When I first began delving into the world of storytelling theory, I felt like a delighted dragon hoarding glittering gems of knowledge. But when I started mentoring other writers, the sheer volume of techniques and principles began to feel overwhelming, and I sometimes found myself paralyzed over which of them I should hold up to the light first.

With more experience, I’ve found that all the tips and tricks boiled down to just a few foundational characteristics that set impactful novels apart.

Today, the main storytelling strategies I teach can be distilled into one of four simple questions about the things your story needs to do well to succeed:

1. How can this story be more believable? ⚖️

Impactful stories immerse your reader in a lifelike experience without breaking the illusion of reality.

What this looks like:

• ⚖️ Fully developed characters whose motives and decisions make sense
• ⚖️ Plots based on clear patterns of cause and effect instead of coincidence
• ⚖️ Well-developed settings grounded in solid research
• ⚖️ Thematic arcs where character change happens for a reason, at a realistic pace

2. How can this story be more emotionally resonant? ❤️

Impactful stories speak directly to your readers’ hearts by giving them a powerful emotional experience.

What this looks like:

• ❤️ Characters driven by deep, relatable longings
• ❤️ Plots built around compelling personal stakes
• ❤️ Setting details that reflect characters’ emotional life
• ❤️ Thematic arcs that stir a thirst for goodness and a disdain for evil

3. How can this story better engage readers’ interest? ⁉️

Impactful stories capture your readers’ attention and keep them turning pages with a fascinating story they’ve never seen before.

What this looks like:

• ⁉️ Memorable, one-of-a-kind characters who are capable of surprising us
• ⁉️ Plots driven by compelling questions, gripping pacing, and unpredictably fitting twists
• ⁉️ Original settings that transport us to new worlds or lead us to explore unfamiliar parts of our own
• ⁉️ Thematic arcs that push us to consider beliefs we take for granted from a new angle

4. How can this story be more meaningful? 🔆

Impactful stories allow readers to naturally encounter truth and discern value through experiences that point beyond themselves to true realities.

What this looks like:

• 🔆Characters whose beliefs are tested and rewarded with appropriate consequences
• 🔆Plots that force characters to make difficult, costly moral decisions
• 🔆Settings that interact with your message through culture and symbolism
• 🔆Themes that flow naturally from the story’s heart without preaching

The scope of the storytelling craft can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

I believe that the key to developing a skill is mainly in getting better at the basics—not in hoarding a vast library of individual hacks and techniques.

This is why I want to encourage you to build a habit of asking these four questions about your own storytelling until they become second nature to you.

In pursuing the answers, you’ll learn all of the skills behind impactful storytelling.

As an editor and writing coach, that’s what I’m here to help you do.