Worksheet #38 – Skill Set Checklist

Professional writers never stop trying to learn and improve. Natural talent is a boon, but developing a strong skill set requires work.

Below is a list of skills useful for a fiction writer. How would you rate yourself for each–mastered, good, developing, or weak?

Formatting a document

Basic grammar

Word choice/vocabulary

Voice

Story Structure

Writing efficiently

Showing, not telling

Telling when appropriate

Remaining in POV

Establishing a theme

Clear central conflict

Intriguing characters

Character consistency

Strong dialogue

Plotting

Showing suspense/danger/intrigue

Writing action

Showing character emotions

Inserting backstory

Description

Use of setting

Writing romantic scenes

Strong opening lines

Writing humor

Creating rising tension

Writing a twist

Writing scenes with a clear goal

Showing stakes

Avoiding over-explaining

Intriguing secondary characters

Balancing primary and secondary storylines

Clear character arcs

Knowing what to cut

Strong chapter endings

Writing a satisfying ending

Good research skills

Discipline

What other skills would you list?

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