- Writing and having written aren’t the same thing — be sure you want both, because the former is a lot of work.
- Real writing is actually a lot of rewriting.
- Your friends won’t be as impressed the second time around. Don’t let it stop you.
- Grammar, punctuation, spelling — it’s okay if all these things come last.
- First drafts universally suck.
- Avoid the advice of those who tell you otherwise of #5.
- Stopping early helps you to start early the next day.
- Trying to edit while writing is like trying to chop down a tree while you’re climbing it.
- Sometimes it’s good to take a break.
- There are no rules to how, when or where you write, as long as you write.
- You’ll never catch a trend — write what you want.
- Writing can be lonely. Very, very lonely.
- Inspiration will never strike when you need it to. Just write. Do the work.
- Complex construction doesn’t equal complex though. Simplify.
- Published ≠ success.
- Why would you want to write only what you know? Discover something new instead.
- The best writers are usually voracious readers.
- And the best of the best read outside their preferred genres.
- You can, most definitely, split an infinitive. In other words, you may have a lot of bad advice and rules to unlearn.
- Deliberate practice will make you better.
- People who act like writing is easy probably aren’t really writers.
- Don’t compare yourself to other writers. You’re not in competition with anybody (the rose in the garden doesn’t worry about the rose next to it, it just blooms).
- Ideas are everywhere, yes — but that doesn’t make them any less elusive.
- You’re not the next Hemingway or whoever it is you admire, so don’t try to be. Just be you. You’re great.
- Deadlines. Goals. Set them, and stick to them.
