Sheryl McFarlane

I love The Guardian.  I’d even go so far as to say that it you want to be a writer,  it’s even more of a ‘must read’ than the New York Times.  Even seasoned writers will relate to tips offered by some of the best in the business…Elmore Leonard, Diana Athill, Margaret Atwood, Roddy Doyle, Helen Dunmore, Geoff Dyer, Anne Enright, Richard Ford, Jonathan Franzen, Esther Freud, Neil Gaiman, David Hare, PD James and AL Kennedy.

Here are a few of my favorites

Elmore Leonard…”3 Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue. 4 Never use an adverb to modify the verb “said”

Diana Athill…”1 Read it aloud to yourself because that’s the only way to be sure the rhythms of the sentences are OK”

Margaret Atwood…”7 You most likely need a thesaurus, a rudimentary grammar book, and a grip on reality. This latter means: there’s no free lunch. Writing is work. It’s also gambling. You don’t get a pension plan. Other people can help you a bit, but ­essentially you’re on your own. ­Nobody is making you do this: you chose it, so don’t whine.”

Roddy Doyle…”2Do be kind to yourself…3 Until you get to Page 50. Then calm down, and start worrying about the quality. Do feel anxiety – it’s the job”

Helen Dunmore…”4 Reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite. If it still doesn’t work, throw it away. It’s a nice feeling, and you don’t want to be cluttered with the corpses of poems and stories which have everything in them except the life they need.”

Geoff Dyer…”6 Have regrets. They are fuel. On the page they flare into desire”

Anne Enright…”2 The way to write a book is to actually write a book.”

Richard Ford…”9 Try to think of others’ good luck as encouragement to yourself”

Esther Frued…”2 A story needs rhythm. Read it aloud to yourself. If it doesn’t spin a bit of magic, it’s missing something. 3 Editing is everything.”

Neil Gaiman…”1 Write.”

P D James…”4 Write what you need to write, not what is currently popular or what you think will sell”

Al Kennedy…”7 Read. As much as you can. As deeply and widely and nourishingly and ­irritatingly as you can. And the good things will make you remember them, so you won’t need to take notes”

By the way, this isn’t a new article, but it’s well worth going back to have a look at.  In fact, there are tons of articles well worth a second look.  Thanks Jeremy Tankard for the reminder.