Seven different writers, all of them very different, at different stages of their careers, give their thoughts on writing techniques and the life and mind-set of a writer
SF and fantasy author Colin Harvey recently hosted writer Beth Wylde’s Yahoo Group as a Guest Host.
One of the questions that Colin asked of the various members present was, “What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever had about writing?
Mystery and suspense writer Chris Grover from Canada said, “Start on the day that was different. Start on the day you got home and found a horse lying on the mat instead of the dog. In other words, don't start on the day your principal character was conceived. Start on the day his life took a significant turn, or a momentous event happened, a day he'll never forget.”
Award-winning Erotic Romance Author Melodee Aaron said simply, "Never give up."
Brand new author Lyza Berry says “Finish something, send it off and start on the next one. Write, even if in the end you end up tossing most of what you wrote. Just keep writing.”
Erotic Romance writer Adriana Kraft quotes the German poet Rilke: “Ask yourself in the stillest hour of your night: MUST I write? Delve into yourself for a deep answer. And if this should be affirmative, if you may meet this earnest question with a strong and simple I must, then build your life according to this necessity.”
Erotic writer Beth Wylde says, “One author said that she made herself write every day whether she was actively working on a manuscript or not and if she didn't really have an idea in her head she still made herself sit down and write something.”
Erotic author Desiree Lee recounted how she attended a convention; “A man came in the room and started chatting.
The conversation went something like this: He asked me "are you a writer?"
I replied with "I hope to be someday!"
His response was "Well, do you write?"
"Yes I do."
"Then you ARE a writer. You're just not an author yet."
Maybe some others would take issue with the distinction between a writer and an author, but... his words stuck in my mind. From that moment on, my goal was to be an 'author' and not just a 'writer'. It really helped me to focus.
Desiree of course has now achieved that ambition.
SF and fantasy author Colin Harvey says, “Know when to break the very writing rules that you live by. Rules are guidelines, not tablets of stone.
Seven authors, all with a different slant on the world .Suite101 would like to thank them all for their insight.
