Tag: Writing

To Outline or Not to Outline, That is the Question

Should you outline your novel before you write it? It may be a question as old as writing itself. And there are compelling arguments for both sides. An outline gives your writing precise direction. It forces you to think through your novel, plot your plot, develop subplots, add flesh to your characters before they are living and breathing on the page. Outlining takes you from beginning to end in a linear fashion and lets you see your novel before you write it. You fight through many of the details upfront so the writing flows smoothly later. It helps you build and maintain momentum.

Others argue that writing without an outline sets you free. No constraints. No chains to restrain your creativity. You develop your plot twists on the fly, create characters and their sensibilities as you go, add flesh to your protagonist as it occurs to you and in context to what you have already written. And free-flow writing offers the one thing every writer longs for—a sense of “discovery” in his or her work. The perfect ending will come to you through the course of the writing process, not when you sit down, before having written a word, and attempt to outline an entire book.

So, which is it? To outline or not to outline? Surely, there must be some middle ground. I think I found middle ground from an author right here in my home town. Two years ago he was an obscure writer having never published a significant work. Yet, he quietly and oh so diligently was editing his debut novel—a novel he labored over for the last ten years. Today, he is a bestselling author with a $650,000 advance in the bank. His name is Chad Harbach. He authored, “The Art of Fielding,” a novel about a baseball star at a small university on the shore of Lake Michigan, and what happens to him and four other characters when he starts having trouble on the field.

Harbach was back in town recently at a special book reading and signing event. A devoted fan in the crowd later asked if he knew how the book would end when he started writing it. His response might help answer this notion about middle ground.

“When I first started…I had no clue how to write a novel,” he said. “I can’t remember who said this but…when you are writing books you want to have a compass but not a map. I think that is right. If you try to plan out too much…it is going to be boring for you as a writer, and then it is ultimately going to bore the reader.”

To outline or not outline? Maybe after all it’s not a question of which is better—but rather, which works better—for you. Do you need a general direction of where you’re going or precise directions?

As writers, we all need to navigate through our novels to safely arrive at the final destination. But the real question is what do you need to navigate, a compass or a map?

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The Writer’s Refuge blog is a place for writers, like you, to break away from your daily routine and for just a few minutes find insight, inspiration or simply a word of encouragement.

Blog entries are posted on Thursday.

You may contact me at:  jcmchips1@yahoo.com.

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Celebrate Your Writing Achievements

There is not enough celebratin’ going on here! Sound familiar? Feel familiar? When was the last time you celebrated your writing success? Don’t wait for your first book to be published. Celebrate even your smallest writing victories.

Did you finish that article? Did you hatch a plot for your novel? Did you complete an outline for your book? Fire off a query letter or two? Launch a blog? All reasons to pause and celebrate your writing achievement.

If you’re in this writing game, one thing is clear. You need to be in it for the long haul. Nothing happens quickly and most of us will receive enough rejection for at least three lifetimes. So, in addition to your big goals, why not set some small goals and celebrate when you achieve them?

One mistake most writers make is to only celebrate grand achievements:  the first book, the multi-book deal, the book signing or tour, etc. Most of us need motivation to get that far, and a little celebration before we get there is an incentive to go the distance.

How should you celebrate? I have done a number of things from buying a candy bar to buying furniture. Depends on the nature of the achievement. I like to exercise because I write better when I’m fit. After I had an article published in a leading writers magazine I celebrated by buying a 23-speed bike. I have bought my wife small pieces of furniture which reinforced the fact that my freelance writing was contributing to our standard of living.

What about writing achievements that do not generate income? The query or the idea that hasn’t turned into anything yet? The poem? The outline? I reward those achievements with a tasty treat like a Snicker bar or an ice cream cone. (Good thing I bought the bike first, right?)

The point is writing is hard work. Often, there are no rewards, so celebrate your small victories as an incentive to press on. The writing life is nothing if not a long ride; we have to enjoy the journey, mark the milestones, and celebrate the achievements, however small.

Now if you will excuse me, since this blog post is now finished, I have a date with a Hershey bar.

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The Writer’s Refuge blog is a place for writers, like you, to break away from your daily routine and for just a few minutes find insight, inspiration or simply a word of encouragement.

Blog entries are posted on Thursday.

You may contact me at:  jcmchips1@yahoo.com.

