A Writer’s Life: The Best Writing Advice I Ever Read

Writers can be wily creatures.  We find inspiration everywhere.  We excite easily.  We may be introverted and quiet, but when a topic arises that we share strong opinions on, we can become vocal and downright argumentative.

The strongest opinions are often about writing advice.

I love a good craft book, and I do intend to give you a list of my favorites. Sometimes, though, a short burst of advice from a well-published author can clear more space in our cluttered brains than an entire book.

The age of the internet has given us 24/7 access to these pearls of wisdom.  A Google search can give us sage advice that digs us out of the funk that keeps us from writing.

With the addition to the cyber world of things like Author Tube on YouTube, and Master Class, writing advice is out there for anyone to access at any time.  I have watched hours and hours of both, and I take away something from each video, even if the something is: “Well, that’s not my style” or “That’s not even accurate.” Most of the time, though, it’s a smile, and a renewed vigor to sit down and get to work.

As with all things, do not believe everything you read. Not all advice will feel legitimate to you, and that’s okay. Just because it’s on the internet does not mean it’s applicable to you or your situation. It does not mean it’s right.

Below are a few of the quotes I have found in my internet travels. Enjoy.

If it works for you, use it.

If it doesn’t, keep looking.

“This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard, and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy, and that hard.”  - Neil Gaiman

 “You can’t wait for inspiration; you have to go after it with a club.” - Jack London

 “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time — or the tools — to write. Simple as that.” - Stephen King

 "You can fix anything but a blank page.” - Nora Roberts

 “Build a world and explore it. Create characters and break their hearts.” – Jacqueline Carey

 “If you want to write with magic, don’t rush it. Let it simmer like a fine stew. Don’t use the first ideas that come to your mind, either. Wait for rarer, more delectable ingredients.” – Charlie Holmberg

 “I never write a scene I’m not in the mood to do. I don’t care where it falls in the book timeline, I write the scene I’m feeling at that moment.” – Donna Augustine

 “There are no hard and fast rules for writing, and no secret tricks, because what works for one person doesn't always work for another. Everybody is different. That's the key to the whole business of writing—your individuality.” – Judy Blume