I was asked recently to give advice to college students who are working towards a career in writing. I compiled a list of tips for them. I share them with you here.

1. Don’t chase the money, the power, or the fame. Chase the story. Find stories that speak to you, and go after them.

2. Trust your instinct. When things seem impossible, everything goes wrong, and you begin to question if you’ll ever make it, find the answers in your gut.

3. Don’t compete with others. Only be better today than you were yesterday.

4. Read. But read good books. Don’t fill your head with junk. Learn only from the best.

5. Resist temptations. Being in the media can give you power, it can also give you money, fame, and opportunity. Take the opportunity, but don’t get too attached to the rest. The lure of power can be great, but remember the Spiderman movie? “With great power comes great responsibility.” (And yes, you’ll get free parking everywhere. But no, you should not take advantage of it.)

6. Try not to mix your personal and professional life. If you have to, do so responsibly.

7. Know the rules. Practice them. And know when to break them.

8. Build a community outside of work. Life is beautiful. Explore. Take risks. See the world. Experience it. Take time off to enjoy life, and you’ll be a better writer for it.