1) Each character should have his own voice. If your character is from Brooklyn, give him brooklyn accent and mannerisms.

2) Before you write, decide on his or her background and outline it thoroughly. If she is supposed to be from a high profile Georgia family, know what her parents do for a living. Is she trying to live up to their standards or does she move to California in rebellion? Why?

There is an image most people carry of artist (think Van Gough's self-portrait, one with his ear bandaged), working in solitude in a barren garret in a dark corner of city. Everyday is a struggle. He continually walks between moments of brilliance and moments of insanity. It's a romantic image, I suppose. Built around belief that an artist must suffer for his art.

This applies not only to painter, mind you, but also to actor, dancer, photographer, writer. We all must suffer for our art.

But image and reality are often two different things. Writing, for example, does NOT have to be a torturous process of endurance and pain. In fact, it should be exactly opposite. Liberating. Joyous. Enlightening. Why else would you want to invest so much of yourself in it?

So let's take a closer look at a few common writing myths.

This first one actually applies in all areas of a person's life. Simply stated: Having a big ego is a bad thing. It's unbecoming. It's boastful. It puts you in a negative light.

The truth is … if you want to be a success at anything, you need an ego. It motivates you, keeps you moving, pushes you to do your best. It's not your enemy. It's your ally.

The key to making it work for you is to keep it directed inward. Pump yourself up silently. Let it fill you with pride and a sense of possibilities. That's what ego does best. Used wisely, it will move you toward your writing goals, not away from them.

Our next common writing myth is one you hear all time: you have to write something original.

What is originality?

There's only one thing in world that can make your work original. That's you. Because that's all you have to bring to table as a writer. Who you are. Your history. Your experiences. Your family. Your beliefs.