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5 Reasons to Update Your Blog Environment

Welcome back to The Writer’s Refuge! Last week I announced that when you returned this week my blog would feature a complete face lift. Well, here it is. I hope you like it. I have revised the entire blog environment to customize it for my audience, you, the writer.

While my original blog design featured a beautiful scenic seascape conductive to a writer’s refuge theme, this new design focuses less on the refuge and more on the writer and the writing environment.

For example, as you can see, the background color is warmer, more inviting, and easier on the eyes. A border color change gives the blog a quaint rustic outdoor feel. Headlines are bolder and more attention-getting. The font is a larger serif type so the text is much easier to read. The text is also printed on a simulated Classic Linen off-white paper stock so you feel like you’re reading—what else—a book. It’s just one more way to visually say, “This blog is for writers.”

Why is it important to update your blog? (I think I hear a blog post coming.) Let’s talk about it. Here are just five reasons to update your blog environment regardless of the type of blog you write.

1.  Everyone naturally gravitates to what’s NEW. As consumers, we all instinctively look for new products. It doesn’t matter if it is a car, movie, cell phone, tablet, a book or a blog. Everyone wants to know what’s new. And just like anything else, blog content is a product that is essentially “consumed” when it is read. Give your readers (consumers) something NEW to look forward to.

2.  Customize your blog environment to achieve a greater connection with your audience.

Do you have a medical blog? Then your blog design/environment should reflect that fact. Do you blog about sports, rock climbing or the outdoors? Then your blog should look the part. Make sure the reader sees your theme before he reads about it. Your blog design can also complement your writing and heighten your credibility with your audience. The “look and feel” of your blog is second only to your content, which leads to the next point.

3.  Unite the text and texture. Does your text fit the texture of your blog environment? Perhaps the best example of this is this blog. A blog intended for writers should have an easy to read font on an inviting background. I have used a serif font on a simulated paper stock background reminiscent of a hardcover novel in an effort to unite the text with the visual texture of the blog.

4.  Change indicates your blog is alive and evolving. It is always healthy to shake things up. Breathe new life into your blog by introducing a new environment with color, layout, texture, fonts, photos, and headlines. Changing things up reveals the mind behind the mission of the blog. Change signals that your blog is active, evolving, and alive. And, as we’ve said, everyone likes new things.

5.  Keep your blog environment fresh—to keep you and your writing fresh. When I was a fulltime freelance executive speechwriter and advertising copywriter I had a nice home office. Yet, some of my best writing was not in that office. It was outdoors overlooking a pond, or in a restaurant, or even at my kitchen table. Why? I found stimulation and inspiration by changing writing environments. The same is true for a blog. Changing your blog environment visually can stimulate you and inspire your writing.

If you’re a blogger, try it. Ignite your writing and reengage your audience by updating your blog environment.

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The Writer’s Refuge blog is a place for writers, like you, to break away from your daily routine and for just a few minutes find insight, inspiration, writing tips, or simply a word of encouragement.

Blog entries are posted on Thursday.

You may contact me at:  jcmchips1@yahoo.com.

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Living the Writer’s Dream


A writer’s dream. We all have one. You feel it every time you write, don’t you? It’s that special aspiration you have for yourself and your work. Your writer’s dream may be to start a novel, finish a novel, find an agent, have your novel published, build a platform, achieve fame, fortune or both, become a household name, or simply keep your day job but write to satisfy that insatiable itch to express yourself.

My writer’s dream is simply to write articles and novels for publication, write a blog (like this one) to encourage other writers like you, and to write every day in an idyllic setting surrounded by nature—my own Walden Pond.

How about you? What is your dream for your writing career? Is it still rolling around in your head? Have you shared it with someone who will push you to achieve it? Have you written it down? Have you translated it from foggy concept to clear action steps? If not, start by writing your dream down. Once it’s on paper, pin it to a bulletin board or a mirror where you’ll see it—often. Slowly, something magical will happen. The longer you look at it, the more believable it will become. And you know what they say; if it’s believable, it’s achievable (or something like that).

Once you know where you’re going, create a timetable to get there. Start with small steps. Craft a specific goal. For example, instead of stating you want to get an article published, target a magazine and write an article consistent with what that magazine publishes. I just did this. I targeted Writer’s Journal and wrote an article about how “writing from the heart” gives our writing power and connection. (That article, “The Heart of the Story Was to Write from the Heart,” was just published in the July/August, 2011 edition and is available in select bookstores now.)

The point is, put your dreams on paper—where they have the best chance of achievement.

