What's the best advice you could give to an aspiring author?

As was told to me by James Patterson once, 'Just keep writing.' It seems obvious now - but you'll see once you get started and may even cling onto that statement.What's the best advice you could give to an aspiring author?
Don't ever stop.What's the best advice you could give to an aspiring author?
Aspire to write profoundly meaningful prose. The author part is the icing.
good tips for writing could be to base some things on personal experiances but make it more dramatic.... other things to help write are to read a few books by your favourite author :)
Speaking from experience, you shouldn't aspire to be an ';author.'; You should aspire to be a ';writer.'; That's who you are. It's what you do. And keep doing it. Write every day even if it is totally unrelated stuff. Hone your skill, develop a style, and learn about characters. Read lots and lots of books. Make drafts, don't accept anything for perfect. Most importantly, do what YOU like, for yourself. If someone else likes it and you end up being an ';author';, then that's a great perk for doing something you love to do. Good luck!
Never give up.





Believe in yourself %26amp; your writing abilities.





Let others (family/friends) read some of your writings %26amp; ask for CONSTRUCTIVE criticism from them.





Find out what circumstances (time of day, settings etc.) when you feel as if you produce your best efforts %26amp; utilize these times/places etc.





Carry a notebook %26amp; pen with you always so you can jot down ideas when you feel inspired (sometimes these moments can strike at the most unlikely times %26amp; places...I find that I have to get things down spontaneously when it strikes, but others feel they can make short notes %26amp; return to it later %26amp; expand ~ find out which method works best for you)





Research the subjects you choose to write about thoroughly.





Enjoy your skills %26amp; have fun writing.





If you get knock backs from publishers etc.


Don't despair ~ keep sending the manuscripts out there til you find someone willing to publish etc....You may be able to self-publish if you want instead.
Don't give up.


Don't make your story confusing.


Make your characters interesting.
Purchase ';On Writing'; by Stephen King. Even if you are not a fan of his. He gives excellent advice in this book. It tells you things like ';show'; don't ';tell,'; don't use too many adverbs, don't over describe a person or place, don't use the passive voice, etc. It is written in novel-like fashion. It isn't just a list of things not to do. He gives reasons for his advice. It only costs about $8 and it is well worth the price. I went in to more detail in this answer to somebody else: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…
Do good work. Don't butcher the language. READ GOOD BOOKS. Don't read crap. I think that about sums it up.
Try writing on something you feel deeply or have personally experienced and that you think is different.Also I personally feel that while writing you should not think about how readers might receive what you are writing. that might cramp your narrative and the flow of what you have to say.
Mahatma Gandhi - “Culture of the mind must be subservient to the heart.”
Listen to constructive criticism and never give up. There will be a lot of people who will tell you that what you are doing is nonsense, to get a real job, that what you are writing doesn't sell... don't listen to them. Keep writing, keep trying.

roc

bloom-