Turn a “what if” moment into a fascinating read

“What if?” The idea hits you in the middle of the night, while walking down the street or reading a newspaper.

A caveman might have experienced a “What if” moment when he saw a cavewoman and wondered what would happen if he tossed her over his shoulder and ran into a nearby forest. He didn’t know how to write, but it seemed like a good story. So he told it (with embellishments) to rapt listeners around the fire that night.

Successful storytellers create vivid characters that move naturally from scene to scene with clear effective style and dialogue.

A combination of poor style and dialogue will result in swift rejection from a reader. Writers often attempt to display their writing skills and insert feelings, beliefs and experiences in a story. The work becomes a gigantic therapy session with the reader a reluctant participant. The story isn’t about you; it’s about a “What if” that expands into a fascinating read.

Dialogue moves and describes the scene. It gives life to characters, and keeps the reader involved. Keep your characters and dialogue real, and you’ll be read.