There’s a story in you somewhere and it’s got to come out. You dream of a career as a published author, but before you get into the business side of things, you’ve got to write a good story. Here are a few pointers to get you started. Read Your Genre If you want to write dark fiction for children, read Lemony Snicket, for adults, then read Daniel Handler ; bonus points if you know that’s the same person. Read the genre you plan to write, and find your author mentor, but don’t mimic. Be sure to give your story your own voice. Brainstorm and Mind Map With or without a solid story idea, take a piece of paper or a blank document on your computer and start writing down everything you can think of that may happen in the story. It’s often helpful to do this on paper so you can literally draw lines to connect related plot points, though there are software that allows you to do this on your computer. The Famous W’s Who, what, why, when, and where are your friends. Answer these questions to get