytelling.
This comprehensive book on the art of novel and short story writing is packed with advice and instruction from best-selling authors and writing experts like Nancy Kress, Elizabeth Sims, Hallie Ephron, N.M. Kelby, Heather Sellers, and Donald Maass, plus a foreword by James Scott Bell. You'll learn invaluable skills for mastering every area of the Define and refine your characters.Make your plot and conflict high-energy and intense.Hone your story's point of view.Create a rich setting and backstory.Craft dialogue that rings true.Select the right words and descriptions throughout your story.Revise your story to perfection.
Throughout you'll find supplemental sections that cover special topics like getting started, beating writer's block, researching your work, and getting published. They'll help you integrate your skills into a balanced, productive, and fulfilling career.
Whether you're writing flash fiction, a short story, a novel, or an epic trilogy, you'll come away with the tools you need for strong and effective storytelling.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2011
186 people are currently reading
675 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 13, 2012
To be fair, I'm not even 100 pages in yet, but this book and it's "tips" have irked me on almost every single page so far. Especially as I read it right after Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose (which is a million miles better, more instructive, and to a higher level), this book pales in comparison, and gives the kind of writing advice that Reading Like a Writer warned us to remain wary about - particularly how this book tells you many things you should not do, when in Reading Like a Writer, an entire section is dedicated to showing the writers who ignored these "don't"'s to great success. Not to mention that the tips here are often half-hearted pointing out of things I've known since high school English class (which had a LOUSY curriculum, so that's saying something...). The way tips are worded/the way it is advised you go about implementing these tips makes the tips almost wrong or misguiding - ie. telling writers to base their characters off of a pick-n-mix of characteristics of people they know in real life! If you think about it, yes, this is sound advice, however, for a start, we are already aware that characters are (or are like) real people (which is stated multiple times in a single section, as though we, as writers, would have been unaware of this fact), and secondly I feel as though there could have been a much better way to word it - such as simply advising to think about the great number of characteristics and conflicting aspects of any one person's personality and to keep this in mind when creating characters. And honestly, anyone who has played The Sims 3 and given sims random traits will be very much aware of the diversity of human life, if they weren't from their experiences in real life already. In another part - a part on romance writing - it says to only create likeable characters - those who who are ALWAYS nice NO MATTER WHAT and who has flaws but none that would detract at all from the character's likeability, and those who NEVER say anything cruel or mean even and ESPECIALLY in the face of a character who may actually deserve it. WHAT BOLLOCKS! This type of advice is another thing we're warned to remain wary about in Reading Like a Writer (and what about Oliver Tate in Submarine? Part of it's hilarity and likeability as a story, is the fact that Oliver is basically a pretentious, self-involved little shit!). Perhaps I'm so heavily against this idea due to the fact that most of my favourite characters are so heavily flawed, yet still capable of romance and relationships and success.
Most of all, though, this book really only aims to guide those who wish to write genre fiction, more flash-in-the-pan style books rather than anything lasting or classic. Which there is nothing wrong with, but this book actually accidentally portrays genre fiction in the worst way and I honestly pity any person who takes any of these tips as gospel. I'll keep reading though, maybe they'll be SOMETHING I can take away from it (other than a burning desire to write everything the way it's been said not to, to prove that it can be done).
Most of all, though, this book really only aims to guide those who wish to write genre fiction, more flash-in-the-pan style books rather than anything lasting or classic. Which there is nothing wrong with, but this book actually accidentally portrays genre fiction in the worst way and I honestly pity any person who takes any of these tips as gospel. I'll keep reading though, maybe they'll be SOMETHING I can take away from it (other than a burning desire to write everything the way it's been said not to, to prove that it can be done).
July 6, 2015
A collection of Writer's Digest articles on the craft of fiction writing, this book covers, in turn, each stage in the process, from planning to writing the first draft to revising to submitting the manuscript for publication. Also, special sections contain practical advice on how to integrate writing routines into everyday life. Recommended.
January 9, 2014
This is one of the worst instructional material I've ever read. Skip it completely, as there is lots of better books about this subject out there. For one, the author thinks being antisocial and being a sociopath are the same thing. Secondly, when the author gets to the subject of writing a good villain, the author recommends making your villain have several mental disorders to make them dislikeable and to give them an excuse to behave irrationally. Are you for real? Thirdly, the author writes PARAGRAPHS about if you want a good protagonist then never EVER EVER have them commit adultery. EVER. Then the author says never have your protagonists say anything mean EVER. Sorry, but I prefer bias out of my instructional books. I do not want to hear about the authors dumb biased opinions in my instructional novels. Its like a brain-damaged orangutan wrote this book.
