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language for his world, putting hours and hours of work into the details. While too much detail can make a story boring (this is the main problem cited by most of Tolkien's critics), be sure to know where you are. Don't inexplicably change a character's hair color, or the name of a specific mountain, half way through. Tell all the details you need to to keep the story moving along interestingly, and no more.

You could create a filing system either with physical folders for notes, or on your computer. Draw a map. I have a specific bedroom wall beside my desk for making notes on worlds and hanging character sketches. Just be sure to keep track of what you've done and plan to do. Reading what you've already written several times should help with continuity too. Ideally, you should know your world so well that you could talk to someone about it for an hour or two without looking at your notes.

9) DON'T GIVE UP

No matter how well you write now, when you read it again in five years (or even one year if you're lucky), you'll declare it to be completely awful. This means you're growing - in fact, every error you notice means you're better than you were. The more you write, the more you improve. Never feel down about past mistakes. The fact that you can see them means you have every reason to keep going.

Embrace the constructive criticism of others, too. If you get criticism that isn't constructive, don't be afraid to make it constructive yourself. Why didn't so-and-so like your story? Figure it out and keep writing with the new information in mind.

10) A USEFUL TOOL

Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style" is a necessary, classic component of every writer's arsenal. It focuses on common spelling and grammar errors, and points to additional writing principles and standards. It's a tiny little thing. Memorize it.

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