The best writing advice I’ve heard is to sit down and write. It doesn’t matter whether it’s good or bad; the important thing is to write.
In my attempt to finish the first book by the end of the year, I set a monthly word count goal for myself. As a result, my drafting is far ahead of my editing. When I open a chapter to revise and polish, I’m sometimes surprised by how good the writing is. There’s a good level of tension, the dialogue is interesting, and it’s a well-told story. Most mornings though, I open a draft and stare at the blinking cursor wondering what made me think I could be a writer.
Sometimes I’m motivated by the fact that the writing matters so much to me. Other times, I’m paralyzed by how much it matters. I want the work to be a tribute to my grandma, which means that it must be excellent.
Then I remember that a writer writes. I stay in the chair and get a little closer.