Every now again, especially when I’m in the midst of a big writing project like I am now, I like to trawl through the achives of YouTube for nuggets of wisdom from big-time writers. Joyce Carol Oates is definitely one of those, if only for the sheer volume of work she has produced over the years. Here are some words of wisdom from her. I think what she has to say about not giving up is especially interesting:

And while we’re on the subject of not giving up,  let me encourage you to cast your eyes upwards and to the right where you will undoubtedly notice the return of the Purple Writing Meter. I’m enough of a nerd to constantly keep track of my word count as I write — perhaps I’ve studied too much Anthony Trollope — but I confess that updating the Purple Meter is pure joy! So far, so good.