Write it Right

Dear Writer

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Forewords often get skipped, but if you’re still here, let me make it worth your time.

First, congratulations! Picking up a guidebook on writing—whether it’s mine or someone else’s—shows your commitment to improving your craft. Writing requires a spark of talent, yes, but it’s also a skill, or better yet, a profession, that you must learn to master. There are techniques that beginners often don’t know, but these techniques can be the difference between a captivating story and a forgettable one. To use a dramatic comparison: no surgeon performs an appendectomy on their first day. They study, train, and practice until they can operate with skill and confidence.

Many of you probably dream of hitting it big with your first publication, creating a bestseller right out of the gate. That’s absolutely possible! I know because it happened to me. But here’s the truth: before that breakthrough, I spent years writing, rewriting, and devouring every resource on the craft I could find. I attended countless workshops and wrote three entire novels that were never published. Those early projects weren’t failures—they were lessons. Each one taught me something invaluable about storytelling.

Eventually, I reached a point where my writing style was polished enough to be both entertaining and marketable. When I finally published my first book, I was rewarded with a rapidly growing fan base. Today, I write fantasy and romance novels for young adults, teach workshops, and offer one-on-one coaching for aspiring writers. Creating this guide felt like the next logical step.

So, without further ado... let’s get started!

The perfect beginning

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A well-told story doesn’t always start at the beginning. In fact, beginning with a lengthy introduction is often a mistake. Avoid drawn-out descriptions of the landscape or overly elaborate attempts to set the mood. Instead, dive straight into the action. The faster your story begins, the easier it is to captivate your reader.

Fast-forward your narrative to the moment when the first significant event occurs. Close your eyes and imagine the scene: what’s happening, and where does the tension peak? That’s your entry point.

It doesn’t matter if the reader doesn’t yet know who the characters are or where they are. Those details will unfold naturally as the story progresses. Your primary goal is to hook your audience immediately. This starts with an engaging first paragraph—or better yet, an irresistible first line.

A snappy dialogue exchange can work wonders. If your character is alone, create tension through their internal thoughts. Another effective technique is to summarize the core theme of your book in a single, striking sentence—one