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INTRODUCTIONS
You dont need to be a good writer to be successful. Some of the
best sellingno els are first time no els from amateur authors. Some
of the most commerciall!successful mo ies and no els are
stor!telling train wrec"s. #s with an! other endea or$
the most im%ortant characteristic of an author$ if not human
beings in general$ is awillingness to im%ro e. The &a%anese ha
e a business %ractice called 'ai(en$ which is a %rocess of
continual im%ro ement. )riting is as much a business as an art$ in
ol ing*
Teamwor"* The abilit! to interact with %eers$ agents$ editors$
%ublishers$ and if!ou are luc"!$ fans a%art from the oscillating
sort.
+ersonal disci%line* 'ee% at writing and set a schedule that !ou
can realisticall!follow rather than e,istentiall! contem%late.
Im%ro ed morale* Do not be disheartened b! re-ections.
Submitting fiction is li"eas"ing a stranger out on a date . . .
while a dog hum%s !our leg. It isuncomfortable for e er!one in ol
ed$ e,ce%t the dog.
ualit! circles* Stri e to im%ro e !our grammar$ techni/ue$ and
understanding of
the %rocess. #lso$ standardi(e and sim%lif! !our submission
%rocess to minimi(ethe hassle of the business side of writing.
Suggestions for im%ro ement* 0e o%en to constructi e criticism and
ha e a
realistic sense of !our own talents and limitations. Name 1a
orite 0oo" 1a orite 2enre )riting disli"es$ a genre$ an author$
etc. I wish that I had written . . . )hat is !our biggest obstacle
as a writer3
+#IRIN2 U+4a"e a commitment to email or call once each wee" to
encourage each other to write.
+#YIN2 #TT5NTIONDescribe whats across the street from !our house
in one sentence3
TI+S
Diar!* 'ee%ing a dail!$ or e en wee"l!$ record of !our
e,%eriences andobser ations. It can be as little as a sentence or a
%aragra%h. Diaries aree,cellent for conditioning !ourself to
maintain a stead! writing schedule.# diar! can be a con ersation.
'ee% a noteboo" ne,t to the toilet.
Noteboo"* # tra eling noteboo" is a %owerful writing tool. It gi
es !ouan o%%ortunit! to note !our obser ations and feelings on the
s%ot.
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Cell +hone* Send !ourself messages$ ta"e %hotogra%hs and
audiorecordings$ and assemble a multimedia collection for
ins%iration.
Scra% 0o,* &ust li"e with scra% boo"ing$ "ee% a container
and fill it withan!thing that s%ar"s !our imagination.
)riting Tri%s* Ta"e an hour out of !our schedule to do something
newwhile obser ing with a writers e!e for detail. It can be as
sim%le aswal"ing down an unfamiliar street$ isiting a museum$ or
obser ing !ourfellow %atrons at a restaurant.
