Best writing advice you have ever gotten?

[LexiD523]

"Writer's Block is just a euphemism for video games" -Brian K. Vaughan

[Karen Mahoney]

Patrick Rothfuss gave me this advice at a book signing:

Get your ass in the chair and write.

[dmh3000]

Do it because you love it. That's one I've taken to heart.

[Corrina]

Two things:

1. You can't fix a blank page.
2. Follow no rule off a cliff.

[beamish]

My wife once said to me, "you're not a writer because you never write, so if you want to call yourself one then you had better get on your ass and start typing. "

[samhumphries]

A variation on a theme: Do more writing, do less other things. (Brian K. Vaughan)

[tomgastall]

Three Bits:

1. Lists of Ten: When I'm blocked on something in a plot, I make a lists of ten possibilities. No self-editing, no pickiness. One of the ten possibilities is always the opposite of what would really happen. Then I pick out the choice I like the most and keep on writing, leaving things open to change later if necessary. I think I got this one from De Bono's Lateral Thinking Book.

2. Three Column Reference Sheet: For every story I'm writing, I have a large sheet of paper divided into three columns. One column lists the necessary scenes for the story, the second column lists all the ideas that pop up for bits of scenes, and column #3 is dialog that should be included. Everything's in front of you; this could also work w/a white board. Got this one from Lew Hunter's book on writing.

3. Jerry Seinfeld's Don't Break The Chain Calendar PDF
http://www.writersstore.com/dont-bre...chain-calendar

-Tom Gastall

[Kelly Sue]

three bits:

1. Lists of ten: When i'm blocked on something in a plot, i make a lists of ten possibilities. No self-editing, no pickiness. One of the ten possibilities is always the opposite of what would really happen. Then i pick out the choice i like the most and keep on writing, leaving things open to change later if necessary. I think i got think i go this from de bono's lateral thinking book.

2. Three column reference sheet: For every story i'm writing, i have a large sheet of paper divided into three columns. One column lists the necessary scenes for the story, the second column lists all the ideas that pop up for bits of scenes, and column #3 is dialog that should be included. Everything's in front of you; this could also work w/a white board. Got this one from lew hunter's book on writing.

3. Jerry seinfeld's don't break the chain calendar pdf
http://www.writersstore.com/dont-bre...chain-calendar

-tom gastall

like

[nickellis]

Also like!

The 'don't break the chain calendar' sounds awesome, love that sort of bird's-eye-view motivation.

In a similar vein, you could do the three columns with notecards:
In the latest Back To Work podcast [http://5by5.tv/b2w/29] Merlin Mann talks to Rob Corddry (of Hot Tub Time Machine, Children's Hospital, Daily Show fame) who describes the writing process they use for Children's Hospital.

It sounds a lot like the three columns, but the columns are translated to notecards with A stories on one colour, B and C stories on another colour, and miscellaneous bits on a third colour. They then mix and match them until they fit out the series.

N

[jenifu]

Just do it already. Everything, often.