Be persistent. Editors change; tastes change; editorial markets change. Too many beginning writers give up too easily.

Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.

Guilty she might be. But what human being was not? There were things in her past she needn't be ashamed of, things to be proud of; she wouldn't surrender so meekly to a condemning judgment.

No writer should minimize the factor that affects everyone, but is beyond control: luck.

We are all dying of life.

Going after anything worthwile in life entailed risk, of course. A man of ambition and courage didn't let that stop or delay him. A man accepted the dangers, the element of chance. If he didn't, he won nothing.

Spend as much time as you can with your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open.