Thursday, November 18, 2010

I know you didn't ask for my advice

. . . but sometimes I can't resist. Yesterday I spoke at UVU to a general communications class and I offered these ten tips for anyone who wants to write.

1. Read. Everything.
2. Start writing NOW. Why not start off with 250 words a day?
3. Start off each day by figuring out when, where and how you'll write your 250 words a day.
4. Send stuff out.
5. Don't define what kind of writer you are (novelist, poet, journalist, copy writer) too early. Dabble.
6. Don't expect to make a living by writing alone.
7. There is no such thing as a failed story or novel or whatever. You learned something because you wrote that whatever. And you may be able to use material from it in another writing project.
8. Shake things up when you get in a rut. Try something new.
9. Celebrate the success of fellow writers.
10. Resist the temptation to define yourself as a human being by your success (or lack of it) as a writer.

6 comments:

Tiffany said...

Would it be appropriate for me to tattoo this all on my forearm? Great advice! You're my hero.

Lisa B. said...

This is such good advice. I'm going to write it in lipstick on my mirror. That's figurative lipstick, and also a figurative mirror, but still. I will see it every morning when I put on my (actual) lipstick!

Erica said...

Thank you.

Louise Plummer said...

Excellent!

Joy said...

I needed this today. Thanks!

Melody said...

Very nice. Thank you.