May 21, 2012
Just finished reading Crafting Novels & Short Stories. Excellent book full of concrete information. Holds the tools you need to build strong characters, keep your plot moving, master the art of dialogue, choose the right point of view, and more. Highly recommend.
November 8, 2012
This book has a TON of repeat information... I mean the cut chapter one out of the Writers Digest series Write Great Fiction and pasted it to make this book. If you want more than a summary, than try the series mentioned. If you are not a beginner and have read writing books, you will likely use this as a coaster.
February 19, 2013
There are some good pointers here as well as information you can go back to at different stages in your writing. It is repetitive. I felt much of the information is relative to the type of writer you are and many of the contributors directly contradict one another as to what is necessary and what is not (art vs. form).
March 25, 2013
I skipped around because from beginning-to-end wasn't getting it done. But even just choosing what to read I had a hard time wanting to read this book. It was just boring mostly.
Read
June 3, 2021Since structure and plotting are harder for me than most other aspects of writing, from time to time I look at books on writing fiction to see if there's anything useful I might glean. This one, which I read on Kindle, was not all that helpful, particularly because I didn't find it easy to skip through the sections that didn't interest me. This book really focuses on how to write commercial genre fiction, which is not what I write, and seems geared to the beginning writer, which is not where I am in my career. I felt it was yet another book that emphasizes writing in a formulaic manner, which is the last thing of interest to me (even if I do find it interesting to know what kinds of structural formulas have worked well for people).
May 16, 2019
I've read how-to-write books before, but this might be the most singularly helpful writing book I've ever read. The chapters are accessibly short, and offer a refreshing variety of voices and opinions and tips. Moreover the book covers, as far as I can see, every single aspect of the writing process, as well as helpful little asides about research, work-life balance, motivation, and so on. The book is entirely unpretentious and not condescending or supercilious in the slightest, and makes the writing life seem accessible without being patronizing. I'd recommend this to anyone thinking about getting into fiction writing, or anyone who already has and (like me) needed a refresher.
October 22, 2024
Huge accomplishment as I started reading this in 2013
Read
May 18, 2025**Overview**
*Crafting Novels & Short Stories: The Complete Guide to Writing Great Fiction*, edited by James Scott Bell and the editors of *Writer’s Digest*, is a master-level compilation of writing advice from acclaimed authors and instructors. This guide covers every phase of fiction writing—from brainstorming and drafting to revision and publication. Designed as both a reference and a learning tool, it integrates technical skills with creative principles, offering concrete strategies to elevate storytelling across both novels and short stories.
**Key Concepts and Actionable Ideas**
**1. Finding and Developing Ideas**
* Story ideas often begin as fragments—an image, a situation, a “what if” question—that must be explored and tested.
* Ideas gain strength when paired with high-stakes conflict and personal character motivation.
**Action:** Maintain an idea journal. Record anything that sparks narrative curiosity. Expand promising entries into brief “story seed” summaries to explore potential.
**2. Building Strong Story Structure**
* A well-structured story provides momentum and emotional resonance. Classic models include the Three-Act Structure, Milestone Method, and Scene-Sequel.
* A clear beginning (hook), middle (conflict escalation), and end (resolution) gives readers satisfying narrative arcs.
**Action:** Outline your story using major turning points: inciting incident, midpoint, climax, and resolution. Ensure each part drives change and character growth.
**3. Crafting Compelling Characters**
* Characters must be multidimensional, with flaws, contradictions, and clear motivations.
* Protagonists should be active, face internal and external obstacles, and undergo some form of transformation.
**Action:** Use a character development worksheet to define your character’s goal, fear, lie, and emotional wound. Revisit these elements throughout your draft to shape believable evolution.
**4. Creating Conflict and Stakes**
* Conflict drives narrative tension. It must be meaningful to the character and escalate over time.
* High stakes—what the character stands to lose or gain—heighten reader investment.
**Action:** For every scene, define what the character wants, what stands in their way, and what happens if they fail. Eliminate scenes without tension or consequence.
**5. Point of View and Voice**
* POV affects intimacy, narrative reliability, and reader connection. Choices include first person, third limited, and third omniscient.
* Voice emerges from vocabulary, rhythm, and tone, and must remain consistent with character and theme.
**Action:** Rewrite a test scene in multiple POVs to determine which offers the strongest emotional impact and storytelling clarity.
**6. Dialogue That Drives Story**
* Effective dialogue sounds natural but is purposeful. It reveals character, advances plot, and builds subtext.
* Realistic dialogue avoids filler, uses pacing for tension, and varies speech patterns for distinct voices.
