5 Storytelling Tips for Writers: What I’ve Learned from My Favorite Fiction Books

What will captivate my readers? It’s the question that looms over every writer’s head. We continuously seek ways that will help us hook our readers from the first page of our story to the last. If you’re a writer or storyteller who struggles with this, then this post is for you!

You’ve probably heard that internal conflict is what makes your readers care. While this is true, the characters’ struggle against what they want and what they fear is not the only way to capture your readers’ attention. Don’t get me wrong, you should incorporate internal conflict in your story, and if you’re new to crafting stories, I highly recommend doing some research on it. (Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you’re looking for some writing resources!) If you have already learned the basics of internal conflict, however, and if you find that your story still needs some help, these tips and examples will spark your creativity.

I have been reading quite a few books this year, and as I read, I take note of why I am or am not enjoying the story. Some of my favorite books I’ve read this year (that might have turned into some of my all-time favorites) are Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins. Although each of these books comes from a very distinct genre, I noticed that they use similar storytelling techniques. Each story is about characters who make mistakes, and each story has foil characters. The Nightingale and The Hunger Games also include various moral dilemmas. I have found that these story components, along with the characters’ internal conflict, make these narratives an enjoyable read. Below, I will explain how each book uses one of these techniques and why they captivate the audience.

1. Flawed Characters Help Readers Care (Redeeming Love)

One of the reasons why I enjoyed reading Redeeming Love so much is that none of the characters are perfect. When I first learned what this narrative is about (a man named Michael Hosea, who marries a prostitute called Angel), I expected a story about a seemingly perfect man who rescues a broken young woman and loves her even when she cannot give that love in return. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find that Angel isn’t the only one in the story who makes mistakes. Yes, Michael does rescue Angel and doesn’t stop loving her even when she runs from him. But he isn’t perfect. He makes mistakes and struggles with his own bitter thoughts. Angel has to change and learn, but so does Michael.

These characters’ flaws not only emphasize the narrative’s themes, but they also help the readers relate to each character and care more about the story.

"He didn't want to pity her. He wanted to shake her until her teeth fell out. He wanted to kill her."
Francine Rivers, Redeeming Love

2. Moral Dilemmas Keep Readers Engaged (The Nightingale)

I don’t usually read historical fiction, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale. One aspect of this book that particularly enthralled me was the high stakes the characters continuously face. Throughout the book, the main characters, Isabelle and Vianne, are put in situations where they must make difficult decisions. Some of these choices can even affect the character’s moral code. In the middle of the story, Vianne has to make a choice between injuring a German soldier, who has shown kindness to her, or protecting her sister Isabelle from a fatal punishment. Later in the story, Vianne also has to decide whether or not she should lie to her best friend’s son and break his heart to keep him safe.

These morally gray choices capture the audience’s attention, making them question what they would do in these circumstances.

“If he opened that door, it was over. He would shoot Isabelle, or take her into custody and send her to prison.” 
Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale

3. Ambiguous Themes Challenge Readers to Think (The Hunger Games)

As I read the first book in Suzanne Collins’ popular dystopian series, The Hunger Games, I kept asking myself what makes it so compelling. Is it simply the high stakes? Is it the relatable characters? Maybe the detailed worldbuilding? While all of these contribute greatly to The Hunger Games’ success, the story’s ambiguous themes also play a major role. Suzanne Collins does not spell out one key takeaway that the audience should leave with. Instead, she leaves the reader to interpret the work and asks questions.

This story encourages the reader to consider morality in the face of survival, love in times of rebellion, and power amid inequality. It is not just a means of escape but a way to exercise one’s mind, which makes it worth reading.

 “Something happened when I was holding Rue's hand, watching the life drain out of her. Now I am determined to avenge her, to make her loss unforgettable...” 
Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games

4. Foil Characters Help Readers Understand (Catching Fire)

I enjoyed the second book in The Hunger Games Series just as much as the first, and one aspect of this book that caught my attention was the sharp contrast between Peeta’s and Katniss’s personalities. Although these characters’ differences are also revealed in the other two books, Catching Fire is the book in which Katniss and the audience realize just how different the two victors are. Peeta is the easygoing, gentle, and exceptional public speaker, while Katniss is the cynical and tough fighter. When Peeta does something loving and heroic in this story, the audience realizes how cold and mistrusting Katniss can be, developing the characters even further.

Peeta’s compassionate character gives the audience a better understanding of Katniss, the protagonist, and why she makes certain decisions.

“I shot to kill when I targeted Enobaria and Gloss and Brutus. Peeta would at least have attempted negotiations first.”
Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire

5. Bittersweet Endings Leave Readers Satisfied (Mockingjay)

The epilogue of the final book in The Hunger Games Series beautifully demonstrates that not every story has to end in a “Happily Ever After.” The last few pages of Mockingjay show Katniss’s reflections on her children and the life she has escaped. Although they defeated President Snow, and there are no more Hunger Games, Katniss is not the same girl who took her sister’s place in the games. She has changed. She has lost pieces of herself that will never be recovered. She still struggles with flashbacks and nightmares, but she’s learning how to live with the person she has become. And at the end of it all, the reader is left feeling changed, too.

The closing paragraphs of this series mix a lingering heartache with a hope for a new beginning, leaving the audience satisfied to say “The End.”

“We can make them understand in a way that will make them braver. But one day I'll have to explain about my nightmares. Why they came. Why they won't ever really go away.”  
Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

Closing Thoughts

Sometimes it takes more than internal conflict to immerse your reader in your story, so you can practice including foil characters, making your themes more ambiguous, and writing bittersweet endings. I hope you found this post helpful and engaging. It’s different from my usual posts, so be sure to let me know if you’re interested in seeing more content like this.

What are some of your favorite books? What writing tips have you learned from them? I’d love to hear your thoughts!