Writing is not just the act of sitting down and expressing an idea with a keyboard, a pen or a quill. You might write for the pleasure of it, but to become published ~ if that is your goal ~ then you must approach the work seriously.

Write every day.

Read endlessly.

Immerse yourself in the world of words.

Be persistent.

Keep your mind open always for that elusive idea.

Remember that no matter what else, the joy to be had in creating a perfect phrase that rings like music in the mind is not something to be taken lightly.

Part of you lives in the real world, but part of you inhabits the realm of pretending.

Never stop pretending, by the way. It is a crucial element.

And, above all, do not be surprised where stories will take you…

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Web sites for Canadian organizations of interest to writers:

To go to the The Writers Federation of Nova Scotia, click here.

To go to The Writers Union of Canada, click here.

To go to CANSCAIP, click here.

To go to the Canadian Authors Association, click here.

To go to The Canadian Children's Book Centre, click here.

To go to The Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador, click here.