More notes on "the best writing advice…"

Diana Crosby wrote to say, "At a conference, Nora Roberts said, 'Give yourself permission to write crap. You can edit crap, but you can't edit a blank page.'"

Shirley Brosius noted, "The best writing advice I received came in the form of the book HOW TO WRITE FAST WHILE WRITING WELL, by David A. Fryxell. The way I apply his teaching as a newspaper writer is to mark topics in the margins while reading over notes from an interview. At the same time I look for a theme for the piece and a catchy lead. Then I create an outline. By the time I am ready to type the piece, I know in what order I will present the material. No need to keep rereading notes. I just write until finished, then polish. It is a great time saver."

And college writing prof Philip Patterson sent this: "Write what you know. I’ve been published in Christian self-help books, journalism textbooks (8 editions), devotional books, a 365 day Bible with applications for each day, and every time I was in my comfort zone. I am out of my element in novels, for instance, and my forays into that genre have only been exercises in frustration. I still try, because I believe in stretching as a writer, but all of us have a 'sweet spot' and the unpublished author should find it and stay in it until he or she gets a name doing that and then move one to other genres."

Thanks, everyone, for participating. Happy new year!