10 (Kind) Rules for Writers
Because if we're not kind, what are we even doing here?
I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of “do the best you can.” It can be a slippery concept—especially when we let anyone else determine what our best consists of. In this spirit, I’ve created for myself the list of rules you can read below. The rules are designed to challenge me while also explicitly acknowledging this tricky little thing called limitation.
Why make rules, Ro? If you’re so into kindness, why put any pressure on yourself at all? For me it’s because when I push ourselves a little, it feels good afterwards. That’s it. I like to feel good, and HAVING DONE contains more feel-good juice than DOING contains feel-bad juice.* I just have to get the levels right.
The rules work for me to the extent that you’re reading these words. I’m writing them unwashed, unkempt, uncensored and largely unedited.👇 But I’m writing them.
Because forging a connection creates a glow. Having done something creative creates a glow. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll do your absolute freaking best while chasing that glow.
*Science, mofos. 🤷🏻♀️
The Rules
If you can, sit at your desk.
If you can’t sit at your desk, sit on a comfy chair.
If you can’t sit, lie down. But open your computer.
Open your document.
Edge up to it: Doing something related, something that gets your mind spinning, counts. But set a timer and when it dings, you have to be in your document.
Make small promises to yourself, e.g., work on it for 15 minutes. Write one sentence.
You will never feel like starting. Start anyway.
A first draft’s only job is to exist. It cannot suck. It can only be.
There are 4000 miles between 0 words written today and 1 word written. Crossing that distance is a huge accomplishment.
Move your fingers so that words flow out of your brain and onto the page.
(Bonus!) If this is the only Wild Inventure you have this week, share it.
Keep glowing, fireflies. Keep going. x
R
These really *are* kind, and I appreciate that so much. I have read so many of these lists over the years and so often they err on the side of punishment (which is so odd, as we writers can be pretty damn sensitive and must be spoken to nicely, especially by ourselves).
Thank you Ro. I’m adding this to my list of “genuinely helpful lists” (Zadie Smith’s list is also on there, and I recommend giving that a Google). xo
Rule #8 is the my new favorite thing. And I'm writing (!) a SFD, so *thank you*.