Comments on: Hanging Writing Rules Out to Dry

By: kenthinksaloud

kenthinksaloud — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 09:50:08 +0000

I like to think of 'rules' as 'guidelines' or even just as 'pieces of advice'. Seen that way, you pick up what rings true and works for you; you adapt some to your own style and you chuck the rest away! However, even a rule that doesn't work is better than nothing at all if if gets new writers from the 'I want to write one day' stage - with nothing but a blank piece of paper to show for it - to the 'I am a writing' stage. Experience tells us later what we can drop.

By: Merry Muhsman

Merry Muhsman — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 19:36:00 +0000

Thank you for this post! I have fallen more than once into the sticky thick writing rules pit and felt like a stressed out failure who will never break through. I am learning all things come in their own time. And am a slow reader too. I could read or write and I try to do a little of both between job, family, life, etc. May not be perfect but it's what works right now. Thank you for your post!

By: Writing Resources 16 November 2013 | Gene Lempp ~ Writer

Writing Resources 16 November 2013 | Gene Lempp ~ Writer — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 14:26:56 +0000

[…] Lonsdale: Hanging Writing Rules Out to Dry. “When I write I go deep in my head. It takes a lot of energy, and time, for me to write […]

By: Saturday Summation – 16 November 2013 | It'll All Work Out

Saturday Summation – 16 November 2013 | It'll All Work Out — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 13:26:40 +0000

[…] always like posts about writing guidelines vs. rules – here’s a brief one that I could relate to as it talks about time and effort. In this National Novel Writing Month where many writers are getting 50k words written in 30 days, […]

By: CameliaMironSkiba

CameliaMironSkiba — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 21:12:46 +0000

Maybe we should start a club for all of us who break those rules. We should call ourselves something like "Free of Guilt Monkeys." As others have pointed out: do what works for you. That should be your number one rule. It's not about how much, but about quality. Some people write 10+ stories a year and I applaud all of them. Others are slower, maybe coming out with one novel a year, like myself. Personally I prefer to write when my muse strikes. I found out that writing only when my muse strikes requires less edits and it's of a greater quality versus sitting in front of my computer and, for lack of imagination I have my heroes talk about "what's for dinner." Writing just because is not writing. I consider it a complete waste, and this is personal preference. The days of rules, regulations and boxed writing are gone. Instead there's a freedom of expression unlike other period in the humanity history and we all live it, experience it, embrace it. THAT's what matters. A day without writing is not the end of the world. A day beating yourself up because you couldn't write is a wasted day. Accept yourself for what you have, write when you can, and not when you must. Writing is a passion/calling/love whatever you wanna call it, and not a chore. Keep it that way.

By: marsharwest

marsharwest — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 18:48:03 +0000

Love this post, Kerry. I've felt guilty forever because I don't work on the WIP every day. I write every day if you count blogs. And I do writing work every day, supporting other authors, emails etc.. I tend to take it in spurts and starts. Having a deadline of some sort helps me. I was going to a writing retreat the first weekend of the month to begin writing a new book. All those things you mentioned in set your own guidelines had to be completed or a big chunk of them done before I could begin. But begin I did and wrote just under 14,000 words toward my 7th book, and had the very sore shoulders to prove it. My 4th book is pubbed and the 5th is coming out this spring. What I've learned in six years of doing this business is we all have to find what works for us. I'm a rule follower and one of my big frustrations when I began was how the rules seemed to wivvel. Thanks for the reminder to not beat myself up because I'm not working on the WIP every day.

By: Tasha Seegmiller (@TashaSeegmiller)

Tasha Seegmiller (@TashaSeegmiller) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:56:51 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. I swallowed my Diet Coke just in time to read the flying spider hemorrhoid (and then had to look at how you spelled hemorrhoid). HAHAHA!!!

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:10:24 +0000

I think the only rule we should have is, "How long will it take you if you never start?"

Oh, and of course, the second rule: That there are no rules.

By: mimont

mimont — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 13:57:34 +0000

Kerry… I'd love to carry on about this wonderful post but… let's face it… you wouldn't finish reading it until tomorrow. Kidding. I'm a slow reader too -- and am grateful I now have homies. Thanks for outing us all.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 00:26:44 +0000

What a relief to know there are others out there like me! Excellent post - thank you 🙂