Sometimes, gladly, too.
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 thinking.
It can also dim the light on my work. Comparison is the thief of joy, after all.
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 writers are kidding themselves if they think the 8th draft is going to be the difference between a publishable novel and a pile of steaming crap.
Been there, done it, and got the Starbucks stamps to back it up.
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 “genre” norm 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.
Here’s another 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 this year. And The Great Betrayal (arguably, my best book to date in my fledgling career) most certainly wouldn’t have seen the light of day.
The same is true for my supernatural duology, Curse of the Abbey Ruins.
Many long-standing authors up in their ivory towers warn against publishing your formative work for fear it could dirty one’s brand before it has the chance to take off.
I call BULLCRAP on that one.
Like any good story, every writer has a beginning, and I think it’s important not to hide that from fans, all for what?
To build a mirage of flawlessness?
Get out of here.
I can’t speak for you, but there’s something about seeing your favourite authors, singers, and actors back in the trenches of their formative years when they were nothing more than unpolished diamonds.
Or maybe I'm just talking out of my arse.
In any case, that’s what this short series represents to me.
Raw, occasionally off-beat, yet laser-focused on one thing:
TELLING A SPOOKY STORY 👻
If any of this email has had you nodding (or dare I say smiling), then you might want to make room on your e-reader for this unpolished gem:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/COAR
DJJW