by Gabbi Hall
There is no replacement for the lessons that experience teaches. Three published authors share their writing advice, which comes straight from years of telling stories, with The Penmen Review.
Amy Cotta, author of “Six Weeks to Skinny Jeans,” says,
Writing is a process of drafts, edits and then more edits and you can’t edit what isn’t there—so write—just let it flow. You can always go back and cut what you don’t like. Writers block can come from over analysis of your subject and/or yourself. Stop second-guessing yourself and stop judging yourself. There’s an old saying, “If you want to write, write.”
Britt Reints, author of “An Amateur’s Guide to the Pursuit of Happiness,” says,
There’s no such thing as writer’s block. Some days you might produce better work than others, but you can always write. Set aside time every day to write, and show up and write. That’s your job, to be there when inspiration strikes. The more you do it, the better the work will be.
Susan Palmquist, author of “The One & Only,” a Loft Children’s Literature Award winner, says,
Read your work out loud when you’re editing or proofreading. It’s a good way to hear the rhythm of your story and the variety of sentences. Are some too long? Too short? Do you have a good mix? Also, you get a feel for dialogue. Saying it out loud lets you hear if it sounds like real people talking.
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