Brandon Sanderson's Invaluable Bullets!

[Admin_99]

These bullets of advice for writers in all genres were taken from a review of the SFF author Brandon Sanderson on the video forum and they're worth repeating here for emphasis:

• The concept of "borrowing" or getting story ideas, entire structure, or themes from other books or films can't hurt and might actually lead to publication; but I maintain you step carefully. The concept may already be overdone, a stale trope.
• His advised method of transposing the "structure" of one type of genre novel onto another can be productive--reminiscent of Italian writers in the old days transposing Japanese samurai scripts into spaghetti westerns. Another good example is the transposing of BATTLE ROYALE into THE HUNGER GAMES (different genre? debatable). 
• Helpful to note plot points and/or scenes that successful stories have in common. 
• Concept of "interviewing" your character to learn about them, is a very good one. Ask them questions, get in their heads, role play.
• Asking what character wants and needs, and how they're different.
• Careful with choice of primary protagonist viewpoint. The story needs to be personal to the viewpoint character. 
• Partitioning a novel into three basic part: PROMISE, PROGRESS, PAYOFF. Yes, very basic, but helpful for new writers.
• Finally, his idea for "mind priming" before you hit the paper is a good one, e.g., you consider the ways in which you can make an important scene very visual and thrilling, and you roll it around in your head like a lozenge under the tongue. You savor it and play with it.

[Admin_99]

Brandon's genre won't sync with everyone, however, his advice pretty much pertains to all genres.