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Goodreads asked Michael Allen:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Michael Allen I have answered this question many times over the past couple of years. I always love answering it because I remember being in class when I went to college and many of the students were working on their first book. What I noticed was they were all having the same problem. If I knew then what I know now, I would have told them to get out of their own way.

Don’t question your work. I have heard some writers talk about editing the first chapter a hundred times and even the first paragraph over and over. Get out of your own way. Of course, you have to rewrite and edit. But, get it down first. Then, rewrite and edit. Then, there comes a time to let go and let the world see it. Don’t be afraid to do that. That’s what you’ve been doing this whole time, to get to that point. Don’t be afraid to take that step.

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