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My Four Rules: The Best You Can Do To Make It As A Writer

Aug 26, 2007

What follows are my four cardinal rules for making it as a writer.  Never any guarantees - but if you follow these rules, you'll be giving yourself the best possible chance:

1. Don't think about an idea for a story or an article too long - just write it.  As far as the world is concerned, an unwritten idea doesn't exist, and might not have even been thought, in the first place.
2. Finish what you start writing.  As far as the world is concerned, an unfinished piece of writing doesn't exist, and might not have even been written, in the first place.
3. Email, mail, or otherwise send out to a potential publisher whatever you finish writing. Or publish it yourself. As far as the world is concerned, a piece of writing that only you and your friends and family but no one else knows about might not have even been written, in the first place.
4. If the publisher or editor turns your story down, send it right out to another publisher or editor - there will always be another one. Or publish it yourself. As far as the world is concerned, an unpublished piece of writing might not have even been written-

Well, you get the picture.  I hope this helps...

PS - It has been pointed out that the above four rules bear a strong resemblance to Robert Heinlein's five rules - which they do.  My rules emphasize the new importance of self-publishing, which I think is becoming even more significant than traditional publishing in the 21st century. And my rules try to address the psychological situations of writers.  But, clearly, they are indebted to Helnlein's.

More of my advice to writers: Fiction Writers Group ... Pure Southern Genteel ... Pillow Talk interview .... Book Pleasures ... Smoking Poet ... emonome ...

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