twitter weigh-in: writing advice

I conducted an interview with various writers this week, and the answers I received were wide-ranged.

The question was...

In a tweet or less, what bit of advice do you think is vital to a writer's success?


@elstupacabra I think "write what you know" can be detrimental. If you do just that, you never branch out or challenge yourself.

@nlowell persistence only works if you can actually, you know, write.

@sduzy496 I would say never give up and always keep your dreams in the forefront

@MsNathJones Define your own benchmarks about what success is and means. If you allow the world to dictate and judge, you will suffer.

@HP4Writers Perseverance and a thick hide!

@RowennaM If you're stuck, just write... 90% of the time. 10% of the time, just take a walk or something!

@AustinJamesHere stick-to-it-ive-ness popped into my head, but I think it fits.

@KatZhang You need patience, resilience, and SO much love for your story. Keep yourself informed of the book world, but don't obsess!

@BonoboWrites Read. Read more than anyone you know. Read widely, within your genre and outside of it.

@shellihowells Play every day!

@vvdenman Just. Keep. Writing.

@JulieEshbaugh The ability to weigh criticism and distinguish the good from the bad is definitely vital to a writer's success!

@MeganMulry The three from @christinadodd: 1 sit down & write 2 join rwa 3 sit down & write

@SammyBina Patience. It's definitely a skill worth acquiring.... Oh, and Reeses. Stock up.

@Casey_McCormick Write. Read. Critique. Repeat. The only way to fail is to give up. Live by the three Ps - Practice, Patience, & Perseverance.

@JodyHedlund Write, write, write. Learn, learn, learn. Repeat ad infinitum.