A Writer's Advice

I probably should be the very last person to give advice. However, several thoughts hit me, and, as I needed to return to a semi reoccuring presence on my own Blog, I thought I'd share.

The first thought is, of course, the old saw, "Write what you know." Couple that with "Know everything" and you've got something.

The second comes from either Gene Wolf or James Blish, I can't remember which: Whenever thinking of who should be the main character of the story, think "Who does it hurt?" Who suffers the most during the course of the story? Who has the most to lose? That's who the story is about.

(Obviously there are stories that don't quite mesh with this, but I think it would work as a rule of thumb.)

Finally, God alone knows from where this thought came from. Perhaps another writer, perhaps my muse Gwen (assuming she's done napping or doing whatever she does with her time). "Write every story as if it is your last." This is your final work. This is what you want to be remembered for. It doesn't matter if you just wrote King Lear, what you are on is the most important thing you've ever done.

(Perhaps that's my problem. Perhaps I should be saying "This is trash! Who cares!"

(Or perhaps it should be a little of both...)

Anyway, that's what I was thinking about. More later. Hopefully.