Discuss @David Flin 's latest article here
A seven-letter word beginning with M. Something that the author has only a passing acquaintance with, at best.
Useful advice overall & I particularly liked the part about reading the first line aloud to yourself to see if the hook felt right.
Ah. Well caught.I had forgotten it was the opening line of Six East End Boys.
Modesty?
Mind you, he's also infamous for once rejoicing about having managed to write all of ten lines of one of his novels in a day.
Advising writers to be careful using pop culture references is helpful too (especially old ones, it alienates a portion of the prospective readership).