Writing tips from Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Carlos Ruiz Zafón is the author of six books for adults and young adults. His first novel translated into English was the post-Spanish civil war tale The Shadow of the Wind, which sold over 1m copies in the UK. His books have been translated into over 40 languages and won many international awards. His latest book, The Prisoner of Heaven, is a follow-up to The Shadow of the Wind, again set in Barcelona but with the action now moved on into the 1950s.

Here are excerpts from his webchat (courtesy The Guardian):

Advice for new writers

Write, write and write. And then rewrite. To death. Work hard. Learn your craft. Never give up. Persevere. Don’t become a snob, a bitter hater or an envious person. Work hard for your goals. Write from your heart, but make sure before it gets to your fingers it goes through your brain. And did I mention do not give up?

On rejections

I published my first book more than 20 years ago, but before that yes , I had rejections. All writers get them. Do not be discouraged by them. Keep working. Keep learning and never give up. Writers write. No matter what. And yes you feel like throwing in the towel. But you don’t. Not if you’re a writer. Because writers write. Publishing, that’s another matter. Stay strong, be true to yourself and work hard. The world will catch up, eventually.