Last week, I posted Stephen King’s 22 writing tips. I went on a tip-finding spree of sorts and found these 11 commandments from Henry Miller (Source: Brain Pickings). He jotted these down during his 1932-33 year-of-writing. Oh, the wonders a good list can do for motivation.
1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.
Yes, sir. I don’t know who can work on more than one fiction piece at once. Someone with multiple personalities? I would definitely get my characters confused.
2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to “Black Spring.”
“Black Spring” was his project at the time. This is his way of telling himself to focus on that, see it through. I am very good at abandoning projects when they really need some editing love. I move on to new things too soon because, honestly, sticking around is the hard part.
3. Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
He lost me at “don’t be nervous.”
4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
The exclamation point is jarring. He must have been very serious about this one. I guess it’s safe to say he’s a writer who thinks a solid routine is the key to success. I’m not always sure if I’m one of those writers, though I do see the benefits of sticking to a plan.
5. When you can’t create you can work.
Oh, yes. There’s always editing to do. Always. Things can always be tweaked. Writing a book and editing a book use very different areas of the brain. If one area is checked out for the day, the other can step in.
6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
“A little every day” should be my writing mantra.
7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
Well, yeah, it’s super hard to write about the world in a realistic way if you’re not engaged in the world. This can be really difficult for introverted writers, but necessary.
8. Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
I had to Google “draught-horse.” Basically, it’s a horse that does a lot of heavy work (ploughing, farm labor, etc). This tip seems to counteract his others. I mean, sometimes, you just have to do the work even if it’s not fun. Sometimes you have to be a draught-horse, don’t you?
9. Discard the Program when you feel like it–but go back to it next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
Mr. Miller, you are confusing. Are we sticking to “the Program” or not? I am not very good with gray areas.
10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
Hm, “forget” is an awfully strong word. Clearly, he wrote these tips when he was being lured away from his project at hand to start another project. I always get new ideas when I’m working on something. I just keep a little notebook with those ideas and go back to it later. But, truthfully, if an idea is that tantalizing, you won’t be able to forget it.
11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.
What about my day job, sir?
Long time ago I wrote three books. I wrote them by pen (there was nothing else available). I started writing at 5 a.m. and at 8.00 a.m. I went to my job. After job I had dinner and walked a bit. Then I finished my daily norm (5 edited pages).
I disagree with “Work with pleasure only”. Writing might be a duty!
Agree!
While I appreciate Mr. Miller’s thoughts on writing, I still would have to recommend Stephen King’s “On Writing” for good writing advice.
Yep, I’ve read that book a few times. Always a good one!
Just read the King tips and then this, great juxtaposition of the sensible and sober with the “joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware” but lots of good advice from both. Cheers.
Agree–great juxtaposition!!