Capturing the reader’s imagination is the bottom-line ambition of every good writer. A strong plot is crucial, but memorable characters are what hook us. The first step in creating a great character is to make him want something so desperately …

Writing fiction is both art and craft. Art may come naturally to the genius, but the rest of us rely on craft. In this book, Donna Ippolito draws on 25+ years as an editor of best-selling mass market fiction as …