2. I read really fast! I can chew through as much as a book a night (so long as the book moves and is well-written).

3. Pantsing doesn’t always work… I need an outline to write, for the most part. I can pants a short story, but not a novel (usually).

4. Music is not optional. When I write, I like to have something on in the background. Usually music works well, but sometimes television works, too. I don’t watch it, just listen to the dialogue while I write. Writing in dead silence is a little unnerving for me.

5. Tea is not optional. Invariably, there will always be a tall glass of iced tea somewhere nearby, while writing.

6. Certain TV shows are forbidden. Even though I may like to have the TV on in the background, there are certain programs that cannot be shown while I’m writing. Anything Trek will cause me to stop and watch, no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Anything West Wing, for the exact same reason. Distracted writing can often lead to me writing fanfic, and that’s just no good!

7. Setting aside time is a good thing! I try to set aside time each day to write. Sometimes it’ll be after work, and sometimes it’ll be early in the morning before I head out. In either case, it’s important to me to sit down in front of the laptop and tell myself, “I’m writing for the next two hours.”

8. It’s okay to take a break. When I’m blocked, it’s time to push away from the machine and go someplace else. Maybe I’ll play a game online or go out to get something to eat, run an errand, whatever. I find that when I’m not thinking about the WIP, sometimes the WIP starts writing itself.

9. I don’t always stay on target… Being a writer, I tend to have a lot of ideas in my brain. Sometimes, it seems like I’ll think about a particular idea to distraction. When that happens, I can do one of two things: I can write it down and come back to it later or I can abandon my current WIP in favor of the new idea until I run that new idea dry.

10. Experimentation isn’t just for mad scientists. I’m constantly looking for new techniques to apply in my writing. There’s always room for new knowledge in this craft and to apply it without damaging the voice of a particular piece. Writing is as much art as anything else, so just as a painter might learn a learn method of brushing, a writer can learn about a new method of exposition or phrasing. I find writing short story experiments helps me to fine-tune new methods before integrating it into a novel.

11. Revision hell or Revision heaven? I’m never afraid of revisions. If I can improve a piece, I’m all for it.

12. Alpha Read and Beta Read. I use alpha readers a great deal. Alpha reading is when you allow people to read as you’re writing the first draft of a WIP. I can gain insight while I’m laying down the foundation of a new WIP, and may save myself some time during the revision process. Of course, beta reading is awesome, and people who take the time to crit a WIP are invaluable.

13. Last, but not least: offer crits to others! Critiquing another WIP for a fellow author is a learning experience to be cherished. Not just because you’re offering that author your reaction and opinion, but because it gives you an idea of how others approach their writing. I find critting to be cathartic to a point; if you know how to provide good feedback to help improve the writing of an author, then you’ll also glean information from their WIP to help you improve your own craft. Never turn down the chance to crit someone’s work!

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