A question that has been asked since about the time people first began to write. What is it that makes a good writer? A good author? What is that magic formula that sets great authors apart from everybody else. It may not be as complicated an equation as you think.

There are three basic elements to crafting a good story: Creativity, Intellect, and Skill. Creativity is that imaginative spark, that which lets ideas fly from your mind straight onto the page. It’s the basis for the story. Intellect is the logical side; once you have your ideas, it is the intellect that tells you the logical cause and effect after that point. If the Creativity dreams up a great set-up, then the Intellect must then come into play and go, “Okay, given that, here is what happens as a result and what must be done.” Then finally the skill. Are you able to craft the poetry of words required to make your tale grab hold of the reader and fly them to another world?

Most fantasy authors have the Creativity part but not so much on the Intellect, while most science fiction writers have the Intellect nailed down but aren’t as strong on the Creativity. Then a surprising number of books that get made into movies about vampires with perfect abs completely lack that Skill and poetry of words. A few lucky ones have two of these three, and they become rather well known. A VERY few have all three, but they are the ones really worth reading. Perhaps half of the problem is in realizing that you need ALL three.

For instance, some fantasy authors, when confronted with some problem of logic in their story or set-up, they invariably do some hand waving and either say, “Well, that’s just the way that magic works on this world,” or “It’s the way the gods want it.” Both are complete cop-outs. Or, you could have the greatest story around, but if your idea of story-telling is on the level of “See Spot run,” then none of that matters. Have a story that has Intellect with no Creativity, then you might as well be writing a text book.

So remember the formula. Creativity + Intellect + Skill = A Great Story. You’ll be a much better author for it.