Story Rulez: Two Things Every Novel Needs to Do

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

There are a lot of rules in writing, but only two you really need to follow.

I'm a big fan of the story. If I had to chose between a great story and great writing, I'd take story every time, because without a great story, who cares about the writing? I've seen wonderfully written manuals, but that didn't make me want to curl up with them in front of a fire. 

I've gotten myself into some debates over which is more important to a new writer. Should they focus on improving their writing or their story?

Knowing the rules is important. Writing is a skill, and there's only so far you can go with raw talent. At some point, you'll need to know what you're doing. But I also think that no matter how good a writer you are, if you're not also a storyteller, you won't go that far either.

Most readers don't pick up a book because the author is technically skilled--they pick it up because it sounds like a good story.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com