What is the best writing advice you have received?

I was a certified bad writer. I even had documentation to prove it. Literally, legal documentation was ordered to confirm how terrible my skills were, I suppose, just in case anyone challenged this truth. My parents, or the school, or somebody paid thousands of dollars to have me tested, and then I became a certified bad writer. read more

Man, there was so much advice I received on forums, writing groups and in person, but here are the prime tips that helped creatively without driving me nuts. Before writing anything, hash out each character with a character profile. read more

"My best advice about writer's block is: the reason you're having a hard time writing is because of a conflict between the GOAL of writing well and the FEAR of writing badly. read more

The best writing advice I ever received was in the form of an Irish proverb: “You’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.” Getting your butt in the chair and actually working on the novel is the key. read more

I was a certified bad writer. I even had documentation to prove it. Literally, legal documentation was ordered to confirm how terrible my skills were, I suppose, just in case anyone challenged this truth. read more

Effectively, if you want a visual metaphor, you want a story that's like running a marathon. You have some good pacing, there's a push towards the end as you try to get your personal best on time, and each step moves you forward towards an end goal. "Therefore" is you running forward in a straight direction. "But" is you following a turn on the track. read more

Writers from all over the world share the best writing advice that they've ever received. Perhaps you'd be willing to share your best writing advice too. read more