Strategy:
Ever feel like you're caught in an endless loop of writing and rewriting, never quite ready to declare a story "finished"? You're not alone! The art of letting go is a crucial skill for any writer. Today, we'll use Robert A. Heinlein's famous (and somewhat controversial) Rules of Writing as a springboard to develop your own set of guidelines. Think of it as creating a personal roadmap for navigating the twists and turns of the writing process. By the end of this exercise, you'll have a clearer idea of when to keep polishing and when to send your literary baby out into the world.
Instructions:
Current Practice Check-In: Spend a couple minutes freewriting about your typical writing process. Focus on how you start, develop, and finish (or don't finish) your writing projects. Be honest about your strengths and struggles.
Heinlein's Rules Review: Read Heinlein's Rules of Writing. For each rule, write one sentence on whether you agree, disagree, or have mixed feelings, and why.
You must write.
Finish what you start.
You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
You must put your story on the market.
You must keep it on the market until it has sold.
Personal Rule Crafting: Create your own set of rules for completing and letting go of writing projects. Consider your writing goals, working style, and what "finished" means to you. These rules should help you move forward in your writing journey.
Litmus Test Development: Create a simple checklist to help you determine when a piece of writing is ready to be shared or submitted. This could include criteria like "I've done at least two rounds of self-editing" or "I've addressed all major plot holes."
Action Plan: Choose one unfinished or unpublished piece of writing. Apply your new rules and checklist to it. Write a brief plan for how you'll move this piece towards completion or submission based on your personal guidelines.
Reflection and Adjustment (optional): Consider potential challenges in following your new rules. Write a short paragraph about how you might need to adjust your approach over time and how you'll know if your new system is working for you.
Tags: writing process, project completion, Heinlein's Rules, self-editing, submission strategies, productivity
Example:
Current Practice Check-In: I start projects with enthusiasm but often get bogged down in revisions. I'll rewrite the same chapter multiple times, seeking perfection. I rarely finish longer works because I'm always finding new things to "fix." Short stories are easier, but I still struggle to declare them done.
Heinlein's Rules Review:
Agree - writing regularly is crucial.
Mixed feelings - finishing is important, but some ideas might not be worth pursuing.
Disagree - some rewriting is necessary for quality.
Agree - sharing work is important, though it's scary.
Mixed feelings - persistence is good, but so is knowing when to move on.
Personal Rule Crafting:
Write something new every week, even if it's short.
Limit major revisions to three passes before seeking external feedback.
Set a deadline for each project and stick to it.
Share work with a trusted reader before declaring it "done."
Submit or publish at least one piece every two months.
Litmus Test Development:
I've addressed all plot holes and character inconsistencies.
The story has a clear beginning, middle, and end.
I've done at least one round of line editing for language and style.
I've received and considered feedback from at least one trusted reader.
I feel satisfied with the story, even if it's not "perfect."
Action Plan: I'll apply my new rules to my unfinished novella "Echoes of Tomorrow-orrow-orrow." I'll set a deadline of two months from now to complete it. I'll do two more revision passes, focusing on plot consistency and character development. Then I'll send it to my writing group for feedback. After incorporating their suggestions, I'll do a final line edit and prepare it for submission to sci-fi magazines.
Reflection and Adjustment: The biggest challenge will be sticking to my revision limit and deadlines. I might need to set reminders or ask a writing buddy to hold me accountable. I'll know my new system is working if I complete and submit more stories in the next six months than I did in the previous six.