'Don't get it right, get it written'

'Take the time, before you start, to decide exactly what you want to write. Remember that your publisher will want more of the same, so you must choose a genre with which you are happy... Don't try to copy other writers. Originality, within your field, is essential. As an agent, the typescript I would take home for the weekend would always be the one with the freshest voice.

Stick with it, don't give up. My mantra has always been: don't get it right, get it written. Most of all, believe in yourself.'

Carol Smith, agent-turned-writer, in Writers' ForumBritish writers' magazine which is highly recommended for all writers. It features wide range of news and articles which help writers to improve their work and get published: www.writers-forum.com magazine