For centuries, our most well-beloved stories have shared similar patterns, but did you know that the events recorded in the Bible model those popular patterns of effective storytelling? Today we will look at the coming-of-age story, in which a young apprentice matures through the guidance of a mentor, and how the Bible’s account of Elijah and Elisha are mirrored in the story-telling patterns that we find in Star Wars, with Yoda and Luke.

Want to write a fantasy story but don't know how to start? Incorporate these proven ingredients and you'll be on your way to fantasy fame!

If you’re a writer, it’s probably happened to you before: You get a great idea for a story. After contemplating your sheer genius for a little while and letting the story boil, you make a mad dash for your computer or notebook, sit down—and freeze. The empty page and blank screen taunt you.

And you realize that you have no idea how to start.

Sound familiar? I know the feeling myself. Here are my top 5 favorite ways to get past that first sentence.

Mark Twain once said that the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning bug. Many writers since then have affirmed the truth of this observation, and just to give you a concrete idea of how this works, here are some of my own observations on word choice.