Rules of Thumb - Part Six
What is a rule of thumb? Someone once said it is a homemade recipe for making a guess, an easy-to-remember guide that falls somewhere between a precise formula and a blind stab at something. Rules of thumb help you evaluate a puzzling situation or a difficult project, or to navigate unfamiliar waters. If you have never written a novel, and are considering tackling one, my rules of thumb will go a long way to easing you into your new endeavor and assisting you in navigating those mysterious waters. I can vouch for my rules because each has been tested and proven many times, a few I even learned the hard way (for example, my blog entry on April 14 - Rules of Thumb, Part One, 2009: Rules #7 and #11).
Enjoy!
1. "If a scene doesn't advance the story, cut it out, no matter how brilliantly written. Your reader will certainly wish you had."
2. "Never say, 'To make a long story short.' It means you've already gone on too long and it tells the reader you have no control over your writing."
3. "If you have to say, 'In other words,' it means you didn't get it right the first time."
4. "If you write just one page a day, you will have a novel in a year."
5. "If you don't like being alone for stretches at a time, chances are the writing profession is not for you."
6. "When submitting your completed manuscript, never tout it as being similar to a currently popular book. Editors and agents generally want originality."
7. "When seeking feed-back on your writing, don't read it out loud to someone. Have them read it silently. You won't be there when the editor or agent reads it."
8. "If you write about things you know, your story will ring true."
9. "If you are going to write about a place you have never visited, take the time to go there. Book research isn't enough."
10. "Unless your friendship can withstand the most strenuous of trials, do not collaborate on a book with a friend."
11. "Don't try imitating the style of a popular author. You are better off finding your own 'voice.' And editors are always looking for freshness."
12. "When creating your characters, don't rush it, otherwise you will have one-dimensional cut-outs that you plucked from Central Casting. Live with them a while and get to know what makes them tick."
13. "And remember: a race horse doesn't look over his shoulder to see how the other horses are doing. He just runs the best race he can. Henry Fonda said that."
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