Comments on: The Best Advice

By: Happy New Year! » Jordan McCollum

Happy New Year! » Jordan McCollum — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:36:36 +0000

[...] a post-script to our series on bad advice, I also want to point out a little good advice, such as highlighted on Romance University this [...]

By: Kelsey Browning

Kelsey Browning — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:16:04 +0000

Hey, RU crew! Checking in from somewhere in SE Asia. Trace & Adrienne – can’t get email out, but I can receive .

I suppose the best advice I’ve heard is simply: “Keep writing.” I’m going to remember that during 2010 since my goal is to write every day, even if only 100 words. And even if those words don’t seem to make a darn bit of sense. Jumping on the wagon January 1st!

Kels

By: Laurel Kahaner

Laurel Kahaner — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:55:17 +0000

My first three novels I wrote with the line I remembered from Ray Bradbury.
“plot is the footprints the characters leave in the snow.”
I love this line, even if I don’t recall it perfectly.

Unfortunately it leaves out all the crafty bits, that seem endless overwhelming, and I hope ultimately weave into the sheer pleasures I remember when I was writing/conjuring novels wildly/freely and with joyous imaginative abandon.

Now the line I think on often, is my own, “I write to save lives, perhaps mine.”

Oh, there is another one I like, and am probably recalling with a rouond-a-bout or three. Something about you only need to see as far as the headlights will take you in fog to write the story. I guess this is more about a story than a novel, but I still like it.

May 2010 be deeply creatively nourishing and profoundly celebratory in all worlds.

namaste
Laurel aka Aisling

By: Tracey Devlyn

Tracey Devlyn — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:17:57 +0000

Victoria,
I love the connection you made.
Tracey

By: PatriciaW

PatriciaW — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:05:28 +0000

“Just five words”. Victoria Christopher Murray said this at a retreat several years ago and it stuck with me, even if I haven’t always followed it. Sometimes writers put a lot of pressure on themselves. 500 or 1,000 words, a whole chapter per day, etc. Victoria said to give yourself a goal that’s too easy to miss. “Just five words”. Who, if she sits down to write five words, won’t write more? And if you truly only write five, because it’s a really, really bad day, you’ve still met your quota and can pat yourself on the back.

By: carrie

carrie — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:57:53 +0000

“You can’t fix a blank page.” and “put your butt in the chair and get to work”
The first from Nora Roberts, the second from CJ Lyons….I repeat them several times a day when I keep walking away from my ms to do something else….

carrie

By: Victoria Gray

Victoria Gray — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:10:53 +0000

“Believe”…a powerful word…If we believe in ourselves and back it up with the vision, passion, and commitment C.J. Lyons mentioned, we have a blueprint for success.

By: Edie

Edie — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:17:02 +0000

Great advice from all of them. “Believe” is my one-word motto.

By: TraceyDevlyn

TraceyDevlyn — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:40:23 +0000

Very inspiring, Adrienne! Thanks for checking in with our VPs.

Tracey