Award-winning and best-selling mystery and thriller author Harlan Coben shares his twist ending tips and more in this interview with Jessica Strawser.

To make characters seem real, you need to tap into what drives them. Use this foolproof method to bring the emotion of your story to life and craft compelling characters.

If you think you’ve heard all you need to know about what drives a plot, think again. Here’s the real stuff the best stories are made of. by Steven James

Most of the time, we want to balance our scenes using dialogue, action and narrative to engage readers at an emotional level and keep them hooked. Here's how to do that. by Gloria Kempton

To help you successfully complete your book in 30 days, here are nine worksheets to help you keep track of plot, scenes, characters and revisions. All of these worksheets originally appeared in Book in a Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt and were also featured in the special issue Write Your Novel in 30 Days.

Structural problems can sink a novel. Let’s look at 10 common plot problems and how to quickly fix them. by Elizabeth Sims

Don’t be afraid to make things hard on your characters. You should always come up with several different problems to choose from. Here are 3 ways to do that. by Victoria Lynn Schmidt

Here’s editor Anica Mrose Rissi’s list of what you can do to increase your book’s chances of making it out of the slush pile and into the spotlight. by Anica Mrose Rissi

Understanding gender differences can improve your writing in any genre. Here’s how. by Leigh Anne Jasheway

Here are 4 quick exercises to make sure your characters speak to readers (and agents).

All stories contain four elements that can determine structure: milieu, idea, character and event. Here's a look at each one and how each will affect your novel. by Orson Scott Card

According to bestselling authors JT Ellison, Alex Kava and Erica Spindler, there are 5 key ways to make your heroine shine. Here they are. by Jessica Strawser, reporting from ThrillerFest 2010 (New York City)

In his session “The Psychology of Character Motivation,” Edgar-nominated author D.P. Lyle, MD, shared this invaluable exercise for developing your characters’ motivations as your story unfolds. by Jessica Strawser, reporting from ThrillerFest 2010 (New York City)

What you call your characters could influence your readers’ perceptions of them. Here are some factors to consider in finding the perfect match. by Devyani Borade

Nothing is more exciting than the promise of a story in your head, but in order to get it on the page you need to figure out exactly what you need to do to make it work. Here are 4 steps to help you build the framework of your story. by N.M. Kelby

You need stamina to transform that out-of-shape first draft into a story with staying power. Use these 4 revision strategies to make your novel go the distance. by Lin Enger

Matters of vital concern to fiction writers.

In this excerpt from 179 Ways to Save a Novel, author Peter Selgin discusses ways to defeat the writer's sworn enemy: the cliche.