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Boil it down to the bare bones, and anybody can write. I mean, we all had to write compositions for our exams in primary and secondary school. And for those who have gone on to university, some projects require a hefty amount of writing and quoting peer reviewed sources (I still get Vietnam flashbacks when I see "et al"). But crafting a story with a proper flow is another skill altogether. In all honesty, who wants to read a story that may be hitting all the right points yet sounds so boring. There's no substance, no fancy wordplay, no plot twist. It’s just route one all the way. Sure, it does the job, just like Stoke City under Tony Pulis in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but who wants to see a game of constant long balls hefted towards tall, burly strikers and Rory Delap's javelin-like throw-ins? Stoke City's first season in the Premier League brought a gluttony of goals from long throws and physical matchups that had Arsene Wenger frothing at the mouth Not to take any credit away from the Potters, they did what they had to do under a limited budget, and they brought a new element of tactical nous to the Premier League, but don’t we all want to see flashes of skill? Long range thunderbolts? One-touch passages of play? Intelligent runs dragging defenders all over the place and freeing up the third man run? In a way, just as football requires a lot of skill, so does writing. And by reading stories, one can tell the penmanship and style of the individual writers. Some write in exciting, swashbuckling fashion. The intent is clear, but the buildup is fiery, scintillating, and direct. It powers through the story, leaving readers with mouths agape, gripping the edge of their seats, eyes glued, watching intently to see what happens next. Wazza and "The Drog" met in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, where the latter was sent off in extra time and United went on to win the coveted trophy. Drogba would claim redemption four years later though, with his late equaliser and subsequent winning penalty in the shootout handing Chelsea the victory at the expense of Bayern Munich Those are the Wayne Rooneys and Didier Drogbas of the writing world. Powerful strikers that run right at the opposition's defence, a mix of aggression and skill, a touch of the unexpected always in their lockers. In terms of authors, I’d say Matthew Reilly comes close. And then you have the storytellers. Writers who prefer to take their time. Dictating the flow and tempo of their creation. Controlling the tone with carefully curated words. Patiently waiting for the right moment to unleash their vision. Writing in a way that leaves readers always one to two steps behind, and when they do make their move, eliciting applause and appreciation. Those are the Andrea Pirlos and the Sergio Busquets of the writing world. Midfield maestros who have teams built around them. Blessed not with quick feet and pace, but with quick thinking and an uncanny ability to see a few seconds ahead of everyone else. Constantly scanning, anticipating, and releasing passes that baffle opposition defences, but to their teammates who train and play with them daily, just another day at the office. And as for authors, I'd say James Patterson is a close match. Two "registas" (deep-lying playmakers) who were the heart of their teams for both club and country, Pirlo won the World Cup in 2006, whilst Busquets would win it in the next edition in 2010. And over their long, glittering careers, both men would meet in the Euro 2012 final and the 2015 UCL final, with the Spaniard getting the upper hand on both occasions, winning 4-0 and 3-1 respectively And then you have the writers that are a bit of both. Capable of aggressive and exciting wordplay, but also able to control the flow of information and timing. One minute they're unleashing a flurry of information that keeps readers gripped, the next minute they're slowing things down again, much like a good action movie. These are your Steven Gerrards and Frank Lampards. All-action generational midfielders who are the heartbeat and soul of their respective teams. Who have the ability to produce moments of magic when the going gets tough, but also the ability to calm things down and control the game when it is needed. And as for authors who write like this, personally, Lee Child goes right to the top of the list for me. Sure, any Tom, Dick, and Harry can write. But storytelling is a whole different ballgame. Would you rather watch a scrappy, Sunday League game that can’t string three passes together, or an exciting clash between two heavyweights at the very top of their game in the Premier League? I'll leave how you want to spend your 90 minutes up to you, but there's surely only one right answer here. ~ Fremont (Images from Bath Time Magazine, Twitter, Getty Images, SB Nation)