Emotional Investment in Our Story—When to Have it, When to Lose it

When I'm working on a book, I spend a lot of time in the story's world.

I hang out with my imaginary friends. I think about what they'd do in different situations. I wonder what makes them tick.

I frequently think about my storyline and characters' personalities as I drive the car around town, brush my teeth, or run the vacuum.

To come up with a good story, we do have to immerse ourselves in it. It takes a lot of time to think about all the different aspects that make up the book.

B...