“We’re past the age of heroes and hero kings. Most of our lives are basically mundane and dull, and it’s up to the writer to find ways to make them interesting.” —John Updike Let’s begin with John Updike’s quote. How great is that one? When writers read that quote, it should make them realize what’s important in writing—a strong voice, good dialogue, realistic characters, and a nice plot that keeps readers going. We are not reinventing the wheel, we are merely storytellers, here to entertain. Sometimes, when I find I’m being too hard on myself and I reread something I’ve written, I go back and ask these questions: “Was it…