As you wind down from a writing conference, your life comes rushing back at you, your writing goals may have changed and in general you may be feeling unsure about what to do next. Platform building, new info about e-books and tons of other great ideas compete for head space.
Writing Tip for Today: If you’ve made good contacts or hit upon the answer to a writing problem, it’s time to celebrate. And then get to work. Persistence isn’t a glamorous idea but it is certainly the most important concept for writers to embrace. The old saying that you can’t win if you don’t buy a ticket is true when it comes to writing. Post-conference, you may feel as if you need to go in several directions at once.

• Try this: Write the word PERSISTENCE on a card and hang it where you can easily see it when you write. All the other skills, ideas and prescriptions are nothing if you give up writing.
• Write inspired and write uninspired. Don’t wait for inspiration. It’s cool when it happens, but in the meantime, write anyway.
• Remember, word count is everything. Even if all the words you write one day need to be fixed the next day, word count and writing at Absolute Top Speed (thanks to John Reed!) is your most important job.