Story Engineering Mastering the 6 Core Competencies of Successful Writing by Larry Brooks is a great guide for anyone who is looking to write a story.  It breaks down all the items your story needs to have in order to be successful.

The book tells you what the 6 Core Competencies of Successful Writing are and describes each of them, in detail, so that your story will be evolved and involved enough to keep people’s attentions.  He also provides examples in movies and books where the competencies are used (either properly or unproperly).  Fortunately for me, I knew most of what he was referencing, though he does explain enough I would think so you can understand the point even if you had not read the book or seen the movies.

For the past 2 years I have participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and while I have completed the word goal of 50,000 words, my stories aren’t quite finished.  In 2009 I just threw an ending together to hit my word count and in 2010 I hit my word count and then just stopped writing, even though another chapter or two is probably needed to actually provide closure to the story.  However, before NaNoWriMo 2011 starts, I am going to re-read this book and I will be prepared to not only reach my word count but have a story that might be published worthy! I will have the whole story mapped out and once I know where the story is going and I am not just flying by the seat of my pants, I should have something that I’ll actually be looking to share.

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