**Action:** Review each line of dialogue and ask: What purpose does it serve? Trim any lines that don’t build tension, reveal character, or provide critical information.
**7. Setting and Description**
* Setting is not just background—it should reflect theme, create atmosphere, and influence character choices.
* Description should evoke sensory experience while avoiding info-dumps or overloading detail.
**Action:** Anchor each major scene in a vivid, specific setting. Use at least two senses and tie descriptions to character mood or theme.
**8. Writing Scenes That Matter**
* Each scene must have a goal, conflict, and outcome. Scenes should either move the plot forward or deepen character.
* The Scene-Sequel structure (action followed by reaction/decision) provides balance and pacing.
**Action:** Storyboard your novel scene by scene. Mark any that do not change the character’s situation or emotional state—revise or remove them.
**9. Revision Techniques**
* First drafts are meant to be imperfect. Effective revision is systematic: big-picture rewrites first, then line edits.
* Feedback is crucial, but it must be applied with clear intent and discernment.
**Action:** Complete a content edit pass (structure, plot, character arcs), followed by a language pass (style, clarity), and finally a proofing pass (grammar, punctuation). Use checklists at each stage.
**10. Writing Short Stories vs. Novels**
* Short stories focus on a single moment, change, or idea. Every word counts, and resolutions may be subtle.
* Novels offer room for subplots, expansive worldbuilding, and deeper character transformation.
**Action:** Practice writing short stories to refine pacing and precision. Apply the discipline of conciseness to your novel scenes.
**11. Navigating the Business of Writing**
* The book covers querying, working with agents, and understanding publishing options (traditional, indie, hybrid).
* Emphasizes professionalism, persistence, and market awareness.
**Action:** Draft a query letter that clearly presents your book’s hook, genre, and target audience. Research comparable titles and market positioning.
**12. Sustaining the Writing Life**
* Creative discipline, routine, and resilience are key to long-term success.
* Writing is a craft, not a gift—consistent practice and learning build skill over time.
**Action:** Set a weekly writing schedule. Track your progress, celebrate small milestones, and read widely across genres to stay inspired and informed.
**Conclusion**
*Crafting Novels and Short Stories* is an essential reference for writers serious about their craft. It combines technical mastery with practical insight, offering both foundational instruction and advanced strategy. By following its guidance—through disciplined writing, thoughtful revision, and intentional storytelling—writers can produce fiction that resonates with readers and meets professional standards.
*Crafting Novels & Short Stories: The Complete Guide to Writing Great Fiction*, edited by James Scott Bell and the editors of *Writer’s Digest*, is a master-level compilation of writing advice from acclaimed authors and instructors. This guide covers every phase of fiction writing—from brainstorming and drafting to revision and publication. Designed as both a reference and a learning tool, it integrates technical skills with creative principles, offering concrete strategies to elevate storytelling across both novels and short stories.
**Key Concepts and Actionable Ideas**
**1. Finding and Developing Ideas**
* Story ideas often begin as fragments—an image, a situation, a “what if” question—that must be explored and tested.
* Ideas gain strength when paired with high-stakes conflict and personal character motivation.
**Action:** Maintain an idea journal. Record anything that sparks narrative curiosity. Expand promising entries into brief “story seed” summaries to explore potential.
**2. Building Strong Story Structure**
* A well-structured story provides momentum and emotional resonance. Classic models include the Three-Act Structure, Milestone Method, and Scene-Sequel.
* A clear beginning (hook), middle (conflict escalation), and end (resolution) gives readers satisfying narrative arcs.
**Action:** Outline your story using major turning points: inciting incident, midpoint, climax, and resolution. Ensure each part drives change and character growth.
**3. Crafting Compelling Characters**
* Characters must be multidimensional, with flaws, contradictions, and clear motivations.
* Protagonists should be active, face internal and external obstacles, and undergo some form of transformation.
**Action:** Use a character development worksheet to define your character’s goal, fear, lie, and emotional wound. Revisit these elements throughout your draft to shape believable evolution.
**4. Creating Conflict and Stakes**
* Conflict drives narrative tension. It must be meaningful to the character and escalate over time.
* High stakes—what the character stands to lose or gain—heighten reader investment.
**Action:** For every scene, define what the character wants, what stands in their way, and what happens if they fail. Eliminate scenes without tension or consequence.
**5. Point of View and Voice**
* POV affects intimacy, narrative reliability, and reader connection. Choices include first person, third limited, and third omniscient.
* Voice emerges from vocabulary, rhythm, and tone, and must remain consistent with character and theme.
**Action:** Rewrite a test scene in multiple POVs to determine which offers the strongest emotional impact and storytelling clarity.
