Rules

 

A few big authors have Laws, such as Asimov and Sanderson. I’m not that extreme. I just have a few guidelines that I think help the developing writer.

 

The following is a list of rules I have made for myself in my writing, as well as advice that I think could help others. Some of them would be horrible to take as life advice and should only be used in your writing. 

 

#1 If it feels good, do it.

 

Follow what you think is cool, or what you want to write about. 

 

I’ve heard a lot of people say that the piece they are writing isn’t necessarily the type of story that they would want to read. That might work for some people, but for me I just can’t do that. I decided on this rule when I was writing something and I got a severe case of writer’s block. 

 

I realized after a while that it was because I didn’t like the story. I didn’t like the character, I didn’t like the direction the story was going, and it just didn’t excite me.

So I took a look at the concept and sort of pictured myself picking the book up at the bookstore. If I read the back cover and a few pages, would I think, “Oh this is cool?” Would I think about the premise and be intrigued? I realized that I would not. So I reworked the story. That new story is now my thesis project for SNHU.

 

Write stories that you would want to read.

 

 Get excited about something. 

 

Take an idea and expand upon it, brainstorm, until you find a concept that drives you to the keyboard. If other people think it’s weird, that’s their problem.

 

#2 You are what you eat, so dig in.

 

Read a lot. 

 

Read all the time. Watch movies. Listen to music. 

 

I’m a big believer that you can only create as much as the creative work that you consume-less even. 

 

The artist, the writer, the creative or what have you, must take in large quantities of artistic work in order to make their own pieces.

 

And I’m not talking about critical analysis, although that is helpful too. I’m talking about just enjoying the work of others and letting it percolate inside your brain. Yes, definitely think about it, talk about it, but just the act of consuming well crafted artistic work will serve the creative juices in your brain and help you to think about making your own.

 

#3 Sleep with the fishes

 

Tie rocks to your feet and don’t come out of the water until you learn how to breathe it. I’m talking about total immersion. It’s important that when learning a craft to surround yourself with it totally. Do a deep dive, push yourself harder than you think is possible. Writing a good story, whether that is a book or short story, doesn’t come naturally. You have to work at it for years.

 

Take classes.

 

 Watch videos about writing and books on YouTube.

 

Read and write everyday. Not everyone can do this, but if you can, that’s great.

 

Listen to podcasts on writing

 

Join a writing group.

 

Think about writing.

 

Get a tattoo. I’m just kidding.