In your quest to write your first novel, have you bothered to stop for a moment and think about what goes into the creation of one? Sure, time and effort, sacrifice and commitment, and curiosity and perseverance are key factors in your ability to create; but all that aside, what are the key components of a novel-the elements, the working parts, the cogs, if you will? Take a moment and think about a novel you have read. What would you say are some of the memorable qualities of that story you experienced and kept with you long after you finished reading it? The first five qualities that come to any author’s mind-before, during, and after writing a novel-are the very ingredients that are not only necessary in the conception and delivery of a novel but also vital to its existence. Plot, character, setting, conflict, and ending-without these five major ingredients, you can have no story. They are the key elements for a successful novel and the reason this book, the second in my three-part series, is appropriately titled Recipe for a Great Story.