One mistake will kill a story faster than any other: not following through.  Anything that goes into your story has to come to a satisfying conclusion.   It’s here that most authors fail, whether they’re just starting out or multi-book veterans.  This ranges from huge mistakes like failing to wrap up a major plot strand to

There are millions of people who want to write.  Of course, it’s talent that often determines who makes it and who doesn’t.  Or luck.  Or both.   Sometimes people are just in the right place in the right time.  E.L. James, who wrote the publishing phenom 50 Shades of Gray, copied the right book when

Not long ago I hit a wall and realized I needed to study the structure of stories more closely.  At first my writing group didn’t really understand where I was coming from, as they were all just starting into their second major novels with the corresponding joy and motivation that goes along with starting a

Writers read a lot of books about writing. Over time the collective wisdom of these writing books builds up and helps add to unconscious competence.  A book by itself won’t make you a better writer.  It’s as simple as that.  Only working diligently at the craft makes you a better writer.  You read to learn,