Goodreads asked Patrick Heffernan:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Patrick Heffernan Dispense with the word "aspiring." If you're writing, you're a writer. It's kind of like that time Yoda ate Luke's ass. There is no try, there is do, or do not. Besides, isn't "try" really a nicer way of saying "fail?" I repeat: If you're writing, you're a writer.

Also, find good people to help you market your stuff. Get it out to beta readers. Typos hide best from their parents. It's their only chance at survival. And don't take it personally when a beta reader points out a fuckup or a typo. Don't hate yourself for it either. Just because you're the omnipotent god of that novel you wrote, the truth is, out here you're still human and as error-prone as any other human.

flag