Anne Rice’s writing advice

 

“Write the book of your dreams, write what you want to be known for.”

“You may write two or three chapters of a book and decide you hate it. Don’t throw it away, save it.”

“Create, through writing, the person you want to be.”

“The great thing about our profession is there are no rules.”

“Don’t ever think that you have to know a whole lot about publishing to break in, you really don’t.”

“Never revise that book because you got a rejection from an editor with a bunch of negative advice. Any editor who rejects your book doesn’t get it.”

“Don’t hesitate to write one sentence paragraphs and short paragraphs in general…never, never bury a key revelation or surprise or important physical gesture by character at the end of an existing paragraph. Move this to a new paragraph.”

“If the plot takes a high improbable turn, acknowledge that through having the characters acknowledge it.”

“Never get trapped into thinking that if you have a character open a door, he necessarily has to close it later on…you are creating a visual impression of a scene, and you don’t need to spotlight every gesture.”