Life Experience shapes your writing. Each of life's experiences becomes part of what you know, what you think, and what you have to say. Your mind is a storehouse for these experiences, as as well as a creative processor for your thoughts. Writing brings the experiences and thoughts together.

The Winding Road is the only road. Writing never follows a straight path. It moves backwards as well as forwards, not to mention sidewards and around in circles. Don't expect to move neatly and efficiently through the steps in the writing process. But-hey, how dull a straight road is.

Challenges greet you at every turn. You may -- you should -- find that every assignment presents a challenge. Partly because you're learning new skills and ideas. But mostly because no matter how many times you take the writer's journey, no matter how many times you encounter some road that looks like one you've gone down before, you'll encounter new adventures. Words and ideas that take you by surprise.

Only you can do your writing. Each writer works differently, follows a unique path. Some writers work more in their heads, other more on paper. Some need to talk about their writing early on, others would rather keep their ideas to themselves until they've worked with them a bit. Some go from ideas to information, others the other direction. Look for your own way. But beware: Having your own way isn't an excuse for not doing what you need to be successful. Other people have taken this trip before, billions of these trips. Humankind has learned a few things about how to do this. As you look for your own special way, consider and try the ways that others have found effective.