Yet, my writer’s dream goes beyond being published, beyond seeing my byline. Don’t misunderstand me, publication brings me a great sense of accomplishment, but publication alone is not the essence of my writer’s dream.

My dream is to achieve a deep connection with readers by saying something significant, something thought-provoking, something inspiring, something soul-searching, and on a very good day, perhaps even something life changing. And to say it while writing in a serene scenic setting.

The irony of my writer’s dream is that my constant striving to achieve it often prevents me from enjoying it. Today is different. As I write beneath a shade tree arching over my patio table, I gaze at a nearby pond just beyond the cattails and a lush treeline. The sky is deep blue and balmy breezes carry the fragrance of summer. The birds sing in full chorus. And at this very moment, I pause from striving to live my writer’s dream—and realize I am living it.

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Your Turn:  What is your dream as a writer?

Watch for weekly blog posts here at The Writer’s Refuge.

Blogs will be posted every Thursday.

If this was helpful, would you please “like” and “share” this post?

Leave a comment or you may reach me at:  jcmchips1@yahoo.com.

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A Novel Experience

Okay, let me tell you something right upfront about this blog entry. It’s my longest blog to date. But if you read it, and you’re serious about your writing, I think you will benefit in the end. Alright, let’s get started.

What is the first question a writer must ask himself before he writes one word of his first novel? Frankly, I never thought about this question before I started writing my first novel, yet it was the first question agents asked me when I completed it. Let’s state the question from the agent‘s point of view and we’ll make it a multiple choice test. Ready?

A. What do you really want to say in this book?

B. Is the premise substantial enough to warrant a book?

C. Is this idea publishable?

D. Do you have a platform?

E. Will you be able to complete an entire novel?

F. Is there a sufficient market for this book?

Allow me to answer using the process of elimination. An agent might ask you Question F if they love your novel but that would imply that they actually read the entire manuscript first. Not likely. They would ask this question long before they invested the time to read your book.

They won’t ask Question A because if you don’t know what you really want to say it will be obvious in your fuzzy query letter. (And an unclear query will not only get you an instant rejection, page one will never see the light of day.) The same goes for Questions B and C. (An agent will know the answers to these questions before they finish reading your query letter.) They won’t ask Question E because a novel is a work of fiction and you must complete the entire novel before you can submit it to an agent for representation. That leaves Question D. Do you have a platform? Huh? Platform? What’s a platform?

I never saw this question coming. Although I had been published in many magazines, I had never written a novel before. Like most new novelists I was so anxious to put my idea on paper that I never considered how I would sell the book. And why would I? After all, when I began writing the novel I was more worried about finishing it than selling it. Still, rookie mistake.

At the time, I didn’t realize that a platform is like a pulpit. It’s the way you present yourself or make yourself visible to your readers. Do you have a substantial fan base? What type of social media following, speaker’s forum, or local celebrity status do you have? In other words, how many people do you know (or can readily influence) to buy your book? (And we’re not talking about Mom, Dad, Sis and Aunt Sue.)

If you don’t have a significant platform today, an agent may not take you on—even if your writing is stellar. You need a sufficient following to help market your book and, as the author, you are primarily responsible for selling the novel. (Did you think the publisher was primarily responsible for selling your novel? So did I. Surprise!)

I answered all of the other questions above, but not a platform. The publisher is in the business of selling books and making money. The author must do everything he can to help them make money—on your work. They won’t invest in you unless they can reduce their risk and you can help them maximize their profits. In return, your book may get published (that is, if they think it is any good).

As I mentioned in my Why Writers Write (and should never stop writing) blog, I worked on my first novel for three years. One year to write it (during which time my father died a slow death with Alzheimer’s), one year contacting agents and waiting for their replies. At the end of the day, 25 agents rejected the original draft but one agent believed in it—and me. But my manuscript needed a doctor—a book doctor. So the agent referred me to a freelance editor and I completely rewrote the book converting it from first person to third person omniscient narrator. Then I added ten chapters to  strengthened the story line and flesh out the main characters. Finally, I layered in multiple subplots. That cost me a third year.

This is where I tell you that this agent finally agreed to represent me, right? Nope. Unfortunately, she later passed on the novel too. Now what? Suddenly, I had nothing to show for three years of work.

Okay, this must be where I tell you I finally gave up and warn you to never write your first novel to avoid becoming disillusioned. Wrong!

So, where is the silver lining?