**6. Dialogue That Drives Story**
* Effective dialogue sounds natural but is purposeful. It reveals character, advances plot, and builds subtext.
* Realistic dialogue avoids filler, uses pacing for tension, and varies speech patterns for distinct voices.
**Action:** Review each line of dialogue and ask: What purpose does it serve? Trim any lines that don’t build tension, reveal character, or provide critical information.
**7. Setting and Description**
* Setting is not just background—it should reflect theme, create atmosphere, and influence character choices.
* Description should evoke sensory experience while avoiding info-dumps or overloading detail.
**Action:** Anchor each major scene in a vivid, specific setting. Use at least two senses and tie descriptions to character mood or theme.
**8. Writing Scenes That Matter**
* Each scene must have a goal, conflict, and outcome. Scenes should either move the plot forward or deepen character.
* The Scene-Sequel structure (action followed by reaction/decision) provides balance and pacing.
**Action:** Storyboard your novel scene by scene. Mark any that do not change the character’s situation or emotional state—revise or remove them.
**9. Revision Techniques**
* First drafts are meant to be imperfect. Effective revision is systematic: big-picture rewrites first, then line edits.
* Feedback is crucial, but it must be applied with clear intent and discernment.
**Action:** Complete a content edit pass (structure, plot, character arcs), followed by a language pass (style, clarity), and finally a proofing pass (grammar, punctuation). Use checklists at each stage.
**10. Writing Short Stories vs. Novels**
* Short stories focus on a single moment, change, or idea. Every word counts, and resolutions may be subtle.
* Novels offer room for subplots, expansive worldbuilding, and deeper character transformation.
**Action:** Practice writing short stories to refine pacing and precision. Apply the discipline of conciseness to your novel scenes.
**11. Navigating the Business of Writing**
* The book covers querying, working with agents, and understanding publishing options (traditional, indie, hybrid).
* Emphasizes professionalism, persistence, and market awareness.
**Action:** Draft a query letter that clearly presents your book’s hook, genre, and target audience. Research comparable titles and market positioning.
**12. Sustaining the Writing Life**
* Creative discipline, routine, and resilience are key to long-term success.
* Writing is a craft, not a gift—consistent practice and learning build skill over time.
**Action:** Set a weekly writing schedule. Track your progress, celebrate small milestones, and read widely across genres to stay inspired and informed.
**Conclusion**
*Crafting Novels and Short Stories* is an essential reference for writers serious about their craft. It combines technical mastery with practical insight, offering both foundational instruction and advanced strategy. By following its guidance—through disciplined writing, thoughtful revision, and intentional storytelling—writers can produce fiction that resonates with readers and meets professional standards.
May 19, 2015
There are three types of information in this book: industry and pro tips, stuff you might know but it's helpful to have exemplified, and information that you know but could use a refresher on.
There categories are helpful as are the multiple authors (hence multiple perspectives). Unless you're regularly selling blockbusters, you can probably find some help in here.
There categories are helpful as are the multiple authors (hence multiple perspectives). Unless you're regularly selling blockbusters, you can probably find some help in here.
January 27, 2016
A collection of essays and webposts from WritersDigest, this is an excellent writing advice book. Solid tips, easy to read and understand, I chewed through this in a few days because it's written in an engaging & instructional style.
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
November 30, 2019
I like this book as reference material, it very thoroughly covers the basics, offers analysis of "the reader," and is edited in such a way where every article/subtopic can be read totally independently of the others.
However, in terms of "how to write a book" it feels both rudimentary and overwrought. I would not recommend anyone try to write a novel following every single step in this book. A short story might be doable, but not a novel.
It is a good starting point, but whenever you're reading and you think "I don't like this process" or "that doesn't sound right," remember that there are many ways to write. Jump off from this and search for something that works for you. I DO recommend having this on hand, just don't treat it like the Bible.
Disclaimer: I am not a published author, and so take my criticism for what it's worth.
However, in terms of "how to write a book" it feels both rudimentary and overwrought. I would not recommend anyone try to write a novel following every single step in this book. A short story might be doable, but not a novel.
It is a good starting point, but whenever you're reading and you think "I don't like this process" or "that doesn't sound right," remember that there are many ways to write. Jump off from this and search for something that works for you. I DO recommend having this on hand, just don't treat it like the Bible.
Disclaimer: I am not a published author, and so take my criticism for what it's worth.
June 29, 2017
This is an extremely helpful and practical guide for any wanna-be writer out there. It's basically a collection of instructional/informational articles by various best-selling authors on various topics, focusing on how to create interesting plots and characters, how to weave layers of conflict together, how to control your writing and write with purpose. Basically, how to be a better writer.
