Last week in The Guardian review section they asked a number of writers for their top ten tips for writing, my favourite replies were. "Keep putting one word after the other, black berets and turtle neck pullovers are no substitute." and, "Spend your childhood reading voraciously", I may have paraphrased slightly. What is your top tip for being a writer?
Write.
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better" ~ Samuel Beckett.
Celer, Silens, Mortalis.
Tips for writing? A jar of goose, swan or eagle quills, perhaps?
On an associated note, did you know the ancient Romans invented the fountain pen?
Originally Posted by ppsage
I have for a while suspected you of a conscious tendency to ribaldry
Don't take everything other writers say as the truth.
Go mountain climbing. Swim with sharks. Chase a tornado. Wherever possible, there is no better source than first-hand experience when writing.
I become pretty intimidated by the authors I know and love. They are awesome. And then I go back and read what I wrote, and try to remember that the only way I am going to get better is by trying. I will only succeed if I carry on. I will surely never complete my story if I stop.
And my mc's are not going to be happy with me if I don't get to it.
'The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.'
David Foster Wallace
There were various versions of my favourite "Less is more", one of them amused me by taking about three paragraphs to say it, getting carried away about over defining and allowing the reader to exercise their imagination.
Practice the ancient art of Bic Fok'io.
(Butt In Chair, Fingers On Keyboard, Internet Offline)
"I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."-- Marilyn Monroe
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