My father was an expert fisherman. It didn’t matter if it was on the lake or deep-sea fishing, he rarely returned home empty-handed. The goal was to entice a fish to notice the bait, get hooked, and be reeled in. As a writer, your goal is to hook the audience and reel them in.

Just as you need tools in fishing, the same is true for writing. Knowledge of various bait and lures that work best for the audience you desire will make a world of difference. Here are a few tools for your writer’s tackle box.

1. When using real events, people, and places (even in fiction), research to ensure factual aspects, including clothing, speech, significant effects, etc., are accurate. Embarrassing inaccuracies will be called out by those who recognize them as so.
2. “They” say write what you know. I challenge you not to be afraid to also write what you’d like to know. This is clearly where thorough research comes in.
3. Hook the audience early. If possible, hook them with the first word. If not the first word, then the first sentence, the first paragraph, the first page, but no later than the first chapter. You must hook them, set the hook, then keep them on the “line.” Don’t let them break the line and get away.
4. Short chapters keep readers on the hook longer. You want them saying, “I’m just going to read one more chapter” until they’ve read all the way to the end.
5. Develop a plan from beginning until “The end.” Some writers create extensive outlines while others don’t. Whatever you decide, just have some type of plan, and know how it ends (which you’ll have to do).
6. Know the rules, even those you purposely intend to break.
7. Readers aren’t always writers, but writers should always be readers. As you read other works, note what would work for you, what wouldn’t, and why.
8. Continuously iron-sharpen your skills.
9. Embrace editing. Initially, get that first draft done (bleed out) without stopping to self-edit. Then fine-tune with the fraternal twins: “Now Edit” and “Again Edit.”
10. Rejection is part of life. Eliminate negative self-talk. Encourage yourself.

Learn all you can. Use your acquired knowledge to be great. I leave you with this writing and life exhortation: “You have to see it, before you can see it, and then you’ll see it!”