When you print out your manuscript and read it, marking up with a pen, it sometimes feels like a criminal returning to the scene of a crime. Don Roff More Quotes by Don Roff More Quotes From Don Roff It's my belief that people enter your life at exactly the right time. Don Roff novelists time people But people in a small town tend to do a lot of talking, even when they don’t know what they’re talking about. Don Roff towns talking people There is no right or wrong way to write a novel. Each journey is different for every individual work and for every writer. The first error is never to begin; the second is never to finish. Don Roff errors journey writing A day of bad writing is always better than a day of no writing. Don Roff bad-writing writing Writers often torture themselves trying to get the words right. Sometimes you must lower your expectations and just finish it. Don Roff expectations trying sometimes Regarding the creative: never assume you're the master, only the student. Your audience will determine if you're masterful. Don Roff assuming creative students A writer always writes. Don Roff writing Always mystify, torture, mislead, and surprise the audience as much as possible. Don Roff torture surprise writing Nothing's a better cure for writer's block than to eat ice cream right out of the carton. Don Roff ice-cream block writing If you treat your characters like people, they'll reward you by being fully developed individuals. Don Roff rewards character people The recipe for great art has always been misery and a good bowel movement. Don Roff movement recipes art Nothing says work efficiency like panic mode. Don Roff efficiency panic procrastination Any conversation including the mention of Roald Dahl, Ray Bradbury, or Emily Dickinson is one worth getting into or at least eavesdropping. Don Roff bradbury rays conversation Write about the thing that scares you most or your most private confession and you'll never have a problem coming up with decent fiction. Don Roff scare writing fiction Authors must spend months, years making fantasy believable in a single work while reality runs rampant and complete chaos elsewhere. Don Roff running reality years Love it when a compelling new character kicks open your mental door, tracks mud across your brain, and props their feet up on your cerebrum. Don Roff feet doors character Writing a story, regardless of length, begins always with a single word. Don Roff length stories writing It’s hard to land a devastating jab/cross/hook/uppercut combo to your reader’s imagination when you’re telegraphing your punches. Don Roff hook land imagination Fear and self-doubt are the deadly enemies of creativity. Don’t invite either into your mind. Don Roff creativity self fear When you're writing what you love, it's the most fun you can have with your clothing still on, unless of course, you write naked. Don Roff naked writing fun