On Writing


2006

From Anne (posted 8/4/09):

Update July 29, 2009
As of now, I am receiving two to three requests a day to read the poetry, stories or novels of unpublished writers. I cannot comply with these requests. This is no reflection on the people writing to me.  I am unable to do it because of my own schedule and my own work. I wish all struggling writers every success.

From Anne (posted 6/15/09):

"First off, I know nothing about publishing today and have precious little that I can say on that subject. However one point I can make is this: no legitimate publisher charges a writer money to publish a book. Only "vanity" presses do this, and they are, as far as I know, in the business of making their money off authors. I do not encourage anyone to go with a "vanity" press. --- I wish I had more to offer but I don't.

On writing, my advice is the same to all. If you want to be a writer, write. Write and write and write. If you stop, start again. Save everything that you write. If you feel blocked, write through it until you feel your creative juices flowing again. Write. Writing is what makes a writer, nothing more and nothing less. --- Ignore
critics. Critics are a dime a dozen. Anybody can be a critic. Writers are priceless. ---- Go where the pleasure is in your writing. Go where the pain is. Write the book you would like to read. Write the book you have been trying to find but have not found. But write. And remember, there are no rules for our profession. Ignore rules. Ignore what I say here if it doesn't help you. Do it your own way.

--- Every writer knows fear and discouragement. Just write. --- The world is crying for new writing. It is crying for fresh and original voices and new characters and new stories. If you won't write the classics of tomorrow, well, we will not have any. Good luck."