Treating others the way you want to be treated is the Golden Rule and great words to live by. They\u2019re also good words to write by. Think about books you\u2019ve read recently that you really liked. What did the author do that worked for you? What do you love about their stories? Now, as a writer, treat your readers to the same craftsmanship, storytelling, plot conventions, etc, as you like yourself. If you hate it when the main character seemingly changes personality in the middle of a novel, don\u2019t do that. If you live for a big twist at the end, add one in. Do you gravitate toward super sexy books? Better add more steamy scenes. Do you like your violence or love making off stage? Do that too. If you think like a reader, you\u2019ll be a more productive writer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Think like a publisher<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While you\u2019re busy thinking like a reader, ask yourself what hasn\u2019t been done yet. While you want to write to excite, entertain, and elicit emotion from your reader, you also need to think strategically, like a publisher. While people might have a genre they like best, they don\u2019t want to literally read the exact same plot time and time again. You\u2019ve got to identify what\u2019s been done before and what hole needs to be filled. Let\u2019s say you like werewolf romances. You know the genre and you understand what makes it great (sexy alphas anyone!?). However, how can you put your own spin on it and do something that hasn\u2019t been done before? Maybe there\u2019s a point of view or a plot or a different type of protagonist that would fill a gap no one realized they were craving.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Know what you\u2019re writing<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This probably sound deceptively easy. Of course you know what you\u2019re writing, right? You\u2019re the author! However, if this is your first stab at writing a novel, this is a problem more common than you might think. I know I said that you can blend genres or take pieces of one that you like and apply it to another, but the caveat is you need to understand what you\u2019re doing if you choose that path.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n