So what is this book that's practically become my writing bible and one that has taken up residense by my computer? It's been mentioned time and time again by other Hatrackers: SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS.

I know we all have our favorites. This just happens to be mine though I have others too. As my skills grow, I find I look at what this book has to say in a new light every time I pick it up, and I feel it shows in my work more and more all the time.

I think it's a fairly common thing that as we become more immersed in an endeavor we are more prepared to understand what an expert is saying. One area for me was the oft-discussed topic of the "rules". As an eager new student I looked at the "rules" as absolutes and accepted (or sometimes rejected) them as such. As I worked with them (really within them) I began to understand that they were really tools to help keep one's eye on the ball, and eventually began to use them as such. So what I once viewed as limitations I eventually started putting to work for me.

Another area was the topic of character development and what it takes for a reader to develop a strong interest in a character. I had an epiphany along that road that made me completely reverse a large amount of what I believed was important in the realm of writing.

The cool thing is that what at first appeared hopelessly complicated when viewed from the perspectives introduced in the academic study of literature is actually much simpler on it's core level: the individual connection to a reader.

I started studying story structure at storyfix.com (I think that's the URL). It was an eye opener, to be sure. It's changed the way I watch movies and read books, and I've quickly discovered the problems with all of my novel attempts.

Right now I'm in the pre-writing stage of a novel, and the work is going tremendously. I feel in command of the material, like I know what I'm doing.

Hey, long time no see.

About storyfix.com, I think I've heard of that, recommended by Dave Farland's Daily Kick. I haven't had the chance to look too deeply into it yet.