The most important elements of good writing are clarity (reader should understand what you mean), strict adherence to your point of view, inviting the reader to immerse themselves in your world and good editing.
I'm currently writing a fantasy trilogy for young adults and other genres I've considered are space opera, historical romance and contemporary romance.
I never did. All I wanted to be was a veterinarian. When I accomplished that and found it was very different to what I imagined ( a common problem) I found motherhood and then returned to writing. I now see publishing fiction as my ideal full time career/retirement plan.
I'm a vet in real life so I often incorporate healing themes in my stories. It may be just to do with treating a battle wound or it could be a character with a magical healing talent. I'd love to have magic on my side in the consult room. And when I was a young adult, I had a very close bond with my horse. I used that as the basis for Benae's love of her stallion in The Lady's Choice.
I'd say drafting the story. I usually write the synopsis first and let my imagination run free based on a romance arc (as I write fantasy romance) and then use that to guide my story. However, It's still a very basic outline and between my characters going off on tangents and timelines not meshing, sometimes I get stuck!
