The biggest challenge writers face is creating a work of literature that is understandable by readers. Often, we'll get so lost in the story we know in our heads, that we assume the reader will know exactly what we are talking about. But thats just not the case. The reader only knows what you tell them.
Outline the relationships between your characters
The issue of getting lost in translation happens most when it comes to the relationships of your characters. You know how they interact with each other, why Emma loves Tom, and how important Adam's friendship is to Macy. Usually, these things are fueled by the small things that end up meaning everything in your story, but if you never make clear what these small things are, there will be no path for your readers to follow, and instead of it being an epic story of love, it turns into a criticized story of "why does she even want him anyway".
Attach your characters to items and places
Bring life into your characters. Not only should they have "personalities", but you should make sure you highlight where they grew up, what are their favorite places, their goals, where they would love to live, types of scenery they like; all of these descriptions help your readers understand what makes your characters tick and why they are who they are. Its the key to making them fall in love with your characters.
State your emotions
Sometimes, its not necessary to state that Sarah is sad; its enough to just explain the look she made when she saw whatever it was that made her feel that way. But sometimes, you should compliment those descriptions with a clear statement of how your character feels. This makes it easier for them to stay with the storyline, because although you feel you are explaining her emotions correctly, remember, as we stated in section one, you already know the story and how she feels, your reader is discovering them for the first time.
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