I'm glad you enjoy it, and thank you for telling me. It's nice to hear.

In all honesty, the older I get, the less advice I have. I never have things figured out for long. There's an entire industry out there of people who give advice about writing despite not being that good at it themselves. (Myself included, honestly.) These days, I think I'm at my best as a writer when I have no idea what's happening with my craft.

So, all that being said, here are the pieces of advice that have been working for me, ha.

• Free write, or at least draft with a sparse outline. Don't imagine passages before you write them. Intertwine the act of writing with the magic of creation. Let your fingers run ahead of your brain.

• On a similar note, you will never fully prepare yourself to write. Notes, outlines, anything that is about writing but isn't actual writing... They're not required. People usually use them as procrastination games, honestly. You're better off doing writing exercises, if anything.

• Don't wait around for life to make you into a writer. Anybody can write a fantastic story at any time, whether it's fiction or nonfiction. You are not an exception to this.

• It's somewhat important to read a lot, but it's more important to read carefully. And it's even more important to read outside of your comfort zone, which might include finishing things you don't love.

• Change your writing ritual often. Don't get too set in your ways. It's important to be adaptable.

• Set challenges (not deadlines) for yourself. Use a certain word or phrase. Write a passage without adjectives. Or without adverbs.

• Edit.