• My name is Alex, and I am a writer. I'll be the first one to say that I'm not very good at it, so save your words. Okay, I've been posting to the Arenas here on Gaia for a couple years now. Nowhere near the most popular writer to grace this site but most everyone who reads my work enjoys it. That's really the whole point isn't? Bringing enjoyment to your audience?

    So, what exactly makes a writer? I'm gonna tell you right now it's not correct spelling and punctuation, there are always editors to fix those problems. Nor is it popularity, I believe that it's the characters they create that makes the writer. A story is nothing (literally) without characters, hell even the plot doesn't have to be good if the characters are interesting enough.

    To be fair, I'm giving too much credit to the characters. Something just as important is the universe they inhabit. Giving more detail and back story about the stories universe pulls you (the reader) in and makes you feel like you are a part of the events. With a good universe and great characters you're on your way to a really good story.

    Now I know this entry will probably hurt my overall score in the Writing Arena but I don't really care. I didn't type this for recognition, I typed it to help my out of my writer's block. I figured a non-fiction piece would be a much needed break from my constant stream of nothing but Fiction and Science Fiction. Thanks for your time reader, I really do appreciate it.