Writing as a Craft

     If you’re a writer, you know writing isn’t magic. It’s not about inspiration striking at the perfect moment (though that helps). Writing is a craft, and like any craft, you are able to learn, practice, and refine that skill.

     At its core, the art of writing is three pieces tied together: plot, character, and setting. Each one shapes stories in fundamental ways. Understanding how these pieces interact is the key to building narratives that people will come back to.

     Writing isn’t about following rules. Instead, it’s about understanding the mechanics well enough to bend them creatively. Something akin to “learn the rules so you can break them later.”

Plot (AKA, Story Architecture)

     Plot is the skeleton of your story. It’s what gives shape and/or form to what you’re creating. This structure should be not a cage, but rather a framework. Think of it like scaffolding: it supports your story as it grows, and once the building is strong enough, you can paint, decorate, and add all those little flourishes.

     Outlines are a favorite tool for plotting. That being said, opinions surrounding them vary widely. Some writers swear by them, mapping every beat in advance. Others dive in with only a rough idea, letting the story reveal itself organically. Both approaches can and do work.

     Many writers, like myself, end up as hybrids. Sometimes that means being fluid in method within an individual project, and other times it’s shifting between methods depending on the kind of project.

     Most stories don’t emerge fully formed. They grow, branch, and sometimes need pruning. For this reason, “story trees” are popular, similar to the way trees function in math. The best part is that they aren’t set in stone, and you can change things up as you move along.

Characters (AKA, the Heart)

     Both buildings and trees were used to try and define plot. Characters, I think, are more like engines. They drive the narrative forward. A compelling tale without interesting characters is like a machine without a spark plug. It’ll move, maybe, but it won’t come alive as it should.

     Characters are made up of a thousand different considerations - motivation, flaws, and arcs that feel earned. That’s just the base. Often characters seem to take on lives of their own, rebelling and sometimes even leading you to entirely new ideas.

     They’re so important that it’s hardly fair to say they serve the plot. It’s more like they create it.

Setting: (AKA, the Breath)

     The world your story inhabits is more than wallpaper. Setting shapes mood, informs character choices, and can even become a character of its own. A character without a setting is not whole. In a setting, the character can breathe and take place in the plot.

     “White room syndrome” is a phrase often used to describe someone who forgets to describe setting. It can make it feel like characters are interacting in a blank space.

     Good settings are immersive and functional. Every detail should either enrich the world or influence the course of the story. Random descriptions are nice, but purposeful worldbuilding transforms narrative from something you read into something you experience.

Hybrids: Architect vs. Gardener

     These are the two camps we discussed earlier. Sometimes referred to as plotter/pantser (as in “flying by the seat of your pants”). Architects plan meticulously, gardeners explore freely. Architects like structure, outlines, and clear beats. Gardeners, however, thrive on discovery. They let the story unfold naturally.

     The key is often flexibility. Understanding both approaches equips you to tackle any project. Like I said before, the best writers know the rules well enough to break them. Not only that, they know when to break them.

A Toolbox

     Beyond plot, character, and setting, craft relies on a special box of tools/techniques. These are also talked about quite a lot in the writing world.

• Point of view (who’s telling the story, and why does it matter?

• Pacing (when to accelerate, when to linger)

• Voice (the unique rhythm + tone that distinguishes your story)

• Revision (drafts often require refinements over time)

     Each tool isn’t prescriptive. You can adjust or ignore them depending on the story. Mastering them comes from understanding how and why each element works.

     Every story has its own gravity. Your job is to understand it and work with it.

Feedback & Collaboration

     Writing doesn’t - and shouldn’t - exist in a vacuum. Sharing your work with trusted peers can illuminate blind spots. Keep that in mind, but also realize that timing matters. Early feedback can be dangerous for “discovery” projects; too many voices before the story has fully emerged can redirect it in unintended ways.

     The ideal scenario would be this: writers who understand expectations, commit to reading, and provide genuinely thoughtful insights. The most important skill you’ll ever find in a critique session is the simple ability to listen.

     Often feedback is only useful when you consider it for a while afterwards rather than arguing it on the spot. You’d be surprised how quickly your perspective can change.

In Conclusion…

     Writing blends countless ideas, skills, and jobs together. It’s difficult at times, but in the end that’s what it takes to make something great. Plot, characters, and setting are the foundation, but everything else exists to serve the story you’re trying to tell.

     Focus on learning a step at a time, experiment, and learn the mechanics well enough to bend them. You can never stop learning, but learning the rules of storytelling can help you understand what makes them work, and that has a unique power of its own.