Goodreads asked Kate Corcino:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Kate Corcino Don't quit. Don't quit writing. Don't quit believing in the dream. Don't quit making yourself sit down to engage in the physical act of writing. Don't quit on your manuscripts before they're finished.

Those last two were my downfall. I had drawers full of unfinished stories because I'd give up on them and on forcing myself to do the long-haul work. For Spark Rising, I wrote a note to myself and posted it on the refrigerator (my favorite "escape" point): "Hey! You! All the talent in the world won't write your freaking book! Grow up, sit your ass back down, and TELL THE DAMN STORY!"

I guess being a hard-ass to myself worked. The novel was finished in three and a half months, and came in at nearly 150k words (since reduced in editing).

Amusing side story: An acquaintance came over and thought my husband had written the note! When she hesitantly suggested that he was a little demanding, I roared with laughter. My husband is a big, scary-looking, six-foot tall, four-foot wide, bald, goateed, tatted, leather-wearing, Harley-riding TEDDY BEAR. He cries at commercials featuring babies, animals or true love. I'm the mean one....

Which leads to my second bit of advice for aspiring writers: find someone who believes in you and TREASURE them. There are many, many days when you will not believe in yourself. It's important to have someone around who can jumpstart your self-esteem on the days when you really need it.

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