Rules for Writing
Many writers know and follow Heinlien’s Rules for Writing. They are a tremendous too when used and followed. Last month I woke up in the middle of the night with a complete set of rules I follow running through my head. Per my previous mistakes of thinking, oh I’ll remember that in the morning, I grabbed my phone lying by my bed and typed each rule out. And here they are:
1. Listen to the voices in your head. Those are your muse. Let them guide you. It’s when you don’t listen is when you get in trouble, when you block.
2. Time Goals vs Word Count Goals:
Time can slip away. Word count cannot. It’s why I use word count as my goal. Every time I start writing my goal is 700-1000 words.
3. As Jonathan Carroll said in The Crow’s Dinner:
Write when you’re motivated. You want to remain friends with writing. Don’t force it. If you want to take a day off, a week off, a month off, do it. Better to stay friends, than be in conflict. Conflict will lead to a permanent block.
4. Never write for the market. Write for yourself and only for yourself. The market will find you.
5. Trust your intuition.
6. Finish what you start.
7. Find a professional editor. Do NOT reply on yourself for editing.
8. Market what you produce. Don’t stick your work in a draw.
9. Repeat! Repeat! Repeat!
