But my writing skills are just average, you say.

So what if you got a C in high school English?

You still have the ability to tell your story in an interesting memoir.

What makes a book popular?

Is it the quality of the writing, the style of the prose, or the depth of the characters?

Or is it something else, something more intangible and elusive?

I know your high school English teacher would argue that great, literary writing is the key to a successful book.

(S)he might point to the classics of literature — Shakespeare, Dickens, Tolstoy, etc. — and say their works have endured because of their mastery of language, their rich imagery, and their profound insights into human nature.

Well, I disagree. Great, literary writing is not enough to capture the attention and imagination of readers.

As humans, we love novelty, things that are different.

We love a good story line, an interesting situation, the twists and turns, and the reading about emotional impact of events.

A great story line with average writing can hook readers from the first page, keep them engaged throughout the book, and leave them satisfied at the end.