No Formula
You know the expression “know the rules before you break the rules”? Yeah, well, in writing there are no rules. There are best practices and methods to follow. There are suggestions to get better and ways to improve, but there are no rules.
Which is, of course, a double-edged sword. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a simple (or even complex!) formula? Plug in the variables and you’re good to go. But not even a plot outline structure or even AI software can actually give you that. You could use them as a starting point, but to write a good, solid book about which you can be proud? That takes imagination, creativity and a whole lot of je-ne-said-quoi.
Which is actually the good news! You don’t have to stick to the “right” way to write because there is no right way. There are ways that work for some writers and ways that don’t. There are ways that will work for you, and ways that won’t. Part of the challenge—and exhilaration—of writing is figuring out what does work for you. By all means, hire a book coach (I know a good one 🙂 ) or take online courses, or work with critique partners. You can get guidance, but what writing comes down to, what writing always comes down to, is you and your story. Your way.