What does it mean to be a writer? Simply put, it is an attempt to capture the inexpressible and put it into words. Are words inadequate? Yes. But, words can raise armies, cause a laugh, and bring people together in love.

What does it mean to be a fiction writer? Basically, it is to tell a story. But more than that, fiction is a window to the soul. Think of the Grimm Brothers stories, simple tales that carry deep lessons about life. Therefore the task of the fiction writer is not only to tell...