Thanks for sharing that, Maria! I love his advice to ignore others' advice! I think that few things are more paralyzing than outside opinion.

Ditto to Cindy, and thanks for the interview. I'm now struggling through a 600+ page novel and wonder if the author received the same instructions I did - no unnecessary words, kill your babies, limit the number of your characters and eliminate anything that doesn't move the story along. I think I'll take Mr.Child's advise for my next book and forget everything I've been taught. It just might be more fun!

Ditto to Cindy, and thanks for the interview. I'm now struggling through a 600+ page novel and wonder if the author received the same instructions I did - no unnecessary words, kill your babies, limit the number of your characters and eliminate anything that doesn't move the story along. I think I'll take Mr.Child's advise for my next book and forget everything I've been taught. It just might be more fun!

I really enjoy these interviews. I learn something from each one. I like what Lee says about write without a committee. It allows you to free up your mind and emotions from struggling with "but, he said, she said" and lets you get on with the joy of the writing....spending time with your characters.