Goodreads asked Susan Rivers:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Susan Rivers Be a good listener. I can't stress how important this is. In order to write about people, you have to be familiar with how they communicate, and in order to do that, you have to encourage them to talk (or be nearby when they're talking to someone else!) I never go anywhere without carrying a small notebook and a pen, and I write down everything I hear that is distinctive or seems to strike a note of authenticity. These brief notes often generate larger ideas when I write.

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