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Goodreads asked Douglas Lumsden:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Douglas Lumsden My advice? Relax. Don't force it. Don't agonize. Don't grit your teeth. Don't beat your head against the wall. Stop telling everyone how tortured you are. Just write. Write because you like to write. If it doesn't come out the way you want it, don't worry about it. You'll fix it later.

Constant reviewing of your work is critical. If nothing else, reviewing what you've already written is a great way to build up the momentum you need to move forward. Begin every writing session by reviewing what you wrote during your last session. Polish, tune, or rewrite as needed. Don't commit yourself to an idea or direction that doesn't get you excited. If you don't like what you wrote yesterday, toss it out and go another way. No day of writing is wasted, even if it winds up on the cutting room floor. It all counts, even if you don't include it in your final product.

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