Writing a story with a viable beginning, middle, and end? If you are, kudos to you. If you've gotten stuck on the "good-idea-but-where-do-I-go-from-here-phase," well...

Okay, here's where I'll probably sound preachy, but I swear I'm really not. I DON'T think I'm a better writer than you. Heck, I don't even really know you, not on a name-to-name basis, anyway. But we DO have a lot in common. For one: a modicum of talent (and in your case, possibly much more). Also, and this next one is a doozy, so listen up: we're not famous for doing what we love (yet).

My sole intention here is to save you some trouble (in the hope the boost in my karma will work in my favor) by sharing my experiences thus far from the other side of wherever you are (and if you are in the midst of struggling with your craft, then these words are for you). I've been there, too (still am), just as, say Steven King, is looking back at some of us now (fondly, I hope). It's not that he's a better writer than you, necessarily. He's just luckier. We have the much more important thing in common with the Kings of the world: we love to tell a good story. As I've heard it put bluntly before: celebrities are just normal people with extraordinary jobs.

So please, don't despair. Just remember: do it for the love of it. No other reason will suffice.