Not all articles are equally helpful, and as it's a compilation from various authors, some opinions will overlap (therefore be repeated), and others even have different viewpoints.
If you are a beginner writer and want to write, read this for sure!
Not all articles are equally helpful, and as it's a compilation from various authors, some opinions will overlap (therefore be repeated), and others even have different viewpoints.
If you are a beginner writer and want to write, read this for sure!
April 9, 2020
A book that goes back and forth between helpful and rubbish. There are some good nuggets in here and general advice that can help anyone improve their writing. But, a few of the authors rely too much on the "follow your heart" way of thinking. Like other people unable to admit that their success was basically due to a massive amount of luck, they give vague and indeterminate advice like "listen to your inner voice" or "write with feeling. " Ok, great, thanks. If you ignore that garbage, the book is pretty good. It was a quick read as well. Definitely worth picking up for a few tips or to reconfirm what you may already know.
June 2, 2025
A very informative book offering advice for authors on every aspect of the trade, whether you be a short story or novel writer. The information is provided in logical sequence, with essays from published authors and loads of examples from famous works. It covers everything from writing to publishing and the information seems to be pretty up to date. It was a worthy read and I would recommend it to other wannabe authors looking for advice on all aspects of writing and seeing your work published. The resources section at the end of the book is particularly helpful.
September 15, 2018
Although it took me a while to read this, overall I think this book is good. Not horrible, not perfect. It contains many infos which will remind you those blog articles you can find. Some of the articles were useless, some boring, but I found some really interesting ones, along with the few useful exercises. I wouldn't recommend to read this as a normal book from start to finish. Just pick a topic you are interested in and read.
September 3, 2017
Mixed bag. The title is misleading--I expected more information specifically geared toward short stories, but there's very little, and a lot of the chapters address genre fiction like romance and mystery which aren't relevant to my work/interests. Still, there were a handful of helpful gems, so not a bad read on the whole. Take what works and leave the rest.
January 29, 2018
Very good book on writing. It's one of those "Well duh" kind of things, but am I honestly always thinking about reducing adverbs, speeding up slow scenes, talking to my characters and asking them questions, finding ways to challenge my minor characters AND SO ON AND SO ON? No, it only feels like common sense when someone reminds you it's common sense.
May 12, 2020
I didn't finish this one. It was fine, but it just seemed to lack the sort of hook that makes you want to keep reading. Some of the essays were informative, some felt lacking or simply dull. If you have the patience for it I'm sure it could be helpful, but it just said too much of what I've already heard numerous times - only here in a boring "voice."
April 1, 2021
I plan on referencing it later. It’s not the easiest to read cover to cover since it’s a collection of the writer digest magazine articles. Some articles are better than others in terms of insights and usable tips. Quite a few of the articles recite age old advice which can be a bit tedious, but there are some glimmers of new insights for me that i think make it worth second look.
June 18, 2024
This is an a good guide with some suggestions for a writer. Definitely one that I will keep on my writing sourcebook and reference shelf. Not something that I would say you should sit down and read in one pass, but something that you can refer to or peruse if you are needing inspiration or are unsure how to do certain writing tasks.
June 23, 2025
I don't much care for writing development books, as a lot of the advice seems pretty obvious and generally like the basics of writing. I had to read this for my college class, and I think it would work better for a younger audience maybe, rather than a 300 level class. I did enjoy the variety of perspectives and authors presented by Readers Digest though.
October 12, 2017
Good characters never say anything mean? But those are my favorite types of characters! Mostly enjoyed this for the writing exercises, because I could have a million of prompts and ideas and never be satisfied.
November 4, 2017
I really liked this one, but to be fair, I began in the middle and only read the parts that I felt I needed currently. I enjoy having the different perspectives from various writers and I felt their information was useful. This would be worth having on the reference shelf at home.
May 20, 2021
Everything and the kitchen sink
As an aspiring writer, I appreciate the range of advice and tips in this book. Rather than giving one person's point of view, many writers share their experience and expertise in precise, clear detail.
As an aspiring writer, I appreciate the range of advice and tips in this book. Rather than giving one person's point of view, many writers share their experience and expertise in precise, clear detail.
January 24, 2023
This book is unique in it's own way, because it have advices from different published authors. It cover every aspect of writing, you name it and it is in the book. So for the newcomer in the field of writing, this book has a must have to sharpening your skills.
February 2, 2023
If you are a writer or you are interested in writing, read this book! One of the few books about writing that isn't overly condescending or focused on the rehashed writing advice you have received over and over!
July 18, 2017
A compilation of advices from different authors will result in repeated mantras, but there are more good and practical tips than bad ones.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews