To recap: A story has a beginning, middle, and end.

A story is dramatic (i.e., something happens and we want to know what comes next).

Drama comes from conflict.

Conflict happens when two forces are pushing against each other, and only one can win.

Your protagonist doesn’t always have to win every fight.

In fact, it’s better if she doesn’t. (If any of this seem unfamiliar, start here!)

Imagine the Odyssey if Odysseus convinced his crew not to eat the cattle of Helios, or made sure they didn’t open the bag of winds. (If you’re not familiar with it, author Gareth Hinds makes absolutely beautiful graphic novel versions of famous books, like this.)

Or Anne Shirley if she never turned her hair green, or never lost her temper with anyone.

We really get to know and like a character when we see how they deal with not getting what they want.

There have to be bumps in the road.

In I Want to Go Home, there are lots of ways that Rudy Miller is smarter than the counsellors. And he gets away with a lot.

But not everything. He still gets caught. He still has to play sports that he hates. And so on.

Rudy Miller is funny because he’s a shnook.

Rudy Miller is interesting because he has to deal with not always getting what he wants.

By the end of most stories, the main character usually does get what they want. But in the big middle section, there should be problems. (Think about all the Macdonald Hall stories, too—also by Gordon Korman. The most interesting parts are when things are going crazy.)

Bumps in the road.

Happy writing, young writer.