Sometimes, gladly.
And no, this isn’t some cringy attempt at being “edgy,” nor am I trying to cement my status as a rebel.
The fact is:
We’re all adhering to rules whether we like it or not.
Some are good (like laws that keep societies from breaking down into barbarism), and others are not so good, like the ones I am about to dispel in this very email that pertains entirely to writing (but has overarching lessons embedded in them).
Starting with perhaps the greatest sacred cow of all:
1. Read a lot.
This is probably the single biggest dogma that plagued me for years.
It’s not that this is bad advice (it isn’t — especially for aspiring writers), however, I find exposing my senses (regularly) to the ideas and the linguistic whims of other writers muddies my own abilities.
Besides, if I’m reading a lot, that’s time away from writing new material, these daily emails, sharpening my skills, and, ultimately, entertaining my growing horde of Legionnaires.
2. Incessantly revise your work.
Another “rule” I tossed out many moons ago.
Sure, putting one’s manuscripts through the refiner a couple of times to smooth out the rough edges is sensible thinking, but after the third draft, you’re likely procrastinating.
Been there, done it, and got the Starbucks stamps to back it up.
After the fourth draft, you’re really just polishing water. So long as the work is clean and free of any plot holes, then it’s good to ship.
At least in my view.
3. Write big books.
This one is a biggie, and probably the one I scathe myself most for not ignoring sooner.
I’ve always been drawn to fantasy and sci-fi, but this rule always held me back. In fact, I hereby declare it not a “rule” but a big, stinky-stink myth.
Here’s why:
Before traditional publishers imposed page count targets, the market was flooded with short novels and novellas from every genre. Hell, some of the greatest blockbusters were based on short books (Blade Runner, I Am Legend, Planet of the Apes, etc.).
And like Rule #1, it’s an idea I foolishly held on to for longer than I should have.
Who knows, perhaps someone needed to read this.
Because here’s an unnerving fact:
Most of the rules we follow are not even ones we believe in.
Had I continued to blindly follow these laws, The Divided Region would cease to exist. Tiny Epics wouldn’t have been published last month. And The Great Betrayal (arguably, my best book to date in my fledgling career) most certainly would not be on the cusp of publication.
This email started out with the intention of dismantling dogma in my industry but has quickly revealed itself to be nothing more than an inflection point for us all.
Because, as I hinted earlier, this goes beyond writing.
It’s about life and the thinly veiled beliefs that might be holding us back from our true potential.
Bravo, Milo-the-Muse. 👏🏼
For once, your detour didn’t require copious revisions.
And speaking of detours and rule-breaking…
No good story lacks them, and The Divided Region is no different. Right from the very inception of this series (The Apprentice) to the latest instalment (The Great Betrayal), paths twist, turn, and abruptly stop.
Rules are broken for the sake of progress, sometimes with grave consequences.
These elements are what have kept my writing fast-paced and my readers hooked.
If you’re yet to wet your feet in the realm of Estos, then let me point you to my Storehouse where you can get them:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/TDR-Bundle
You’ll notice this isn’t an Amazon link, and all I will say is that it’s yet another rule I broke some time ago.
Happy reading.
DJJW