Important steps for the serious writer in a nutshell.

1 Carry pieces of paper or a pocket-size notebook and pen AT ALL TIMES. When we read of Ari Onassis, we learn it was an important rule of his to be able to take notes at any moment. There's much logic there. No one can remember everything.2 Make the effort to learn at least one foreign language. The act of comparing two languages activates our mind and the effects are invaluable. In a sense it's like doubling your vocabulary. It certainly gets expanded greatly.3 Don't be lazy about looking up doubtful grammar and/or words in the reference books(dictionaries) or CDs. You need to develop a larger-than-average vocabu- lary. There are many words you never will use, perhaps, but you need to be familiar with them. Other writers will use them, you can be sure. Words are tools for the writer or speaker. Would you garden without a trowel?4 Admit, as did the great Dr. Johnson, when you've been ignorant in a certain instance. No one is perfect. Every person has to go through training, like it or not. Never let yourself get puffed up with pride. The fall will definitely occur. Be real and humble(not stupid!) whether or not Golda Meir would agree.5 Try to open up your heart and soul. This is perhaps the hardest. To do so means often disregarding the comments and criticism of others. You must reach, literally, someone else in your writing. If we aren't reaching, our writing is stale and lackluster. We must bleed as Hemingway said.6 Don't be afraid to contact an important writer and/or editor. We're all human, heading down the same hill, eventually. If your idea or submission is bad, she/he will toss it. Does it hurt? Yes, but you must learn from it. Everyone cannot be a young success as were Capote and McCullers, et al.7 GET UP if you awake during the night with an idea. Jot down enough of the "dream idea" to allow you to work with it later. It could be a one-time thing. Our subconsciousness can help us. Never reject help from any source.8 Get off somewhere ALONE. This way ideas will come to you. Take long walks, with you pocket notebook, of course. Try it.9 Don't get impatient and/or panicky. Negative and anxious feelings will solve nothing, but could easily cause blocks. The world spins, with or without us. 10 Take some writing courses at a college or univer- sity. If you haven't done this, the courses will really up- date you as to what's going on in writing currently. Additionally, they will "pressure" you to write(pro- duce) more since you need to turn in your assign- ments regularly.11 Don't run round looking for "approval". While we all probably(I do) need approval, we don't need negativism or put-downs, if you will. If you must ask someone for an opinion of your work, ask a person not only qualified to give you an opinion, but one who you think has some sensi- tivity and no envy.12 Read and Write--both--throughout your lifetime. Nothing valuable can exit(be produced) if nothing valuable has ever entered(that little head). Lincoln's beautiful writing was based largely on his thorough know- ledge of the Bible. For practice, there are many topics to write about. Work on biographies and autobiographies. Write letters. Keep diaries/jour- nals. The important point is constant writing. A social life with other like-minded people is nice and wonderful, but if little writing is getting done at the expense of lots of chit-chat, then how ambitious are you? Lastly, self-help books and articles with ad- vice(like this one) are enjoyable and instructive, but remember, the best ones will tell you frankly that ACTION must also occur. Reader's Note: Please send me additional tips/ideas so that this article can be expanded on and made even more helpful. Thanks and good luck.