“There are three rules for writing a novel.
Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”
— W. Somerset Maugham
I saw this quote this morning and it made me smile.
Since I started this journey in writing and publishing, the one thing I have learned for a fact, is that there are no set in stone rules you have to follow or die.
Depending on who you ask, or what information you read, there are scads of rules – and even more opinions on what you should do, how you should do it.
The trouble I ran into was when all the information I gathered started to be conflicting. Who should I listen to? What guidelines should I follow?
I finally decided to forge ahead, do what felt right and face the consequences.
What resulted from that was me breaking many of the rules I had read were essential to writing and publishing. I’m okay with that.
I decided to make up a few of my own rules:
1. Write from your heart.
2. Write every day.
3. Believe in yourself.
So there you have it.
Whether you sell a million books or just one, I think staying true to your heart and your purpose is the most important rule you can follow. And that one shouldn’t be broken.
