I've learned that I get blocked when my subconscious mind is telling me that I've taken the work in a wrong direction, and that once I start listening to what my subconscious is trying to tell me, I can work out the problem and get moving again.

I went to college, though I didn't take many writing courses.

Everything that you read is an influence on everything you write, and you want to draw as many elements into your work as you can.

Try to meet as many authors, agents, and editors as you can.

Working within the limitations of the shared world generally made the writing easier, because I didn't have to invent any of the characters or background, which is usually the hardest part.

The mass-market paperback, for one, is too expensive.

The Internet offers an interesting combination of advertising and community - by participating in the community you can become an advertisement for yourself.