101 of the Best Fiction-Writing Tips, Part III

What if someone went through the biggest and best blogs on the internet and pulled out the very best tips for fiction writers?

That’s just what I’ve done. If you haven’t already, check out the first 25 best fiction-writing tips here, and the second group of 25 tips here.

Here’s the third installment. To learn more about the tips, click through to their original articles.

101 of the Best Fiction-Writing Tips, Part III

See Part I here, and Part II here .

1. When writing scenes, you have five tools: action, dialogue, interior monologue, interior emotion, and description. Walking, Chewing Gum, and Fiction Writing. Advanced Fiction Writing
2. Don’t care too much about what others think of your writing. You’ll always have fans and foes. Stephen King’s Top 7 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer. The Positivity Blog
3. Struggling with your writing can actually lead you a new level of awareness, and potential breakthroughs. Top Ten Writing Tips to Help You Write More. Angela Booth
4. Ask yourself what might make a grumpy agent put down your manuscript. 3 Storytelling Exercises That Can Get You Published. Storyfix
5. Not sure which POV to use? Write a couple of pages in different points of view, then compare. 42 Fiction Writing Tips for Novelists. Writing Forward
6. Christian fiction maintains certain standards, but not everything can or should be sanitized. When Loathesome Characters Say Despicable Things. Novel Rocket
7. A strong protagonist needn’t be likeable, but must be relatable. What the Fiction Editor Looks For, Part I. Rachelle Gardner
8. Be careful of ‘bunny trails’—tangents that don’t enhance the story or lead anywhere. What the Fiction Editor Looks For, Part II. Rachelle Gardner
9. Too much imagery makes for sensory overload. It’s like hitting your reader over the head. Two Signs of Overwriting and Why It’s a Problem. Kidlit
10. There’s no such thing as an overnight success story. Writing good fiction is hard work, and always will be. There’s No Such Thing As an Overnight Success Story. Nathan Bransford
11. Every sentence of your story must reveal character or advance action. Kurt Vonnegut’s Tips for Writing Fiction. Lifehacker
12. Good ideas are awesome, but don’t be afraid to murder a good idea with an even better one. Ten Rules for Writing Fiction, Part I. Guardian
13. Description works best when it’s not ornamental or seen from the eye of God, but when it comes from a character viewpoint. Ten Rules for Writing Fiction, Part II. Guardian
14. Readers are smart and good at filling in gaps. Are you telling too much? Filling in too much? Ten Editing Tips for Your Fiction Mss. Margaret Atwood
15. Be careful of creating two characters who look, act, and/or sound too much alike. 8 Ways Your Story Needs to Be Tweaked. Victoria Mixon
16. Theme shouldn’t come from what characters intellectually talk about, but from what they feel. Theme: Don’t Get Down in the Dumps. Nail Your Novel
17. Keep a binder for all the research you do for your novel, so you can refer back to it as you write. 4 Tips for Researching a Novel. Author Jody Hedlund
18. Sometimes the scenes you don’t want to write (because they make you uncomfortable) are the scenes you most need to write. The Secrets and Revelations of  a Powerful Middle Act. Tribal Writer
19. If you’re having trouble finishing your book, cut down on other obligations and focus solely on that one project. 8 Things I Did to Help Me Complete My First Book. Write to Done
20. The five building blocks of your characters’ personalities are childhood, relationships, livelihood, pastimes and outlook. 5 Building Blocks of Your Character’s Personality. Daily Writing Tips
21. To strengthen your prose and deepen POV, avoid filter words wherever possible. Filter Words and Distancing Point of View. Let the Words Flow
22. Don’t miraculously resurrect your protagonist from the dead unless it’s integral to the plot or theme. How to Kill Your Protagonist Without Killing Your Fan Base. Writer’s Relief
23. To help you stay motivated, keep a journal of your achievements—large and small. The 3 Notebooks Ever Writer Should Keep. Better Writing Habits
24. Whether you’re an experienced writer or not, your manuscript probably needs more work, even when you think your it’s good enough. Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. Allison Winn Scotch
25. In the opening scene, give your protagonist strong emotions with which we can identify. 12 Dos and Don’ts for Introducing Your Protagonist. Anne R. Allen