Just as well-intentioned but misguided parents can stymie their children’s shift to independence and self-reliance, so well-intentioned but misguided writers can stifle their stories’ growth and evolution. The latter usually occurs because the author forces the characters to conform to his or her personal beliefs rather than be internally consistent based on the characters’ needs and motivations. Review one of your stories that you feel doesn’t ring true. Is that what occurred in your piece?