One Thing (Almost) Every Aspiring Writer Needs

I'm regularly asked what advice I have for newbie writers, and I usually say stuff about trying to find community by joining a writing group, going to workshops, reading at open mics, posting online, etc. I might talk about various strategies for building an audience even if you're not traditionally published, and maybe I'll mention something about finding a routine that works for you, whether you write every day or once a week, or whatever.

But there's one thing I don't talk about enough, which...