There are times in our lives, and in our writing, when we need rules, as much for the permission they give us as for the railings they put up on the stairs we climb.
Your rules may be unspoken, may take the form of rituals or habits (coffee in the morning, a particular journal, a candle lit). Your rules may be absolute or change day to day. As always, knowing what works for you supports a rich, sustaining and sustainable practice. You are an artist, a storyteller, a kind of cook. Sometimes you follow a recipe, sometimes you make it up as you go along. Sometimes you measure and sometimes you approximate a handful, allow for a pinch. Some moments and areas call for careful measure, for counting and tracking. Others go better when you fly by the seat of your pants. A rule may be: Fly by the seat of your pants for this stretch. Another rule may be: Plan ahead. One writer always knows the last line. Another can’t write with the ending in mind.
What are the rules for writing? More importantly, what are your rules? When do rules sustain you and when must you break free of them? What is your number one rule? Post your first thoughts below.
If you are looking to sign up for one of our rules-making, rules-breaking summer days of writing action, go here.
I’ll always hold onto Annie Lamott”s “Shitty First Drafts,”
Yes, I’ve written a few but some turned into swans and those I’m proud of.
Bree
That’s such a good and important rule, Bree! Thanks for the reminder. Shitty first drafts rule–the only way to get better second drafts, and third drafts and stellar sixth drafts . . .
A couple of my writing rules are to always carry paper and a pencil, so even if I’m in a weird place (store, etc) – I can jot down random thoughts that cross my mind. I can never recapture the exact same words if I wait until later. I also write every day, even if it’s no more than an hour or two – or not for the book I’m currently working on.
Robyn — SUCH good rules. When words or an image pop(s) into our heads, fresh and vivid, it always seems that it will last. Last the night, last the afternoon, last until we sit down to write . . . but they never or rarely do. That handy pen and paper are great. And the daily habit. You know I’m a fan of that. It’s the athletic part of writing–just do it to keep those muscles strong. Thanks for sharing these!