Goodreads asked Denise Thompson-Slaughter:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Denise Thompson-Slaughter Get a paying job that has nothing to do with sitting at a desk and staring at a screen--otherwise either your eyes and certain other parts of your body will get burned out too soon. Then set aside a regular time when you will sit down and work on your writing, even if it's just an hour a day or two nights a week. Also, if you a are writing longer pieces, do not consider yourself above the homework of laying the groundwork. Make an outline! Break it down into scenes. Many a book has fallen by the wayside halfway through because the author didn't have a clear road map for where it was going. (I'm telling you things I've learned the hard way.) If you're writing fictional characters, make sure you know them and their life history thoroughly before you start. And if you get discouraged because your job and your family seem to be taking over all your time, remember that you will have more time after you retire and/or the kids are in college! Whatever you outline or scribble in the little free time you have in the thick of your life will be waiting for you to finish and will be an impetus for you to actually go back to it someday. Of course, if you don't have kids or a full-time job yet, take advantage of the time you do have now to take writing classes, join a writing group, or set yourself a firm schedule at home to do as much as you can--whatever will force you to keep writing and learning from the experience in a disciplined way.

flag