Posted on February 11, 2026 at 10:41 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
The publishing experts we follow have plenty of craft advice to offer.
Here are the ones focusing on fiction's structure that we thought were can't-miss for our authors:
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Tradwives and social media in horror fiction: Author Saratoga Schaefer shares the specific inspiration for their latest novel and the general principles that made this "unholy union" work, so that you can ponder a similar pairing (Writer's Digest).
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Regulations for the fictional parent: Kit Aldridge explores the ways in which a lacking or missing parent influences children (of any age) in fiction in a way that powers the plot (Writer Unboxed).
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Fix these five common mistakes in historical fiction: Author Janie Chang demonstrates how to make sure your story comes alive and also feels real, no matter how long ago it's set (Writer's Digest).
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In the beginning: Kathleen McCleary identifies three features of openings to novels that she simply couldn't put down ... in contrast to the (unidentified) ones she's been unable to continue with (Writer Unboxed).
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Using contradictions to create masterful microtension: C.S. Lakin believes that microtension is what takes stories from good to great, so she's dedicating a blog series to the topic, with the first installment focusing on how contradictions are at the heart of microtension (Live Write Thrive).
Categories: Behind the scenes