The most effective writers understand that a plan is the best way to make sure you get to where you want to go. Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind works on two levels, making it extremely versatile for writers.

An effective writer is one who knows why they do what they do and understands how their process will get them there. With a nod to Stephen Covey’s seminal work, this article tackles Habit 1 of seven foundational habits for authors who want to make a difference.

Having a strong grasp of your character’s internal conflict can help you make big-picture decisions when you’re revising your story. Read more about how you can use this developmental editing technique to focus your changes.

Learn an easy self-editing technique that helps you spot clunky description and fix it by zeroing in on two common culprits: too many adjectives and physical description.