Well, for starters, I now have a much better novel to send to agents. It’s deeper, richer, more compelling, and fully developed. The reader will be much more sympathetic to the main character and will identify with his quest to forgive and be forgiven. I have a broader understanding of the complexities of the book publishing process. I have a talented freelance editor as a future resource. I have an agent, who although is not representing this novel, has left the door open for future work and an ongoing dialogue. I have learned how to write a novel. I am now confident I can complete a novel. I discovered I have more than one novel in me. I am currently building my platform. (This blog is one example.) And finally, and perhaps most importantly, I believe I’m a better writer; smarter at least.

Why am I telling you all this? Because there may be a book in you. A book that will somehow make a difference in your corner of the world. And I want you to write it! Most of all, I want you to remember when you run into a brick wall (and you will), never give up. Never.

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By the way, if you are wondering what happened to my first novel? It’s in the hands of an agent right now. I don’t know if it will ever be published. But no matter what happens, this process was indeed a novel experience. And the lessons learned are now being invested—in book two.

Your Turn:  Tell us about one of your writing victories.

Watch for weekly blog posts here at The Writer’s Refuge.

Blogs will be posted every Thursday.

If this was helpful, would you please “like” and “share” this post?

Leave a comment or you may reach me at:  jcmchips1@yahoo.com.

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Writing: Does it Ever Get Any Easier?

Does writing ever get any easier? Sounds like the question of a beginner, doesn’t it? It isn’t. It’s a question that has tormented every writer at one time or another. I’m asking the question today as a writer of over 25 years who freelanced full-time for 10 years, has had several articles published, won several awards, have one novel finished, and another underway. Yet, I still pose the question:  Does writing, good writing, ever get easier?

Logic says it should get easier with time and practice, right? After all, doesn’t everything get easier with time and practice? In most cases this is true, but I’m not sure that writing novels is one of them? Sure, we can improve the “writing process” and learn new writing techniques, grammar rules, tricks of the trade or sharpen our fundamental writing skills, but does crafting a story, a unique story, ever get any easier?

Think about it. Does it get any easier to develop deep, complex characters, interesting subplots, a captivating page one, intriguing dialogue, a compelling climax, realistic resolution or a memorable ending? Or, is our every attempt at a new story essentially the same no matter how experienced we are? Will we always face a painstaking task of wrestling through this ritual simply because that’s what writing is?

John Steinbeck (pictured above) seemed to think so. Today, I came across a letter written by Steinbeck in 1963. The letter was addressed to writers and in it he made this statement: “I have written a great many stories and I still don’t know how to go about it except to write it and take my chances.”

I consider this quite a revelation from the Pulitzer Prize winner and author of The Grapes of Wrath. Earlier in this letter he states, “If there is a magic in story writing, and I am convinced that there is, no one has ever been able to reduce it to a recipe that can be passed from one person to another.”

Writing and the writing process are undeniably mysterious. We can’t quite put our finger on how to capture the magic that a novel requires. While I’ll admit that elements of the writing process become easier as we become more accomplished, the essence of writing remains grueling work.

Writing a short story or novel that universally resonates with the masses will never be easy. We must labor over every word to craft a distinctive story while hoping to find that elusive magic that makes it memorable. In the meantime, like Steinbeck, we must approach every story the same way; simply write it and take our chances.

Your Turn:  In your opinion, why is writing so difficult?

Watch for weekly blog posts here at The Writer’s Refuge.

Blogs will be posted every Thursday.

If this was helpful, would you please “like” and “share” this post?

Leave a comment or you may reach me at:  jcmchips1@yahoo.com.

Writing for an Audience of One

In my last post, “Why Writers Write (and should never stop writing)” I talked about the reasons writers write and how important it is to recall and recommit yourself to those reasons especially when you are in the midst of crushing deadlines, stalled novels, the death-valley search for an agent, the inevitable impasse with an editor or the ever-present reality of yet another rejection.

Today, I want to ask you a different question. Who are you writing for? The answer is obvious, right? You’re writing for an audience of readers, your fans, or people you hope will someday be your fans. Maybe you’re writing for an agent you hope to snag, an editor you want to impress, or a prestigious publishing house you have always admired. Or, perhaps you’re writing for a well-defined demographic that fits neatly into your genre, right?

Yes, you’re writing for them but—I’d like to suggest that, as writers, we all write for essentially two audiences—and the first is just as important as the second. The first is an audience of one; you. The first draft of anything you write should be written for you. Ask yourself, did you say what you intended to say? Did you write with clarity? Could you say it better? Did you use active voice? Did you write tight? Does it live up to your expectations? Is it consistent with your goals? In short, does it please you?

