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"The best writing advice you ever received" by Teresa D. Slack

The best writing advice you ever received

Nearly every time I speak to a book club or writers’ group I am asked a variation of the following question--

What’s the best writing advice you ever received?

I can understand the interest in knowing what inspires writers to produce. But it’s tough for me to nail down the best writing advice I’ve received out of twenty-plus years of seeking out really good advice.

Whether it’s the best or not is debatable, but this advice inspires me every time I think about it. I love quotes. They challenge and motivate me. The best advice I ever received came from a quote by Raymond Chandler. Anyone who’s read anything about this writer or his writing discipline knows he wrote all the time. In fact he wrote so voraciously he couldn’t understand writers who didn’t produce the way he did. He said he didn’t know what they did all the time.

He once said, “Write as quickly and as passionately as you can. Don’t edit. Don’t second guess yourself. Don’t worry about how pretty it is. Just get the words on paper and then worry about how they look.”

I’ve never met a writer who isn’t her own worst critic. We edit ourselves to death so that we dread our next session at the computer. Our story is never satisfactory in our eyes. We think it will never be fit for publication so we do all the things Mr. Chandler warned against.

I don’t know about you, but I am my own biggest roadblock. Or should I say my doubt, fear—and dare I say it—laziness are my biggest roadblocks. But they shouldn’t keep me from finishing the stories I believe I’ve been called to write.

Whether it’s the story idea that’s been pestering you for years, the article you should’ve written last week, or the blog post you’ve put off for too long, write it quickly and passionately. Don’t worry that it’s too long or too short or not original enough. Don’t wonder if anyone will like it or if the market will support it. Just write it. Get those words down. You’ll have plenty of time to worry about that other stuff while you’re shopping for a contract.

What about you? What’s the best writing advice you ever received? Share it here and let us encourage one another.

Teresa Slack’s first historical short story Elk’s Rest has been published in Molly Noble Bull’s Shoot em Up Western Collection by Helping Hands Press. Her latest novel Runaway Heart is now available as an e-book download. Teresa’s first novel Streams of Mercy won the Bay Area Independent Publishers’ Assn award for Best First Novel. Evidence of Grace, the third in her Jenna’s Creek Series debuted at #18 nationwide according to Christian Retailing Magazine. Her down-to-earth characters and realistic dialog have endeared her to readers and reviewers alike. Learn more about Teresa and her books at her website www.teresaslack.com or on her Facebook author page. Readers can contact her at teresa@teresaslack.com