Because I am such a helpful critter, I have taken it upon myself to interrogate…that is to say I acquired information from the Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills regarding the craft of writing. I asked them if they could pick one bit of advice to share with aspiring authors what it would be and here is what they had to say. Although if you ask me, I say the key to good writing is simply adding porcupines to each book. Everyone loves a good prickly fellow. Okay, okay, sheesh Anne, you don’t have to shove me so hard. Here are their answers.

Shana: Don’t worry too much about the rules at first. So many people get stuck on whether they are plotting ‘right’ or creating characters ‘right.’ There is time to learn all that later. Writing is something one learns by doing. Start your book today.

Jenna: Always keep learning. Research your history, study your craft, keep up with the market. Things change in a heartbeat in this industry and you want to keep up with all of that if you can. Also, don’t settle. Go for the best agent, reach for the dream house.

Cindy: Write a synopsis. I know many writers hate them and you certainly don’t have to follow them exactly…I certainly don’t. But thinking about the conflict and the story progression will help you to know if you have enough conflict and enough “story” to sustain a book of x number of pages.

Kimberly: The one thing that proved most invaluable for me as an aspiring author was finding and joining Romance Writers of America. I can’t even begin to express what a wonderful experience I have had with the organization, both as a published and unpublished writer, and I can honestly say that I probably never would have sold that first manuscript if I hadn’t joined. But even if you aren’t interested in being a part of such a large organization, I would definitely recommend finding some small writers group to belong to. Whether offering advice, encouragement, or a critique of your latest manuscript, your fellow authors are the best resource for information and inspiration.

Robyn: Take your time. This isn’t a race no matter how often if feels that way. Romance will always be there as will publication. Everyone’s journey is unique and rushing yourself will only create unnecessary frustrations. RWA does such a great job of encouraging everyone to submit and it’s true, you can’t sell anything if you don’t send it out, but far too many of us start submitting way too early – I know I did. Writing really is a journey of self-discovery so do what you need to do to hone your craft and be the best writer you can be. Then when the time is right start sending your manuscripts out there.

Anne: Keep going! Keep writing, keep submitting, keep learning. As Robyn said, it’s not a race. But it is a journey that never ends and there will always be battles along the way that try to sidetrack you and keep you from pushing forward. You don’t have to write every day, but keep it in your mind and at your fingertips.

Margo: At some point, a serious writer needs to stop reading and listening to advice about writing. It can be crippling to your creativity. You have to find your own process and then sit down and do it, and not let everybody else’s method dictate how you are going to do it.

Shirley: Write the kind of stories that you’re most passionate about, that mean the most to you, instead of trying to chase trends. The books that are hot and on store shelves now were bought a year or two ago, maybe even longer. The passion you feel for the story you tell will translate onto the page. And if you’re going to invest that much time in characters and a plot, make sure it’s something you’ll still be excited about a long ways down the road.