What is that certain je ne sais quois that sends me rushing to recommend a story for publication?

As a youngster, I was challenged by my teacher to bring a rice dish to class—the idea was to see how creative we could get.

There are as many ways to get in as there are excuses to drop right back out—but one of my surefire favorites is the "Soundtrack Method."

Think you know what constitutes a "story"?

I read. A lot. I read so often, so slowly, and so earnestly, that sometimes I need a break from it. Reading as a writer is a lot of work....

Discovering the unspoken rules of a new genre.