Twelve Things to Think About

By Nichole Giles

Last week I spent my afternoons attending a local conference. During the week, some of the authors, editors, and the lone agent, said some things that resonated with me. I thought I’d share them here.


1. Everything you are, read, and experience composts together and leaves an imprint to become your voice. ~ Brandon Mull

2. It doesn’t matter so much what you put in your story, but how your characters react to what’s there. ~ Brandon Mull

3. I will never be done trying to get better. ~ Brandon Mull

4. Either you’re good at multi-tasking or you’re bad at it. Decide which you are, then get over it and move on. ~ Allie Condie

5. On the wall of a classroom: Don’t make excuses, make improvements.

6. Skip trends and look for universal truths. ~ Jennifer Hunt, Little Brown Publishinbg

7. A book isn’t successful unless [readers] love it. ~Jennifer Hunt

8. When we’re reading books we never thought we’d love, that is great writing. ~ Jennifer Hunt

9. Story is more than what we do, it’s who we are. ~ Mary E. Pearson

10. Quoted by Mary Pearson: “Twenty years from now, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than those you did.” ~Mark Twain

11. Successful books ask tough questions. ~ Mary Cole

12. Suffer from a wealth of ideas, lack of sleep, and an insatiable curiosity about the world around you.” ~Mary Cole

What do you think? Do these apply to you? Yeah. I thought so too.