"The editor is there to do two things: to make the book as polished and professional as she can and to help you and the publisher avoid infringement suits. There are no brownie points for refusing reasonable edits. My first editor [Suzanne James] taught me: "An editor...
"Something I started doing a couple years ago has really helped me a lot. I keep a notebook next to my keyboard. Every morning when I start my day, I write the date down. Then whatever I do gets written in my notebook. If I go through all email, spend an hour catching...
"Be patient and don't ever give up. I started writing "for fun" in 2003 and did not know anything. And believe me when I say anything. It took me three years of knocking around before I got a clue (well, a couple of clues) and met like-minded writers online. Thanks to...
"The middle of the book is often a really crucial turning point for a writer. For me, I usually find myself at a crossroad not sure where to turn with the book. I've found that printing out and reading what I've written so far helps me reconnect with the characters so...
"My biggest tip to any writer is to write consistently. I used to say people should write every day, but if you miss a day or two, the guilt starts snowballing. So, now I just say you need to make writing a habit that you stick with. If it's a habit, you train...
"Revision is your friend. Nobody writes a perfect first draft. It's in the rewrites where you turn an ordinary story into something special. Don't be so in love with your words that you're afraid to cut them. If they don't serve the story, they have to go. It doesn't...
"One of the most important things I've learned during my years trying to get published is that things in publishing happen very fast or very, very slowly. Sometimes I was so keen to follow up on a lead or a request that I'd forget to take a deep breath, read through...
"Figure out what kind of story you want to tell and stick to it. Cross too many genre barriers and the booksellers won't know where to shelve you. Begin as you mean to continue. If you start out with snarky comedy, don't end up with a chainsaw toting serial killer....
"Don't worry about the distractions. I don't mean telling the kids not to interrupt your writing time unless there is fire or blood. I mean the writing-borne distractions. Don't spend your time worrying about the perfect opening line or scene, the perfect title, the...
