There is a reason why F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath." There are no rights and wrongs when you write; every writer has their own expression, their own style and their own reasons to write. No one can make one rule and follow it to the “T” because every writer will require a different set of rules for every story he or she comes up with.

Every story is as unique as every writer. Writing fiction is never easy; since you have complete control over the storyboard and the characters, it can be uplifting and intimidating at the same time. However, there are certainly some tips that will help you get started and give a sense of direction so that you can start writing and improve your story as you go.

Here are some tips that you can apply to your writing and write better!

Read and Read A Little More!

This is one of the major tips that you should never ignore. Michael Moorcock, the author of the Elric of Melniboné series, swears by this tip. He advises new writers to read as much as possible and whenever you get the time. If you prefer to write romance, start reading other genres. This will give you insight into building your character better and show you what you should and what you should not do.

Outline Your Characters

Instead of going with the flow, it is better that you start outlining your characters and have a rough draft of them before you begin writing your story. Make your character flawed, real and believable because this is what will sell your character AND your story. Give your character the room to grow and breathe, and let it direct you so that the flow your story is genuine and authentic.

Time Your Characters Right

Another tip that Michael Moorcock gives is about timing your characters right. If you want to write genre-driven plot- based fiction, you should introduce the main theme and your main characters in the first third portion of your novel. These would form the introduction of your story and, after that, develop your characters and the story line in the second third of the novel. This will help you build the pace of your novel and make it interesting for your readers.

Never Plan the Ending Before You Begin

Rose Tremain, the author of The Road Home, advises aspiring authors that they should never decide on the ending of the novel when they begin writing or planning their novel. You will change how you feel after developing the story, the characters and the plot line. The ending has to be earned by the characters and the flow of the story, so don’t cheat your characters out of it, and don’t plan your ending before you even begin writing.

One thing to remember: this is your story and you are the boss of it. Also remember that when it comes to writing, there are absolutely no rules. You know your characters, your story and what you want to achieve with it. So follow your gut instincts and let the writing flow.