One fight isn't enough

If your story revolves around a conflict between two characters, this better be a strong conflict that evolves and has reason to persist.

Maybe you're writing an enemies-to-lover story. Maybe your protagonist has to reconcile with their parents. Maybe your character has to figure out how to survive the worst boss in the world.

Whatever the conflict, it has to be durable. People can't be mad at each other for petty things that should blow over in a week or that can be resolved with one conversation and explanation.

Your conflict has to be worthy of the length of your story.

Make sure you find the twists and turns that make your conflict keep your readers looking for a resolution throughout the story.

Respect your network

It's good to have a network in the writing world.

You want people that will give you good feedback, will help you improve, and will help you get where you're going.

You want fellow writers. Agents. Publishers. A true crew of people.

You can work a long time to gather these people in your life. And, once you have, you have to work to keep those people there.

Respect the sources you have brought into your life and maintain them. Give back to these people with your own feedback, advice, or listening ear. Reach out even when you don't need them. Make sure that they still have time they want to give to your goals.

Making connections is important. Nurturing those connections can sometimes be even more important. Don't forget to work on that as well.

Have you got the right protagonist?

Who is the protagonist of Frankenstein? Frankenstein the doctor or the nameless monster who is often given his creator's name?

It's hard to tell.

The novel follows the monster through his journey, but it's the doctor who needs to evolve. It's the doctor who needs to learn a lesson and to correct the mistake he created.

Maybe the more important question is: Why does it matter?

Well, your protagonist should be the heart of your story. They should be the person who has needs and wants that are driving the story. They should be the strong voice that helps drive the narration.

You're going to need to know who your protagonist is to pitch your story to an agent or publisher and to drive your story's heart.

Make sure that you are working around a protagonist, not just a main character.

Focus on the good story

There are a lot of tools to help you get your novel done.

There are beat sheets and character development sheets and so many other tools. And they can be great.

However, they shouldn't be your full focus.

You can get so busy filling in all these tools that you forget to make sure your story is good. You forget to make sure the flow is there. You forget to make sure that your words are entertaining.

You focus so much on the tools, that you don't focus on putting the story together outside of your plan.

Use the tools the way they work best for you, but don't forget that you're writing a story and trying to keep readers engaged. Focus on your story and use the writing tools to help you do that.

Would you tell this story?

At the core, all fiction you write should have a story. It should say something and talk about some event or oddity.

Does your story work?

There are a lot of ways to check, but there is one simplest way.

Would you tell this story to your friends? Would you bring it up if there was a lull in conversation? Do you think it would give you something to talk about at a cocktail party?

If your story isn't interesting enough to tell others, then it might not be interesting enough to write about. Figure out why or move on to a story that is interesting.

The picked-option test

Sometimes, it can be hard to make decisions.

Should your character do this? Is first person the right point of view for this story? Is this the right name for your character?

So many decisions to make, with none necessarily being right.

When you're really stuck, try something simple.

Choose an option and see how you feel about it.

Started writing in the first person and realized that it's awkward? Great. Change. Now you know.

Decided to let two characters get together and find yourself disappointed at the result? Wrong coupling. Go back and find another love interest.

Killed someone off and it made you and your protagonist cry for days? Maybe the right decision to engage your readers.

Making a decision can take forever if you let it. Just make a decision, let it play out, and then see if it was the right decision for you.

There's a delete button on your computer for a reason. Don't be afraid to make decisions that will lead to you using it.

Surviving the reading list

You need to read in your genre to write in your genre. You need to learn from the masters and know the conventions. You need to immerse yourself in the genre.

You don't want to get so deep in your reading that you start copying what you've read, however. You want your work to be original and innovative.

So how do you draw the line?

There are a few things you can do to help yourself.

Remember your intention. Have written down anything you planned for your story. If you know the ending, if you know the theme, if you have an angle that is truly original, write it down so you can call back to it while you're also reading the greats.

Read something else while you're writing. Sure, you want to be on top of your genre, but you can take a break while you're writing so that you don't end up accidentally copying what you're reading.

Be honest with yourself. If you find yourself copying someone else's style, writing with words that you usually wouldn't use, or copycatting an approach that you would never have thought of, be honest that you might be copying someone else.

You want to learn from other writers, but you want to make the lessons your own. Make sure that you aren't copying who is on your reading list and that you're being yourself in your writing.