What Should We Write?

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The Grump

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Just went to the Northern Colorado Writers conference where Stephen Cannell (A-Team, The Rockford Files, Baretta, etc. and the Shane Scully mysteries) was the keynote speaker. He gave two pieces of advise I thought worth sharing:

1) Write the book you want to read.

2) (When you finally have sold something and are negotiating) You get more accomplished with sugar than vinegar.
 

Diana W.

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I'm doing all right then. I'm currently writing exactly the sort of book I love to read. :D
 

Phaeal

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The idea of writing a book I wouldn't want to read makes me break out in hives.

As for Advice #2, I like the Scarlett O'Hara variant: Start with sugar. If that doesn't work, screw the vinegar and go straight for the sulfuric acid.

;)
 

Sophia

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Stephen Cannell? Wow! I'd love to have heard his talk. I always considered his name on a show as being a sign of quality entertainment when I was growing up.
 

Jamesaritchie

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I would think that both of these are just common sense.

I've seen the first advice on every writer's forum I've ever visited, and in pretty much every how-to book I've read.

The second, well, duh.
 

jana13k

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As for Advice #2, I like the Scarlett O'Hara variant: Start with sugar. If that doesn't work, screw the vinegar and go straight for the sulfuric acid.

;)
Love this!
 

C.M.C.

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I would amend the rule slightly, to "write what you want to write". That should hold true for all times.
 

Wordwrestler

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I would change the first bit of advice slightly--Write a book you want to read over and over. Because chances are you will have to do just that.
 

willietheshakes

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I'd love to go on the lecture circuit and get paid to say the obvious. :)

You know, these things SEEM obvious, and they SHOULD be common sense. But one only has to spend a little time in the blogosphere to find scores of people who need to be vigourously slapped upside the head with a clue-stick.
 
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