You have to avoid what I call the 'smartest boy in class syndrome,' which is, just because you know it, you don't have to tell it. I often will go through a manuscript crossing stuff out, and say, 'This is just too much,' you know?
Think how slow would be your progress in learning without printed books: you could study only manuscripts, and those necessarily must be very few in number. Learn from this to value your books, and always handle them with care.
When I began writing in the mid-1960s, I thought it was not important for readers to know whether I was male or female. Also, I was a great admirer of E.B. White, so I may have thought that it would bring me luck to submit my first manuscript as 'E.L.' But if I were starting out today, I would use my first name.
I got many emails that brought to my attention that Mr. Ioan Mang... plagiarised a manuscript of mine, as well as papers of other people.
I had already drafted the manuscript that would become my first book by the time I graduated from college, but I had no idea what to do with it.
I starved and slept on park benches. I wrapped myself in the pages of my manuscript to keep warm. For two and a half years I took odd jobs; nothing was going to deter me.
Be wary of cutting and pasting research nuggets directly into your manuscript.
I've seen unpublished manuscripts where the writer doesn't know they are making fun of the villain - but they are. If you aren't afraid of your villain, how can your hero be afraid?
I won't leave any unfinished manuscripts.
Traditional publishers require an author to submit a manuscript six months in advance, and if pressed, no later than two or three.
