It is fun to create a culture, one where you decide the rules and the way of life. Just be careful not to get so caught up in creating your culture that you forget about your story, the reason for creating this culture in the first place.

Every character starts out with a blank slate, kind of like a baby. What he or she is like is formed through the hardships faced, the ways he thinks, the way he reacts, the way he gets what he wants.

A plot consists of every part of the storyline - the people, the conflicts, the world it takes place in. An important thing to remember - no plot is ever set in stone until the story is published. It can be changed as you write the story, not just one time but several times.

Darkfall, by Dean Koontz, is an edge-of-your-seat masterpiece. It begins with a 2-part prologue.

The Magic Hour, by James S. Crowley, opens with nine-year-old twin brothers Eddie and Brian preparing to spend their first night alone outside in their tree house. Their friend, Tad, has loaned them a story that he says they must listen to.