Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Robin Lee Hatcher (Advice for Novelists, Part 78)

Today lend you ear to the advice of multi-published author Robin Lee Hatcher and her Advice for Novelists response to the question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Read, read, read, and write, write, write. Read widely and well. Be in the Word daily so that you have truth to tell. Read biographies and histories and craft books and fiction and current events. Read for fun and read for education and read for edification. And write every day (emails don't count but journal entries do). As for your novel, if you write one page per day, you'll have a 365 page manuscript at the end of a year. Being busy is no excuse. Write right now! You will learn far more from writing a novel (and then another and another) than you will ever learn from the latest how-to books.

-- Robin Lee Hatcher is the bestselling and award winning author of 60 novels, including Wagered Heart, When Love Blooms, and the upcoming Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series. Learn more at her web site (www.robinleehatcher.com) and blog (http://robinlee.typepad.com).

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I can completely understand that advice, and it's a very sound idea.

Good call.

Tina Dee Books said...

Great encouragement, Robin! Thanks, I needed to hear it after spending my days homeschooling, and editing other people's work.

Love your http://WritesPassage.blogspot.com

Have a blessed day!
Tina
www.TinaDeeBooks.com
www.BustlesAndSpurs.com

Cathy Bryant said...

Robin you always have great advice for us aspiring writers. Thanks so much for taking time from your busy schedule to encourage us!
Blessings!
Cathy Bryant
http://wordvessel.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

So very, very true.

Anonymous said...

I agree, being busy is no excuse :) "Higher Honor" was written on my lunch break from work and after my 5 kids went to bed.

I would had, though, be flexible, patient, and willing to take constructive critiscm :)

Great post!

Bonnie Way aka the Koala Mom said...

I've learned that writing is a matter of attitude and priority--if you say you are too busy, then it's not important enough. I like Robin's advice to learn while writing. :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Woohoo! Journal entries count? Now I can say I write every day. :)

Susan