Sunday Thread: What's the Best Writing Advice You've Ever Gotten?

Hi friends.

Greetings from another airport, my second-to-last work trip for a while. Am I a little tired? Well, sure. I got up early! But this is the life of a writer trying to pay the bills in America right now. I don’t know anyone who gets to just write a book and be done with it already. And talking to people about 1000 Words has been a valuable, joyful experience these past five months. Thanks to those who have been showing up. (Shout out to those nice, smiling ladies in Greensboro!)

So I taught a workshop this weekend, as I did last weekend, and there was a moment where I looked up and a bunch of people were writing down what I had just said and it was something I had made up on the spot and I was like, “Shit, wait, what did I just say?” (Don’t worry, I found out later what it was. Thank goodness for people who take notes in class.)

But it got me thinking about great, memorable writing advice that I have received in my life, and also wondering about the best advice other people have received in their lives. The stuff that really stuck with them.