Advice on writing

One of my favorite authors, Joanne Harris gave ten tips for writing on twitter yesterday.  I was pretty excited, and kept checking my phone through the day, looking for the updates.  So, here there are.

1. Build a world that your reader wants to visit - that is, that satisfies an as-yet unfulfilled desire - for instance, freedom; adventure; exploration; the ability to break the rules and conventions of the society we inhabit. This does not necessarily mean an ideal world - dreams and fantasies are often dark and challenging, hence the amount of fantasy dealing with war, conflict, apocalypse (all cathartic experiences, viewed from the security of the printed page).
2. Set down your rules, and stick to them. It’s fine to break the laws of physics in fantasy literature, but you do need to show consistency. If you’re writing a world in which magic works, you need to establish the laws of magic. Is it something innate? Can it be learnt? Are runes, incantations, spells, potions involved? Even fantasy needs to have its own internal logic, otherwise the suspension of disbelief becomes impossible.
3. Seek emotional realism. Whatever the setting of your story, at its heart lies a human connection between reader and writer. Fantasy speaks to us on a deeply emotional level, dealing with subconscious wish-fulfilment and the exorcism of personal demons. Just because this is fantasy doesn’t mean it can’t be emotionally real. Use your own experience to make your feelings work for you.
4. Make your characters human at heart. That means creating empathy between them and the reader - whether they are elves, wolves, rabbits, dwarves, anthropomorphic space machines or aliens from the planet Targ.
5. Archetype, not stereotype. With such a strong foundation in folk-tale and fairy story, it’s easy to confuse the difference between archetype and stereotype. The first is an expression of the hidden dreams and desires of the human subconscious, articulated through traditional figures in story. The second, a gateway to cliche. Avoid.
6. Give familiar tales a twist. Don’t be afraid of breaking traditional conventions, of rewriting legends, or taking folk tales and making them yours. They are yours. They are also mine, and everyone else’s. You (and I, and we) have the right to tell them any way we like. Traditional stories need to evolve and grow in order to stay alive. Own them, and make them live.
7. Find out what makes your society tick. Does your fantasy world run on money? Magic? Tribal interactions? Philosophy? Slavery? Religion? War? Is there a king? A government? Gods? How do these things affect your characters and their journey through the narrative?
8. Think about the details. Every country or fantasy world has sayings, food, folk-tales, dress, weather, weapons, slang, customs, smells, plants, birds. Without writing a guide book, try to immerse yourself (and your reader) into this new environment. Just because it’s fantasy doesn’t mean it can’t be real.
9. Don’t confuse fake with fantasy. That means getting your facts right if you want to write about authentic-sounding weapons, ships, armour or other quasi-historical details. Sound research into these things makes for more convincing fantasy.
10. There’s more to this than Middle-Earth. With infinite worlds to choose from, your inspiration doesn’t always have to come from mediaeval England. In the same way, urban fantasy doesn’t always have to be set in New York. Vary your landscapes; expand your horizons.