Freelance writing advice from best American writers

                  (Marvel Comics)

Writers always need inspiration. Writing is a singular and isolating occupation. Writing can seldom be done as a collective effort. Here, then, are thought provoking and motivational comments and suggestions from some of America's finest, or at least most successful writers, including a couple Chicagoans.

Read what these paragons have to say and then finish the session with a 15-minute write of your own. Post an excerpt to comments, if you are so inclined.

Mike Royko, an absolute Chicagoan, inspired more than a few journalists. His work was described by Alan Mutter,

In the days before “crowd” and “source” became a single word, Mike effectively deputized the entire population of Chicago as his legmen, relying on readers to feed him the outraged and outrageous tips that enabled him in his prime to generate five gem-like columns a week.

Mutter is a veteran Chicago newsman turned Silicon Valley CEO. Read him at Reflections of a Newsosaur.

Saul Bellow, Nobel Laureate, is closely identified with Chicago writers, though not born here. His wit and subtle humor are evident in his comments on the writing life.

"The truth is," Bellow said, "we've not really developed a fiction that can accommodate the full tumult, the zaniness and crazed quality of modern experience."

Bellow also described modern writing, "Our society, like decadent Rome, has turned into an amusement society, with writers chief among the court jesters - not so much above the clatter as part of it."

Stephen King offers writers seven salient signposts in his must-read memoir/writers' manual, Stephen King On Writing.

1. Get to the point
2. Write a draft then let it rest
3. Cut down your text
4. Be relatable and honest
5. Don't care too much about what others may think
6. Read a lot
7. Write a lot

Repeat the third often.

Jack Kerouac, was a defining writer of the beat generation. If you don't know his work, you don't know Jack.

• Scribbled secret notebooks, and wild typewritten pages, for yr own joy
• Remove literary, grammatical and syntactical inhibition
• Accept loss forever
• Believe in the holy contour of life
• Write for the world to read and see yr exact pictures of it
• You're a Genius all the time
• No fear or shame in the dignity of yr experience, language & knowledge

Shel Silverstein, born and educated in Chicago, never intended to write for children and ended up being one of the most applauded children's writers in the world. But he also wrote "A Boy Named Sue" for singer Johnny Cash and an impressive body of work for adult audiences. If you apply this Silverstein poem to your writing life, you will never stray far from your mark.

All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' In The Sun,
Talkin' 'Bout The Things
They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done...
But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All Ran Away And Hid
From One Little Did.

Maryan Pelland is online at Women Day by Day, Ontext, DemystifyingDigital and DigtalGrandparent