No one wants to read a story written by a writer who is unsure. Unsure of everything.

Your voice must show authority.

You can’t be wishy-washy, you can’t doubt what you write. The reader will sniff it out in no time. You must write boldly, believing in it. Standing behind it.

YOU MUST WRITE WITH AUTHORITY.

A little trick for you to use in your writing.

Decide BEFORE you start writing down your story on the balance between mystery and suspense. 

There will be a moment in your writing career when you’ll stop at the crossroads, wondering which way to go.

Do you write for money? Or do you write for the love of writing?

What’s putting the food on your table and paying your rent? Are you making a living as a writer? Or are you fed up with not making a living as a writer? Or are you tired of working three jobs to fund your writing?

I believe there is a third alternative that encompasses both money and love. And that is: Your readers. Your tribe. Your people.

This is not so much a writing tip, as it’s a rant, and in that it's a tip to move away from distractions to be able to write.

The other day I was walking down the street, and I was practicing mindfulness. That is, I was aware of every breath I took, every step, and I worked on being in the present moment, looking at the sky and the trees and the people around me, the buildings, the road.

Then I stopped, struck by a revelation.

Everywhere I looked was a command, written in big letters and demanding my attention.

You can't please everyone. If you try to do this, you'll end up pleasing no one.

Write what feels true to you. Write as if you weren't afraid. Write for that little girl or boy inside you who has always wanted to tell stories.

No matter what you write—it could be the cutest children's fairy tale—someone will hate it.