There is a hammock in the sun with my name on it and I am off to claim it. There is no internet where I am going, which means I will be taking a break from blogging. I may even do some writing (ha!). So this is au revoir until I get back in a few weeks or so.
Hope you have a lovely summer (or winter, depending on where you are).
If you are planning to do some writing over the holidays, take heart! Contrary to what Somerset Maugham said in his famous statement
“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” W. Somerset Maugham
some of our greatest contemporary writers have listed over one hundred (100!) rules for you to be guided by. And they can all be found here …
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/series/rules-for-writers
Do you agree with all the rules? Do you have a favourite? Do you have any of your own writing rules? Yes? I’d love to hear from you before I go, or even when I come back!
I only have two rules:
If you want to write, write.
Never fall in love with your own writing.
Ultimately, though, when it comes to writing, I agree with the wonderful late Flannery O’ Connor:
“You can do anything you can get away with, but nobody has ever gotten away with very much.”
Have a lovely summer/winter, happy writing and don’t forget to have a break every now and then ;o)
Have a great vacation. Good for you for shutting down the electronics for a while. Good luck with writing. The rules that I now follow are:
1. Sometimes the rules are meant to be broken
2. following the rules will only get you so far and then you have to free-fall to discover what works for you
3. Write… because you can’t read what you haven’t written.
Enjoy your time away .
Awe, that’s very kind. And, yes, I am really looking forward to shutting down – I may get withdrawal symptoms but I will persevere ;o)
And what great rules! Brilliant! Thanks
Enjoy your break. Marianne and look forward to hearing about it when you get back. (An internet free zone is a great idea otherwise you can’t switch off).
Thanks, Wendy. I’m really looking forward to it. The internet is simply not getting connected, easy-peasy really (in theory!). Hope you enjoy your summer too
Have a wonderful break and try to resist the urge to write
Enjoy a cocktail or two, a hammock and a good book.
Fiona
Thanks so much, Fiona. It’s been a long year one way and another! Oooohhh, a cocktail or two sounds a great idea and I’ve already got a few good books lined up, can’t wait. Hope you get some time off too
Ooh, have a LOVELY time. I’m sure there’ll be beautiful photos when you come back.
LOVE that W. Somerset Maugham quote. I’ve seen it before and it makes me giggle every time.
Venture forth, and enjoy a few weeks without rules!
It’s a great quote, isn’t it? And i will most certainly venture forth and do my best to do without rules for a few weeks!
Thanks, Belinda
Have a great vacation, it sounds wonderful.
I like your rules. I also like Maggie Thom’s rule ‘Write… because you can’t read what you haven’t written’.
I look forward to reading your blog again when you are back.
Thanks, Kendra. I am sure we will have great time away – sun or no sun ( but sun would be good!). Yes, it is a good rule – a new favourite, I think!
Have a great break to you too
Hello Marianne,
That hammock sounds great as does your break. I hope you manage to do some writing and get chance to relax. I will miss your blogging and twittering! In terms of writing tips, probably doing exactly what you’re doing and reading. In our writing lives sometimes it can block out other things, such as relaxing, reading, taking stock, we all need to have space to do that. Your hammock seems ideal, Marianne!
Hi Ruth, thanks for being so supportive. Looking forward to all of the above and swinging in that hammock – the only problem will be leaving it! ha ha!
Have a great summer