In the past few years Ive been writing, I dissevered a curious aspect to this perilous craft—there are no rules. You make them up as you go along. Some, you have unconsciously borrowed. Some are epiphanies. Some are those you have agonized over before applying them, either while writing or afterwards. After having written three novels, a collection of supernatural stories and a travel book or two, I would like to share some advice—if it doesn't sound too presumptuous— about what I learned.
1. Have a plot, but it is not important to detail it before you write.
2. Do not wait for inspiration.Inspiration is a myth.
3. Writers blocks happen if you take yourself too seriously or have been snorting too much coke
4. Sometimes, just start writing a story without thinking about it. Many books write themselves. Thats how you discover whether you are a true story teller or just a writer.
5. All great writers are story tellers. Others are pastiche makers. Sure, these guys win awards from juries with short attention spans, but they will never make great writers.
6. Most publishers and agents are morons. If you get a good agent and a great editor don't change them even if they aren't buying or selling the way you want them to.
7. If you cant sell your book, it doesn't mean it isn't good.
There are some more, we can share these as we go along.