Heinlein's Rules

[elfs]

1. You must write.
2. You much finish what you start.
3. You must refrain from rewriting except to editorial order.
4. You must put your story on the market.
5. You must keep it on the market until it sells.
6. You must start working on something else.

Comments

[kyriani.livejournal.com]

Its the 2nd rule I have severe problems with. =/

[elfs.livejournal.com]

<AOL>Yeah, me too.</AOL>

[(Anonymous)]

So what would you recommend to someone who can't even get to Step 1, but is frequently frustrated by those who inadequately implement Step 2?

e.g. "Chobits", "Key the Metal Idol"

--Gon

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

Heinlein misses something, and I think it showed in his own career sometimes.

Sometimes you have to know what not to write.

Which is not the same thing as not writing, though it can be a very important part of being successful. Rather as sculpture can be seen as depending on what isn't there any more.

[elfs.livejournal.com]

Rewrite it yourself.

[scyllacat.livejournal.com]

How many times have I heard Robert Asprin and Darlene Bolesny recite this to me? I think I just got #1. I'll tell you if I manage to do step 2 before I am a grandparent.

[slutdiary.livejournal.com]

Seems like I continually violate rule #3, trying to make progress on rules #1 & #2.

[not-vacillating.livejournal.com]

Dude, if only I have the time for #1...

[mundens.livejournal.com]

I continually violate 3 too. It's prolly because I'm a better editor than I am a writer.
And I'm basically not really interested in 4 & 5. Writing is something I do for fun not profit, I already turned one hobby into a careeer, and effectively ruined it's joy, I don't want to do that again.
Give me a document to clean up and I can whiz through it doing grammar, clarity, word simplification, applying Strunk & White if appropriate.
GIve me a blank page an a subject and I get stuck.
Except on those rare occasions when you're "in the zone" and the words just flow out ..