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Writing Advice From History's Fastest, Most Prolific Authors

By Romy Oltuski
Nov 4 2011, 12:11 PM ET Comment

John Updike, Muriel Spark, and Christopher Hitchens on how to pen your next best-selling novel

Yesterday marked the kickoff of National Novel-Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo), the online project that challenges participants to write a 50,000-word book in the 30 days of November. To those scribbling hurriedly to meet its deadline, we wish you a book deal by December. And to cheer you on, we've rounded up a treasure trove of advice and encouragement from the great writers who best embody, in their own work, NaNoWriMo's goals of writing much and writing fast. Below the jump, read through our favorite words from the wise, speedy, and prolific.

This post also appears on Flavorpill, an Atlantic partner site.

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