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The solution to every writing problem that has ever existed

August 2, 2011 by Nathan Bransford

Keep writing.

Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: How to Write a Novel, Life of a Writer, Staying Sane While Writing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chuck H. says

    August 2, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Yup.

  2. M.A. Leslie says

    August 2, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    Nothing better then the K.I.S.S. system. You know, Keep It Simple Stupid.
    Thanks Nathan.

  3. Steven Brandt says

    August 2, 2011 at 8:21 pm

    I would say writing + getting critiques + studying the craft (books / workshops). Without these you are unlikely to make progress.

  4. Anonymous says

    August 2, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    Hi Nathan. Beautiful as always. I was wondering if you ever find it helpful to STOP writing for a time though. I'm new to all of this of course, but after writing about 3 terrible things right in a row, I realized I was not helping my state of mind to keep making myself write (ie: you have to write something EVERY DAY!- advice I've heard). I took a little hiatus- plotted a little here and there for a new piece, watched some TV (gasp!), played outside- and I feel like things are just coming together so much easier (and better) for this book than the first three "works" (a loose term here).

  5. Nathan Bransford says

    August 2, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    anon-

    Definitely, I'm actually planning on blogging about that soon.

  6. Rebecca Kiel says

    August 2, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    Love it. Plus you can't go wrong with a title like that!

  7. fakesteph says

    August 2, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    I love this! 🙂

  8. Anne R. Allen says

    August 2, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    Anon makes an interesting point. I'll be eager to read your post on the subject. Maybe the above should read "write, breathe, read, write again."

    Except it wouldn't be so cool.

  9. G says

    August 2, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    Absolutely. Even if its something as small as a book review for Amazon.

    Be amazed at what you can do once you accomplish somthing that simple.

  10. Anonymous says

    August 2, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    Haha, I came here via twitter. How did I know you were going to say that?

  11. Beth says

    August 2, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    Well, that's one approach Nathan. But I prefer eating gummy bears or at least keep writing while eating gummy bears 😉

  12. The Desert Rocks says

    August 2, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Short, sweet and to the point. I love it!

  13. author Christa Polkinhorn says

    August 2, 2011 at 10:47 pm

    Most sensible piece of advice I've received in a while. LOL.

  14. Renee Sweet says

    August 2, 2011 at 10:56 pm

    Possibly my favorite post you've ever written, and that's saying something. 😀

  15. TheUndertaker says

    August 2, 2011 at 11:00 pm

    Haha, thank you. How timely!

  16. Mr. D says

    August 2, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    And keep revising!

  17. Kristin Laughtin says

    August 2, 2011 at 11:16 pm

    And reading! It's one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to learn.

  18. Caleb says

    August 2, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    is it that this is just a bad time of year for authors???

  19. Lucinda Bilya says

    August 2, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    "A man of few words is most often heard more so than the most eloquent copious orator."

    Well said.

  20. christinemareebell says

    August 2, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    Perfect!

  21. Anonymous says

    August 2, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    Hahahahaha, yes, perfect!!!

    I have a sticky note attached to the side of my laptop that says, 'NEVER GIVE UP!' [sometimes though I want to shred the dang thing] But yes, keep writing is a wonderful solution, with a satisfing ending. ["I did it"] And so easy to remember…♥ [when we're not pre-occupied with wanting to throw computers out of windows] 3 books later, that sticky note is still working for me! ☺

  22. Kris says

    August 2, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    To paraphrase the great Dory: "Just keep writing, just keep writing, writing writing writing writing."

  23. e_journeys says

    August 2, 2011 at 11:51 pm

    Hence my handy graphic representation from 2008:
    How to write a first draft 🙂

  24. ZeroToBoston says

    August 3, 2011 at 1:26 am

    Thank you, Nathan.

  25. Stacy says

    August 3, 2011 at 2:06 am

    Brilliant:)

  26. Cameron Young says

    August 3, 2011 at 5:36 am

    And then write some more.

  27. Ryan Sullivan says

    August 3, 2011 at 9:49 am

    Too true!

  28. Melissa Landers says

    August 3, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    Meh…I partially agree with you.

    One of my favorite quotes is "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."

    It's just as important to keep learning as it is to keep writing.

  29. deepamwadds says

    August 3, 2011 at 2:00 pm

    Yes, or as Natalie Goldberg is reported to have told every student who came with a writing problem, "Write anyway."

  30. Conor Neill says

    August 3, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    Deep.

  31. The Pen and Ink Blog says

    August 3, 2011 at 5:51 pm

    Succinct.

  32. Neil Larkins says

    August 3, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    LIKE! K.I.S.S.

  33. Lindsey says

    August 3, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    aka: Butt in Chair.

  34. Daniel McNeet says

    August 3, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    Good advice, along with: "The hardest part of writing is keeping your ass in the chair."

  35. Selena Robins says

    August 4, 2011 at 3:47 pm

    Touche! I would like to add, keep reading to that as well. 🙂

  36. Selena Robins says

    August 4, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  37. Michael Abayomi says

    August 5, 2011 at 7:56 pm

    very true

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About Nathan

Hi, I’m Nathan. I’m the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series, which was published by Penguin. I used to be a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and I’m dedicated to helping authors achieve their dreams. Let me help you with your book!

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