This is another good piece of advice I have gotten from many writers in particular Catherine Coulter who spoke at a Washington Romance Writer conference I went to.  The workshop left out, I'm heading down the hall and she's right beside me. I gush over how good her presentation was, what a great writer she is, and whine about how much trouble I'm having with my writing, how this isn't working, that isn't working, no time, blah, blah, blah.  After all that she said, "Write the book". I have that one pasted on my computer.

I have this question on the bulletin board above my writing desk.  I heard it somewhere in a writing workshop about a screenwriter who pitches his story to the Hollywood producer and goes on and on about a car chase involving crashes, blow-ups, lots of noise and action shots.  After he finishes the producer asks him, "Yes, but who is in the car?"  I try to keep this little story in mind when I write.

I have noticed that readers are much more forgiving of one's writing then writers are. I suggest writing for readers. They want a story and characters to love.  They'll over look some grammar and punctuation errors. What they want is a story that keeps them engaged. A writer is going to try to re-write the story for you, given half a chance. Because that is what they do -- write and re-write and re-write.  No, I say write for readers. They appreciate you so much more.