How to write Fiction Part II

1. Read!!!!!! Reading teaches us what makes a good story, what makes a bad story, and gives us inspiration. Being a writer without being a reader, is like being a sports commentator without knowing the sport, you don't really know what's going on, and chances are you'll probably end up being really bad at it. However if you've watched other sports commentators and understand what you should do first, you will have all the tools you need to become a great commentator, or writer :)

          Classics like the Odyssey, and Shakespeare. Books in the genre your writing about, like maybe The Hunger Games, or Divergent. Weird books that no ones ever heard about, analyze each as you read for what works and what doesn't.

1. Don't drown your main character in a sea of insignificant other characters. Only give your main characters, recurring, or viral to the plot characters names. Likewise don't put in unnecessary dialogues with random strangers that don't have any relevance to the plot. This might seem obvious, but these conversations are everywhere, a conversation with a neighbor, a waiter, someone a the bus stop, they're insignificant and boring, so cut them. For example: pick up the scene after the food has arrived. 
2. Know the back story of your characters. How can your readers be expected to believe your character is real, when the author hasn't even fully developed them yet. Knowing the back story will help you the author to write more easily and confidently.
3. Dialogue can be tricky, and there are a few things to remember. Don't directly answer questions in dialogue for example:  from http://theeditorsblog.net/2011/11/03/bad-dialogue-bad-bad-dialogue/

 ”Did you get the aspirin? I really need it.”

“Yes, I got the aspirin.”

“And the burger buns. I hope you got those.”

“Yes, I got the burger buns.”

“Did you remember to stop by my mother’s house? She said she had something for us.”

“No, I didn’t remember to stop by your mother’s house. I didn’t remember that she said she had something for us.”

Don't repeat 

“Yeah, Jack ran after Melanie,” Arthur told us. ”Jack tried to get her to turn around. Jack ran down the street, calling Melanie’s name, determined she’d listen to Jack’s pleas one time.” Arthur snapped his fingers. Nodded. ”Yeah, Jack would get her to listen. Jack had that way about him. Melanie didn’t stand a chance. Not with Jack dogging her that way.”