What makes a good story? Start with a likable character, add some great action, and throw in a dash of well written description that takes the reader to the place they need to be. There are A LOT of stories published everyday that don't come close to accomplishing any of these things.

Disappointing endings, sorry beginnings, or both contribute to bad stories. So how do we want our stories to be different than these? We want our stories to make time pass in a way that the reader doesn't even realize that any time has passed. That they have been so riveted by our plot, characters, and detail... time has past unnoticed. We want the reader to immerse themselves in the story. To travel to the setting and walk down the road with the main character.

The good stories are so valuable. Isn't that what we want ours to be? :)