advice to students from writers

Roald Dahl: Whether it is a group of characters or an idea for the plot, begin to write. Everything develops under the pencil as you begin to write, it really does. 

Mark Haddon: When I have an idea, I write it down, print it out, take it away, scribble all over it, return to the computer and repeat. Later, I give what I've written to other people to read, then I go back and edit it. Often many times. 

Michael Morpurgo: Record, write a little each day. And read.