RE: The Hard Way Home - Scifi Short Story
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This is my operating principle, even when I write an essay. Sometimes I write a piece--story, essay, whatever--and then look throughout to select the one line or incident that grabs the reader, that tells the reader to stay because this will be good.
Absolutely. I used to write really long environmental descriptions at the beginning of stories, but during my uni course, and through writing fiction regularly, I learned that it is much better to jump into a story at a point of action. Even if you are describing the environment (setting), it should be in some type of movement to draw the reader right in. Character can be shown through how the protagonist reacts to conflict for example.
It's always clear to me when a writer knows the craft and uses tools nimbly.
The craft is the final piece of the puzzle I think. It took me ages to realize that I have to be a planner rather than a pantser to find that craft.