I learned as an advertising copywriter and executive speechwriter, if my writing didn’t please me, it typically didn’t please my clients. However, if it did please me, my clients were generally pleased too.

I know what you’re thinking. This may work for advertising copy, but it will never work for a novel. After all, what about all of the first time novelists that submit to an agent what they believe is their best work but they are rejected repeatedly?

Good point. Publishing standards are incredibly high today and historically most new authors are not going to get their first novel published, regardless of their standards. Nevertheless, I stand my ground and I encourage you to always write to please yourself first. Get something on paper you believe in. Then, in subsequent drafts, be sure you give your second audience what they’re looking for.

Your second audience is your agent, editor, publisher and, of course, the reader. While it is crucial to write to this second audience too, you may never get this far unless you first write to please the audience of one.

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Your Turn:  In your opinion, why is it important to write for yourself?

Watch for weekly blog posts here at The Writer’s Refuge.

Blogs will be posted every Thursday.

If this was helpful, would you please “like” and “share” this post?

Leave a comment or you may reach me at:  jcmchips1@yahoo.com.

Why Writers Write (and should never stop writing)

Ask any writer why they write (other than for compensation) and they may give you one of these reasons. I write because:

  1. I feel the impulse
  2. I want a voice
  3. I feel a need to express myself
  4. It’s my job
  5. I like to read, so I like to write
  6. I love to tell stories
  7. I am compelled to write
  8. I feel called to write
  9. I cannot not write
  10. It is who I am

These are inspiring reasons to write and I’m sure we all could claim at least one as our own. Yet, in the midst of the writing life with crushing deadlines, stalled novels, the death-valley search for an agent, the inevitable impasse with an editor and the ever-present reality of yet another rejection, it’s easy to forget why we write.

Which of the above reasons is yours? Not there? Then write it down. Pin it on a bulletin board near your computer or, better yet, post it on your screensaver. Look at it every day. Remember it when you’re slogging through your manuscript searching desperately for the precise words that often come slowly, painfully. Recall it when you’re editing, proofreading, submitting, waiting, waiting, and waiting. Or, when your writing life seems more like you’re living a lie than living the dream.

I write primarily for two reasons: # 8 and #10. Yet, recently when I had several articles and my first novel rejected (3 years of work), I doubted the call. I’m not a new writer. I know the probabilities of having your first novel published. I’ve had several years of success, yet I still allowed self-doubt to creep in and nearly paralyze me and my writing schedule.

I thought about taking a long ride on the open road or listening to music that has consistently inspired me to detour the disillusionment. Instead, I started working on an article about rebounding from rejection because of a simple truth I learned; the best way to work through rejection is to write through it. And the best way to keep writing is to revisit and recommit yourself to why you write.

I love to write. So I won’t quit. I feel called to write. So I can’t quit. When your writing hits a roadblock, for whatever reason, accept it. Learn from it. And overcome it by recalling the reason why you write—and should never stop writing.

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Your Turn:  Why do you write and why will you never stop?

Watch for weekly blog posts here at The Writer’s Refuge.

Blogs will be posted every Thursday.

If this was helpful, would you please “like” and “share” this post?

Leave a comment or you may reach me at:  jcmchips1@yahoo.com.

Five Tips to Beat Burn-Out

Burn out. It happens to everyone, in every job—even writers. Ever feel like you can’t write another word?

When I was a freelance advertising copywriter and executive speechwriter I had a busy season that ran from January to April. In that period, I would write about 12-14 hours per day, six days a week to hit my deadlines for ads, brochures, speeches, newsletters magazine articles, and annual reports. By the first week of May I was comatose, my energy level was zero, my creativity was shot and the left side of my brain was mush. Now what?

When I was crispy around the edges from too many writing assignments and unthinkable deadlines, I followed these five tips to rekindle my passion—and my energy—to write. Maybe they will help you too.

