Q: Any advice for people who want to be writers?

The single obstacle that stands between wanting to write and actually writing is the paralysis that comes from the endgame: having the work published. I can't tell you how many ideas I haven't pursued simply because I was certain that the book or story or article wouldn't find an audience when I was through with it. The irony there is that later, I invariably come across the idea in a book or story or article written by someone else. It's hard to set aside that gnawing feeling that I shoulda coulda woulda written that piece myself (how dare someone else do it!), but the fact of the matter is that I didn't do it myself, and that's that.

Writing is hard. I have two articles in their note stages right now. If I set myself aside a few hours to draft and a few more to revise, I could send them on to my editor and they'd be on their way to completion. They're both filled with things I want to say — ideas I can't wait to express and send out into the world to (hopefully) be read — but I keep finding more pressing things to do, like write this note. What's so hard about writing? Knowing that I can do it and that I'm pretty good at it while at the same time having to wrench those well-structured sentences out of the mist of half-formed thoughts that are so much more beautiful to me bereft of language.

Long before you start thinking about polish, perfection, and publishing, think about practice. And then do it. Start writing things down. I carry a notebook with me, jotting down observations, reactions, random thoughts, even addresses, phone numbers, and directions. Every word I write, for whatever purpose, is an articulated thought. Practicing that articulation is key to being a writer. It's one thing to want to write, even to be good at writing, but it's a whole 'nother matter to actually make the time to find out that you enjoy the sweat and struggle of creating good work.

My short answer to the question: "advice for writers"? is this: get a notebook and a pen you like and use them. Even if it's a few minutes a day, it's a good start. Trust your own ideas and develop them. See what happens when one written word leads into another.

No one ever steps out the door and completes a marathon. She starts by running to the end of the block and back. And remember these things: Van Gogh only sold one painting in his life, and it was to a friend. Tom Clancy's first novel was rejected 42 times. Emily Dickinson was told to forget about poetry and get a life. Not one of those people was paralyzed by the fear of audiencelessness.

Write on!