here are the words of James Lee Burke . This is what he wrote on Radio 2 live web-chat in response to 13 year old Sophie who wanted advice on becoming a writer:

Thanks, Miss Sophie. Never give up. I believe that talent comes from a hand outside us and that it is given to us for a reason. Never let the naysayers get you down. Write one day at a time and write for one reason only, to make the world in some fashion a better place. Eventually, every artist learns the following lesson: take pride in rejection and excoriation. The boos always come from the cheap seats. You stay on that old-time rock and roll and grin and walk the cannon smoke and let go of the world. It will drive your critics insane.


Robert Alden get them to agress, and my crow will tackle that thing faster than forest gump.