Useful Writing Stuff

Sometimes people ask me about writing. Here's the thing's I say.

Q: I have always wanted to write a story, but it seems daunting and I don't know if anyone would like it. 
A: Write the story. It is worthy. Making it is worthy. Do The Thing. Tell the voice of doubt 'Not Today.'

Q: My gr4mmar and speling suck, I cant write good.
A:  You'll learn the rules as you go. What's important is you write it down, and keep working to make it the best it can be. This may be the painter in me, but I like to write by building layers. Mistakes are common and frequent, because getting the point across is more important to me in the first drafts than making sure my letters are arranged correctly. Getting that final draft polished is important, but don't let perfectionism stop you from finishing that first draft. And when you've don't what you can do, that's what editors are for. (Like Lara Milton)

On social Media, Internet, and Marketing:
Just do what you're comfortable with.
I don't care what all these people are saying about "You have to get a twitter/instagram/tumber/youtube yadayadadydada' just do what feels right and natural to you. Weigh the good with the bad. (Because there are benefits, but chances are that if you haven't used social media and utilized those benefits yet, they are not going to work for you.)
Your job is to write stories. If you have other things that are taking gratuitous amounts of time away from that, consider if it's worth it. (With social media, chances are, it's not.)

On Publishing:
Decide what you want out of writing.
Ask yourself questions. Research what you want. Research what that looks like. Research how to do it. There's a million ways to 'Make it', and the definition of it changes from person to person.

The only way to do it is to keep doing it, and there will be a million times you want to quit before it gets better, and it will be harder in more ways than you though possible. Do it anyway. (cuz goonies never say die)

On Writer's Block:
If you're stuck, try this: 
Sit down at your writing spot, and think of something you DON'T want to write about. Then take it a step further and thing of the thing you want to write about least. Then go farther and think about the thing that would curl your fingernails to type on a keyboard. Write that. At least a page. 
You'll have a different perspective of what you want to write about after that.

On Editing:
That first few hours of finishing something are ****** magical. Enjoy! Rejoice! Celebrate! Huzzah!!!
But you are not done. 
Put it away for as much time as you can. A week at least, longer for novels. you need to forget about it for a while, and then come back with fresh eyes to chip away to become something to give to others. 
I hate this part, and usually muster about 45min before I'm back reading it through again, but it does work. 

And when all else fails, remember:

BUT

Clare out.