'Go and write a book'

“I hate politics. I like to write about it, but to get involved in it, to try and make a lot of ignorant people do what you want them to do, waste of time. Go and write a book. It's more important and it'll last longer.” – Wilbur Smith

Born in northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in 1933, Smith was the son of a metal worker turned rancher, grew up on that ranch, he worked as a police officer and studied accounting before turning to his real love – writing.  After being rejected multiple times for his first book ideas, he finally broke through with When The Lion Feeds, leading to a spectacular writing career.

He followed his initial book with three long chronicles of the South African experience, all bestsellers, and most recently he’s done a series of historical novels set in Ancient Egypt.   To date he’s published 35 novels selling more than 120 million copies worldwide.  Many of his books have also been made into popular movies.  

                               His advice to new writers is simple:  “Write for yourself, not for a perceived audience. If you do, you'll mostly fall flat on your face, because it's impossible to judge what people want. And you have to read. That's how you learn what is good writing and what is bad. Then the main thing is application. It's hard work.”

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