I spent most of yesterday afternoon trying to catch up reading my e mails. I must get about 60 a day from all the different blogs and web sites I’m subscribed to, and that’s not including Face Book notifications lol. On one hand, sometimes, I feel a bit overwhelmed, but other times, I’m so glad I subscribed to a particular blog as I get to read some fantastic posts 🙂 So I won’t moan ok lol.
One of the emails that hit my inbox yesterday talked about Henry Miller’s On Writing book. Now, obviously, I’d heard of Henry Miller but I didn’t know he’d written a book about writing. Seeeeee, I learnt something lol.
Apparently (I say apparently, as I haven’t personally got a copy of the book, although I have added it to my Wish List lol) Miller had what he called his ‘Writing Commandments’ which were:
1). Work on one thing at a time until finished.
2). Start no more new books, add no more new material to Black Spring
3). Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
4). Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
5). When you can’t create you can work.
6). Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilisers.
7). Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
8). Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
9). Discard the program when you feel like it – but, go back to it the next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
10) Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
11) write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.
Thanks to Gretchen Rubin for Miller’s list :o)
I could relate to almost every point, but I especially like No 7 😉
I managed to catch up with the prompts last night so I’m pleased 🙂 Today’s one is write about “The instrument of the sorrowful” (after Stephane Mallarme
Hmmmmmm…..interesting…….
This is some sound advice. Starting a project is easy. Committing to it, and seeing it through to the end is very hard. Finally deciding you are finished and ready to present to the world is very stressful. You really need to stick with it. And believe.
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Thanks Jennifer, I do try 😉
xxx
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Can you tell 1 and 10 are the biggest problem for me ? 😉
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Lol, all of them are a problem for me hon 😉
xxx
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