Starting in medias res isn't about explosions or car chases—it's about emotional impact. True mastery means dropping readers into a moment that already matters, whether that's an emotional crisis, a conversation that changes everything, or a discovery that reshapes the story. It's meaningful disruption, not mindless spectacle.
"Backstory is like seasoning—a little goes a long way, but too much ruins the dish. The 90/10 rule suggests readers only need to glimpse 10% of your character's history. The key is revealing past details when they become emotionally or narratively necessary, not when you think they're interesting."
Plot twists can make or break your story. While great ones trigger dopamine and create memorable experiences, poor twists betray reader trust and undermine emotional investment. Learn the psychology behind effective twists, explore character-based and situational techniques, and discover how to avoid common pitfalls that turn five-star stories into disappointing failures.
Conflict is often thought of as massive battles or one-on-one fights for honor, but really, it's much more than that. Memorable stories hinge on conflict, and not all stories depend on epic fight scenes to engage their readers. The goal of conflict is to drive the story forward.
Your readers want to see what happens after the climax. The falling action and resolution give the reader the 'so what' of the story. They also justify why the reader spent however many hours and abandoned real world responsibilities to read your book.
Kenneth W. Myers 