Writers often wrestle with a familiar question: How true does this story need to be? Some argue that every detail should align perfectly with reality to maintain credibility. Others believe storytelling is about emotional truth, so bending facts for the sake of a compelling narrative is fair game.

he “selling water” metaphor stands for taking a simple idea—maybe an everyday observation or a universal theme—and showcasing it to readers in a way that feels immediately relevant.

At its core, this dilemma boils down to how you tackle revisions. The “one sweep” approach suggests you can solve every structural flaw, remove extraneous characters, and polish dialogue in one heroic editing pass. The “small tweaks” method encourages you to edit in layers, focusing on one aspect of craft at a time—like pacing—before moving on to another—like character development.

No matter how you incorporate a “live” element—whether through serialized posts, candid updates, or subtle immediacy in your prose—the result is a deeper connection.

Imagine the first chapter of your novel as an invitation to a grand party—you don’t have to reveal everything at once, but you do want to tease the best parts of what’s to come. You want your readers to stay, mingle, and grow curious about the other rooms in the house.

Here’s a secret: constraints don’t have to curb your imagination. They can shape it in remarkable ways. When you face limitations—like a word count restriction or limited tech know-how—you’re forced to get creative.