This is a simple way to write good stories. The truth is that it isn’t easy. In fact it’s incredibly hard to do this. It took twenty years for me to get it right. So here’s what I did.

1. You have to want it.

   More then anything you have to want to write good stories. There is no school, book or anything else that can teach you to do it. You have to want to find what works for you. I wanted to write more then anything. More then my ex-wife, more then the life we had built. The only thing I wanted more then to write was my daughter’s. Which leads to the next part.

2. Find your reason to write.

   Mine was my daughters. Twenty years from now my girls will look at my work and say, “My daddy wrote that.” It also helps to think that it will be around forever. There’s no guarantee in that but that’s something you can figure out how to do.

3. Find your muse.

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   Most people don’t realize how important this is. It inspires you and keeps you writing. Inspiration comes from the strangest places; mine comes from the anger and pain I feel. It also comes from my love and friendships. Threw the pain my ex-wife has become one of my most valuably muses.

4. Don’t be afraid of poetry.

   Poetry is something you can use to clear your mind and gain new insight from. Anyone who has read my work knows that I do a lot of poetry. My main reason is that it keeps me going. I don’t even like writing poetry but it helps me write my main love, Short stories and novels.

5. Write what you know.

   If you want to write about a particular subject learn about it. In most cases you can go out and do it, don’t assume you can fake it. This doesn’t go for everything. You can’t go flying threw space or fight a dragon but there are great sources out there to learn about that. If you want to write about a murder don’t go out and do it that just gets you locked away for life. Most of the things I write about can’t be done but I mix a lot of my own experience in with the fiction I write. Some stories can’t be released as anything but fiction even if they did happen.

6. Don’t care what other think.

   Praise is a great thing and so is criticism but when someone doesn’t like what you wrote and you do go on. If write for yourself then you’ll like what you do and that’s what’s most important. Don’t let anyone tell you your not doing something write, other then spelling and grammar, because if you like what your doing it doesn’t matter.

I hope this helps everyone who reads it. I’m working on more of these so others can see how I do it. Check out other people’s points of view as well. I’m told I’m good but I’m still might on the broke side and that makes it less convincing.