Stories don’t derail because writers lack talent. They are pushed off the tracks because stories are wild, complicated things. One chapter flows, the next wobbles, and suddenly you’re staring at a draft that feels bloated, unfocused, or strangely out of tune with what you meant to write in the first place.

If this sounds familiar, don’t worry. It happens to every writer.

Luckily, the fix is simple: Create a mission statement for your book.