Make a list of your favorite stories that specifies everything you liked about them, such as well-developed characters, clever plot twists, imagery, couldn’t put the book down, and so forth.

Now, take that list and compare what impressed you to your story and see if there’s some way you can improve. You’re not likely to learn simply by osmosis; conscious observation will assimilate it to your benefit.

Then, if you’re brave enough, do the same for stories you didn’t like and compare them to your work as well.