When I went back to school to get a Master of Fine Arts in Writing, I hoped it would make me a better short story writer, and it did. But it also changed how I view all writing. That education, and an earlier career in journalism, has helped me understand storytelling on a deeper level. Whether I’m defining content themes or digging into a draft, my editorial judgment is the through line. Knowing what makes a story great — and how to take a draft from good to great — is one of my strongest skills.