I came across some typed up notes from a previous session of life universe and everything panel.

Here are the notes on what it takes to be a writer.

• Writing involves blood, sweat, tears, patients, hopeless egotism and optimism (William Shawn).
• Make sure you ‘right’ every day, even if it’s just jotting down ideas are developing them. Keep your subconscious active on your writing makes your productivity more fruitful. If you take a break of a couple of months from it, it’s very hard to get back into it.
• Getting started is often the hardest task. Even forcing yourself to write just one sentence often gets you over the hurdle and starts the creative flow.
• When it reaches the point of being ‘that damn book’ you know you’re going to finish it (Ed Leibing).
• Reading other people’s work helps establish your critical stance. Then apply that critical sense to you own work. Reading can be just as important to your writing as your writing. Be sure to read the markets your writing for (periodicals and novels)
• Have faith in your own writing, but be humble enough to accept criticism.
• Set a specific writing goal in terms of daily output.
• Your voice won’t be established until you’ve written 1 million words (sort of an accepted industry standard).
• Develop the mindset of being a writer. Be a writer first and foremost in all things you do.
• Keep a writer’s journal and work it at every opportunity.
• Advice:
• Do your homework – your name is attached to the work.
• Turn off the television. I’ll eat all the time you’ll let it.
• Don’t expect continuous success.
• Never stop learning. Learn to read critically.
• Do rewrites fast.

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