Lately, I have been talking to some writers about innovation. These are talented writers I've had the privilege to work with and for. They are constantly trying to up their game, develop their craft, and think about ways in which they can do something totally unique, totally different. As a writer, I enjoy seeing that enthusiasm. It excites me and actually gets me motivated to do my own writing. As an editor and writing consultant, however, I always preface this discussion on innovation with the need to remember the story . Then after that big, broad statement, I offer three questions to consider: Are you really being innovative? A lot of the "innovation" writers work to develop in their stories has already been done. Usually, when a writer proposes some avant-garde structuring or development for their story, I point them toward authors that have done something similar...if not the exact same. Although others might see it differently, for me, writers looking to be ...