What makes a story impossible to put down?

It usually starts with one uncomfortable truth: You have to make your characters suffer.

In this episode of the Wordslinger 10-Shot, I dig into several practical writing craft principles that can help you create stronger characters, sharper scenes, more natural dialogue, and stories that keep readers turning pages.

We’ll talk about why change is the engine of story, how consequences create momentum, why “and then” can quietly kill your plot, and how to build tension without exhausting your reader. I’ll also explore dialogue as a form of action, the value of leaving some questions unanswered, and how to recognize when a story is truly finished.

Whether you’re writing your first novel or your fiftieth, these are the kinds of craft fundamentals that can help you tell more compelling stories.

What writing craft topic would you like me to cover next? Leave your question in the comments. I may turn it into a future episode.

TIMECODES

00:00 – Why writers should talk more about craft

01:44 – Why your characters need to suffer

03:36 – Suffering doesn’t have to mean physical danger

07:38 – Every scene must create change

10:13 – Creating discomfort and escalating tension

10:54 – “And then” versus “because” storytelling

12:18 – Giving readers moments of hope and relief

14:31 – Why everything in a story must serve a purpose

18:11 – Building tension in peaks and valleys

18:55 – Understanding three-act structure

21:30 – Change as the purpose of scenes

23:20 – Dialogue as action, not exposition

27:37 – Why explanatory dialogue stops a story cold

29:32 – Suspense as the distance between knowledge and action

30:52 – How to know when your story is over

34:03 – Leaving some questions unanswered

37:30 – Using A, B, and C plots across a series

40:17 – Why craft remains a writer’s primary tool

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