''I find that most people know what a story is until they sit down to write one.''— Flannery O'Connor Beginning writers too often believe that plot, or character development, or some structural element is what's needed to get published. This book looks at what really makes fiction good storytelling. ''A good writer is basically a storyteller,'' said Isaac Bashevis Singer, winner of the Nobel Prize. However, basic storytelling techniques, despite their immense value to all writers, are seldom taught in writing courses or in ''how to get published'' books of advice. This slim book explores three key elements that fuel the magic of story - intriguing eccentricity, delightful details, and satisfying surprises. The proven storytelling techniques are time-tested and used by the best authors, including by winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer, and National Book Award, as well as by commercially successful authors whose books appear on bestseller lists and whose work is treasured by generations of fans. Written by an accomplished editor and indie-press publisher, this guide draws on the author's decades of experience in the book trade, studying what really works for emerging writers and editing many books of advice on literary craft and career development. It will help writers in their efforts to craft better fiction (or nonfiction) and to get their best work published.