1. There is such a thing as chapters. You don’t need to write everything. If your characters spend an uneventful two weeks, maybe it’s time to skip ahead to chapter two.
2. Perspective is important. Sticking to it is what makes writing so hard. I’m almost sure that character B’s inner thought processes are just as important as your main lead’s. But character B is not your main lead.
3. Characters have voices. Let them speak.
4. You can only pour so much of yourself into one of your characters before it starts to paralyse you. Split your personality. That’s what writing is.
5. Shitty first drafts. Shitty. First. Drafts.
6. Don’t get too lost in detail. Detail is but a mere detail to your story. Research is important, but research comes afterwards.
7. Get to know your characters, then let the reader get to know them as well. No need to summarise your main lead’s homesickness after the ocean, no need to let them talk about it for pages on end. If the breeze carries just a hint of salt with it, and their eyes start stinging quite unexpectedly, that might already be enough.
8. Show, don’t tell. Always. I know it’s hard, but reading a Tell, don’t Show is harder.
9. Remember that taking breaks is okay. Sometimes life is hectic. Breaks are not the same as giving up.
10. The reason that there is always a happy ending is because the story has to stop somewhere. Happy endings are important. If you can survive, then so can they. If they can survive, then so can you.
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