I am always interested in reading what other writers have to say about writing. Even if they are writers I do not really read.

For example, here’s a quote I just read from an interview with Mary Higgins Clark…

The first thing you have to do is write. So many people tell me, “I’m going to write a book as soon as…..” The three fatal words are as soon as…. As soon as I learn to use the computer. As soon as I quit my job. As soon as the kids grow up. As soon as the dog dies. But trust me, as soon as the kids grow up and the dog dies, there will be a new set of excuses not to write which will be equally valid. If you are a morning person, get up an hour earlier and use that time to write. If you’re a night person, go to bed an hour later. But don’t say you’re too busy, because you’ll always be too busy!

Now I do not believe I have ever read a book by this woman — but something like 100 million other readers in this world have, so even though she may “not really be my thing”, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have something valuable to offer me on the professional advice front. (In Mrs. Clark’s defense however, I betchya she has read The Hoopster so NAH! LOL!)

The big point to this all is that when it comes right down to it, she is SO right. I mean so many people ask me about being a writer, how one becomes a writer, where do I “get an agent”, “land a book deal”, and so on they it seems as though they forget one thing.

You need to write.

And write and write and write.

I only mention this because summer is coming and there are scores and scores and scores of folks who “have that book that they have always wanted to write… as soon as…”

Is that you? If so, when do you think the “as soon as” aspect of your life is going to disappear? Because time will. If you do not get started in 2010 the year 2011 will still arrive. Me, I’ve got books I’ll be working on all summer.

Mary Higgins Clark does, too.

Do you?

Putting your butt in a chair and actually writing is the how authors who have sold over 100 million copies of their novels do it, it’s how I do it (goodness do I wish that I was in the former category, instead of the latter in the first part of this sentence) and it’s how the runaway bestselling book of 2011 was tackled.

You can’t hit any home runs if you don’t swing the bat.

The “as soon as…” syndrome — will it bite you in the butt this summer?