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Goodreads asked Lisa Y. Potocar:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Lisa Y. Potocar My advice for aspiring writers will sound like a scratched 45 (record) skipping along until the operator nudges the phonograph needle. Now, that you know my approximate age, here it goes. . .here it goes. . .(nudge) here it goes:

1. Learn the craft!!!!!! Read the genre in which you wish to write, including how-to books, and most importantly attend writers' conferences and workshops.

2. Find a critique group or a writing coach.

3. Understand that your manuscript/project will probably need many, many edits beyond the first draft.

4. Write every day!!! I don't necessarily mean committing words to paper or computer because there will be many days when you can't do that, but in your head you can be working out creative bumps or plotting out a new chapter or practicing writing a character or scene by describing an observation in real-time or getting a jumpstart on your study of the market to find the right agent or publisher or setting up your social media platform.

I'm sure there's more, but I'll leave it at that--for now.


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