These are my own personal ten writing commandments of good writing practice, or alternatively, ten attributes I think a writer needs to be successful:
- Perseverance: Write daily
- Trust: Don’t wait for creativity, expect it
- Prudence: Have the good sense to know when not to write. Forcing writing when you just can’t get into it will foster resentment and make the next session hard to start
- Fairness: Don’t engage in self-flagellation for not writing
- Sustainability: Finish the current project before moving on to a new one
- Adventurousness: Try different genres, styles of writing etc
- Initiative: Don’t wait to be praised and be original
- Studiousness: Read daily – a writer is always absorbing and learning
- Fastidiousness: Research everything.
- Zeal: Do what makes your heart sing.
Yesterday I broke commandments 1, 2, 4 and 8. I didn’t write or expect creativity, I gave myself a hard time about it and I didn’t read. The consequences are that today has been a battle to get back into it.
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I agree with Doug. Finishing a project is my greatest challenge. I have a first draft of a novel sitting in my computer waiting for revision. So far I’ve successfully procrastinated enough to lose my original zeal for the project.
Great advice.
I would gloss (5) a little differently. I find that juggling an abundance of projects works well for me. It helps me in areas (1), (3), (6), and (8) – (10). There are definite risks, and never finishing anything is one of them. But writing to meet externally imposed deadlines is some help in meeting the sustainability requirement.
You’ve got a wonderful site here! I’m inspired by your transparency.
I did consider changing #5 as many people (myself included) work on several projects at once. It’s really just a reminder to myself to focus on what I’m currently working on. I’m a great starter of projects, but a very poor finisher.