Lucy Robinson’s Writer’s Tip

I am often approached by authors-in-the-making seeking advice about how to improve their writing skills. My answer is always the same: just write a book. It’s the only advice that was given to me and it’s therefore the only thing I know – and it works. This is just my own personal opinion but I don’t really see any need to go on endless courses and write lots of things that aren’t novels with which to practice and perfect your style – if you have a book in you, get it out! It will almost certainly be lacking on the first draft – my novel was DREADFUL at first (as in, monumentally awful) – but once it’s been written it’s editable. That’s when you should start working on your technique. You can send your manuscript to all sorts of people for their thoughts. I know how scary it is to just sit down write a book – I really do. But it’s the only way.
Lucy Robinson