Kimmy Shields
Kimmy Shields asked Erik Larson:

What's the most surprising lesson you've learned in your career as your author? Any advice to those pursuing a creative career?

Erik Larson Well I can't say it's surprising, but what I've learned is that writing is all about hard work. You might think it's not a typical job, but in many ways it is. You need to check in each day, seven days a week, and do it. Be there. You don't have to write for eight hours a day, necessarily. Larry McMurtry wrote for an hour and a half each day. But you have to be there, at your desk, every day. If you wait for inspiration, you'll be waiting a very long time.

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