  1. Rest and boycott the English language. Take a week off—guilt free. Do anything you enjoy, just don’t set foot in your office. Relax. Take long walks. Air out your brain. Daydream. Call an old friend. Take in a movie. Just boycott the English language and give your mind a rest. You will soon realize that resting is a discipline all its own. Discipline yourself to rest to keep your writing rolling.
  2. Reorganize your work space. After you take a week off, reorganize your work space. Shake things up. Move things around. Clean your files. Cleaning files is therapeutic. It’s like downloading your brain of meaningless information. It will also help you feel more organized. Next, rearrange your furniture so you feel like you’re stepping into a new office. I did this several times and I was amazed at how it always put me in the mood to write.
  3. Alternate writing environments. If rearranging your work space is not feasible, try writing in a different environment. When I’m not motivated to write, I head to Barnes & Noble, the library, a restaurant, or simply a different room in my home to write. On a beautiful day, I grab my laptop and a lawn chair and set up an outdoor office in a park by a pond. Somehow the sounds of nature in an office without walls frees the mind and rekindles creativity.
  4. Energize with exercise. Few professions are as cerebral or as sedentary as writing. When I sit at the computer too long, my body screams for exercise. Exercise energizes my body and invigorates my mind. Exercise is also a great stress reliever and helps put your work—and your life—in perspective.
  5. Read to whet your appetite to write. We all know that if you’re going to be a good writer you have to be an active reader. But reading does more than help teach us how to write; it inspires us to write. Writing is a hunger. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a best-selling novel or a brochure for a best-selling shampoo, we write to satisfy a hunger. A hunger to tell a story. A hunger to share an experience. A hunger to communicate our thoughts, ideas, or feelings. A hunger to persuade others to take a desired action. Or, a hunger to simply express ourselves and connect with people, like this blog.

When we get burned-out from writing too much, we stifle this hunger. So, when you can’t write another word—rest—then read. Reading will subtly whet your appetite to write. And there’s something tremendously motivating about feeling that hunger again.

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Your Turn:  How have you overcome burn-out in your writing career?

Watch for weekly blog posts here at The Writer’s Refuge.

Blogs will be posted every Thursday.

If this was helpful, would you please “like” and “share” this post? You may reach me at:  jcmchips1@yahoo.com.

The Best Writing Advice I Ever Received — Part I

Welcome to The Writer’s Refuge. If this is the first time you’ve stopped by or if you haven’t read my introductory Welcome Page, let me tell you what this blog is about. If you’re a writer, it’s about your life. No, not your personal life, your writing life. How can I make that claim?  Think about it. Your writing life is really not that different from mine. We may structure our day differently and experience different levels of success but we all have deadlines; writer’s block; suffer rejection from agents, editors, publishers; we all have felt desperate for inspiration; and worst of all, we  sometimes doubt our “call” to write.

As I mentioned in my “Welcome to The Writer’s Refuge” page (see tab above), this blog is a place for writer’s to find insight, inspiration, or simply a brief word of encouragement. To that end, in this first post, I’d like to share with you some of the best writing advice I ever received.

1) “Write for joy. Take your mind off of publication.” — Erica Jong, novelist  It’s a given that if you are a serious writer you are writing for publication because publication = a paycheck and a platform. I have been writing professionally for 25 years including 10 years as a full-time freelance executive speechwriter and advertising copywriter. Yet, when I survey my career, I was most happy when I remembered to write for joy. When you write for the joy of writing you free yourself to do your best work. And when you do your best work, publication will come.

2) “Since when is writing about speed.”— Elmore Leonard, giant of crime fiction.  I tend to push myself to be prolific and I’m very impatient with publication. Why is this process so slow and arduous? Leonard reminds me to slow down and get it right. Writing is a craft. It’s not about speed, it’s about the quality of the craftsmanship.

3) “A writer must work every day, realizing that most days will be bad ones; he must sit at his typewriter or under a tree with his pencil and paper, and take the awful responsibility of wasting time.”  — Robert Penn Warren  In my writing career I have often felt like I was wasting time. Will this novel sell? Will I ever be able to build a national platform? Is this article good enough, unique enough? Should I have cut the grass instead?

In an article entitled, “In Writing, Persistence is Key,” late author Andre´Dubus cited the Robert Penn Warren quote above and then answered him. “I’m sure Mr. Warren didn’t really mean that writing unsuccessful pages was a waste of time. Because whether the particular pages of a particular day are good or not, there is still you, all of you, bringing to that work and that day everything you have. And when you do that, you’re a writer.”

I have received many more pieces of writing advice over the years that I will share with you in future blogs. In the meantime, I’m interested in your thoughts. I invite you to respond to the “Your Turn” question below in every blog entry.

Your Turn:  What is the best writing advice you ever received?

Watch for weekly blog posts here at The Writer’s Refuge.

Blogs will be posted every Thursday.

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