Ten Commandments for Writers (to Ignore)
1. Thou shalt write every day, according to a strict schedule, at the exact same time, and in the exact same place.
Oh please. I have
a life. It’s great to set aside time to write, but other stuff has to get done,
too. Don’t be so glued to a schedule, there’s no room for spontaneous fun.
Why? Maybe this
one genre isn’t really for you. Maybe you’re better at something else. Maybe
you’d be happier writing something else. Maybe you simply like more than one
genre. Of course, if you’re a Baptist minister who wants to try a hand at male-on-male
erotica…well, that’s what pen names are for.
Again, why? Go
ahead. I will applaud your endeavors and there is no such thing as the writing
police to haul you away to literary prison.
I don’t know
anything, but I do know how to use a web browser. It’s called research. If it’s
done well, the book reads correctly and people think you’re much smarter than
you are. (A definite plus in life.)
Sheesh. Do you
really want to spend years alone, huddled in an unheated attic, eventually
succumbing to an upper respiratory disease because no one bothered to look in on
you? Not me.
I don’t suffer for
anything. All writers hit a roadblock once in a while. We write through it or
put the project away and come back later. If every word is a constant agony,
don’t write. Yeah, you heard me. This is not failure. This is life. Sometimes
plans work, sometimes they don’t, but life is always too short to be miserable.
Find what makes you happy. Of course, if being miserable makes you happy, keep
plugging away at that unfinished novel.
7. Thou must edit, edit, and edit again.
Editing is important,
but there comes a time when looking at that manuscript makes your stomach
heave. Then it’s time to give it to someone else to read. Unless penning a
journal, what good is writing if no one ever reads it? Get it out there. Get
critical feedback. Excessive self-editing is useless, but editing with a
purpose, knowing where to cut, and what needs to be clarified is essential.
8. Thou shalt read all you can in your genre and ignore everything else.
Nope. Every once
in a while, read something in another genre, one you ordinarily wouldn’t pick. There’s
plenty of good stuff out there and choosing something different may jumpstart
braincells and give unexpected inspiration.
9. Thou shalt travel for inspiration
If you can travel,
terrific. If not, one word. Internet. I can’t afford to go globetrotting. Heck,
in this day of Covid, I’d be happy to sit at the corner bistro again without
feeling as if I’m surrounded by a curtain of germs. Until that time, the internet
is loaded with pictures, maps, and excellent travel writing, both current and
historical.
10. Thou shalt not have a prologue or epilogue
Why not? Prologues
and epilogues can be fun ways add a little extra detail to a story without
interrupting the flow. The key word is little. Prologue and epilogues should be
short. If not, stop kidding yourself. They’re chapters.
There you have it. Ten pearls of wisdom. Use them or lose them without guilt.
L. A. Kelley writes fantasy and scify adventures with humor, romance, and a touch of sass. She breaks rules just because she can.
8 comments:
Such a cute post- and so much rings true! I took me a long time to realize that not all 'rules' are rules, and what works for one person might not work for someone else.
This is a great post, and I agree with it all. Some people will follow some of those rules, but they're not feasible for everyone. Doesn't stop anyone from writing what they want.
I love this post. Right on target. I'm not fond of rules, anyway. I would really enjoy #9. Like you, I don't even go out to restaurants. Thank goodness for carryout & delivery.
Good advice cleverly written.
Great article!
BOOM! Thank you very much for writing this, L. A. Kelley. Excellent info for novice and seasoned authors alike.
There is NOTHING like exploring a city on Google maps as long as we keep an eye on the capture date! World travel, free of charge. And hallelujah to every other point. Quite right too.
OMG - I spent the whole time nodding as I read your article. Absolutely loved it! I'm afraid I had to share it on social media... Thanks, L.A!
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