Write everyday

This is the advice writers gave me and this is the advice I give to anyone seriously interested in a career in writing. By career I don't necessarily mean one that makes money. Not many writers can make a living by writing. But many writers have to write and those are the people I'm interested in communicating with. Being a novel writer, I would recommend to fellow novel aspirants to write with a goal. How many times have we heard this?  Whether it is number of pages or time slot, have a goal. When I'm doing a first draft, I try to write 5 pages a day (double spaced, 1 inch margins, courier 12 pitch). My time slot for butt in chair is 9 AM to Noon, Monday to Friday, with bleed overs as necessary. I usually take weekends off unless I'm on a deadline, and I usually take holidays and vacations.