“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” Somerset Maugham
Maugham was wrong. There are exactly 10 rules for having a successful writing career and here they are:
1) Always write in a space in your home that you have dedicated to this purpose.
or
Find a spot to write (such as a coffee shop or the library) that takes you away from your distractions at home.
2) Write at the same time every day and write for a pre-determined amount of time or a set number of pages per day.
or
Write whenever you can squeeze in a minute or two.
3) Play some inspirational background music while you write.
or
Write in silence. Thoughts become clearer.
4) Keep a paper and pen next to your bed so you can write down any ideas that come to you as you dream.
or
Don’t worry about ideas escaping from you. When you write, important ideas return.
5) Develop character studies and outline a plot before you begin to write.
or
Let your writing flow freely and write scenes out of order.
6) Read the types of genres you want to write.
or
Don’t read too much of the same genre that you write or you may find that your own, singular voice disappears.
7. Uh…
Oh, never mind. I just realized there’s only one rule.
1) Always write in a space in your home that you have dedicated to this purpose.
or
Find a spot to write (such as a coffee shop or the library) that takes you away from your distractions at home.
2) Write at the same time every day and write for a pre-determined amount of time or a set number of pages per day.
or
Write whenever you can squeeze in a minute or two.
3) Play some inspirational background music while you write.
or
Write in silence. Thoughts become clearer.
4) Keep a paper and pen next to your bed so you can write down any ideas that come to you as you dream.
or
Don’t worry about ideas escaping from you. When you write, important ideas return.
5) Develop character studies and outline a plot before you begin to write.
or
Let your writing flow freely and write scenes out of order.
6) Read the types of genres you want to write.
or
Don’t read too much of the same genre that you write or you may find that your own, singular voice disappears.
7. Uh…
Oh, never mind. I just realized there’s only one rule.
7 comments:
And that one rule is? Here's my guess--butt in seat and write.
Love it, Mur!
Diane, were you not listening to the "treadmill desk" discussion? Even BIC has an "or" these days . . .
Okay, metaphoric BIC! To borrow a commercial phrase--just do it!
Diane, I was hoping that the fact that the word "write" was bolded throughout would have provided a hint as to the one rule... :)
Too subtle, Mur.
Butt in chair.
Boots on the ground . . . er . . . treadmill
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