Goodreads asked Danny R. Smith:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Danny R. Smith Read the book On Writing by Stephen King. Also read The Elements of Style by Strunk & White, and keep that book handy. I think many people have great ideas and stories to tell, but all too often they attempt to write a book without learning how to write a book. The first manuscript I wrote I've thrown away. They say you have to write a book to learn how to write a book. I believe it. So that first manuscript was sent to agents and publishers and was scrutinized (brutally) at conferences and seminars, and it dramatically changed how I write.

flag