FIVE
GOLDEN RULES FOR WRITERS
By
: Lisa Cote
So, you've begun writing, and you're thinking
of sending some of your work out into the world, in hopes
of getting published; or perhaps you don't intend to publish
at all, but have launched a private writing project, collecting
memoirs from family members, writing a story collection for
your grandchildren. Maybe you're a professional writer slogging
it out at the computer or typewriter most of the day. Regardless
of what sort of writer you are and how much you love to write,
there are probably days when you'd rather clean ditches than
face another blank page.
As writers, we face common challenges; staying motivated and
confident, avoiding "writer's block," and meeting goals (on
time!) are some of the toughest. Here is some of the best
practical advice I've come by, or discerned myself, for becoming
and remaining productive, creative, and content while traversing
the writer's path. Try implementing these "Five Golden Rules"
and see if they work for you.
Golden Rule #1: Avoid dwelling on past work: get on with
it.
This is maybe the most important, and most difficult to follow
of the Golden Rules. There is actually a subset of rules under
this category, since there are many ways to "dwell" and many
things to dwell on. Take heed, then, that thou shalt never:
·
stop writing for a time because you received a discouraging
rejection letter. Whether or not you've been published yet,
mark a file folder "Acceptance Letters" and expect to fill
it eventually. Your day will come.
·
stop writing for a time because you've completed something
or because you've had an acceptance. There is a tendency to
relax, to say: "Ah, I've done it." Savor the moment, sure;
but don't get overly lazy with your writing. Move on to your
next project.
·
reread every sentence, paragraph, etc. after you've
just written it. Learn to disengage your "editor" self until
the work is finished -- you'll be much more efficient and
prolific this way.
Golden Rule #2: Accept rejection gleefully!
Well, maybe not "gleefully." But it is true: you can learn
from rejections. Therefore:
·
Test your work on other writers you admire and listen
to what they bring up, both the compliments and the criticisms.
·
If you receive a rejection letter that contains comments
on why your piece was turned down, read it, file it, and think
about it; decide if you should edit the work some more before
sending it out again. Chances are if the editor took the time
to write a note to you, they saw some kind of potential in
your work -- that's the next best thing to being accepted!
·
Finally, remember that you must study your markets
carefully, and be selective about what article, story, etc.
you send to what publication. Rejection might simply indicate
that you sent your work to the wrong place.
Golden Rule #3: Keep track of everything ...
everything.
If you are sending stuff out to editors, you must keep track
of what you send, where you send it, and when you send it.
·
One good way to keep a log is to create a table, either
with your word processor or by hand, with columns marked for:
1. Title of work or query; 2. Title of journal, magazine,
etc. you sent to; 3. Date sent; 4. Date accepted or rejected
(mark A or R, date); 5. Other places the work was sent.
·
Make sure not to leave out 5, since you don't want
to waste time re-sending a piece to somewhere it has been
turned down. You might want to mark beside 2 how long you
expect to wait for a reply, if you have this information.
·
Print off extra copies of your cover letters and keep
them in a file with the submitted pieces attached.
·
You might also want to log how many hours you spend
writing each day, week, etc., to help keep you honest.
·
Organize your correspondence, research materials, notes,
and other important documents and keep them in handy portable
file boxes.
Golden Rule #4: Write about what interests
you.
Everyone has heard the sermon about writing "what you know."
It's good to keep in mind, however, that what you don't yet
know can be learned, through research or contact with other
people.
·
As long as it interests you, it's a topic worthy of
pursuing. Go to the library and look it up; watch a documentary;
conduct interviews with experts; listen to people's stories,
memories and impressions. Then write.
·
If it bores you silly, but you feel you should write
about it because: (a) it's a marketable subject/theme; (b)
someone has asked you to write about it; (c) everyone else
is writing about it; or (d) nobody else is writing about it
-- go ahead, if you'll receive proper compensation for your
boredom. If not, leave it alone.
·
If your subject excites you tremendously, but seems
to bore everyone else, you can: write it anyway because it's
good for the soul; scour the publishing world for a suitable
market, since there's bound to be someone who shares your
(possibly obscure) interest; or slant your article/story to
suit a particular publication.
Golden Rule #5: Stare at the wall; drink some
coffee; scribble.
You can substitute the ceiling, some tea, and doodling if
you wish. As long as you get away from the work for a bit
to relax, ponder, daydream, pet the cat. "But that's a waste
of precious time," you say. Not true. On the contrary: you
can't ignore this rule and expect to flourish as a writer.
Why? Because "goofing off" actually serves to fuel your imagination
and restock your creative resources. You can't expect to function
physically without sleep, right? Likewise, you can't expect
to function as a writer unless you occasionally . . .
·
Do other creative things, whether you're "good" at
them or not. Make a cartoon with stick figures. Try watercolors.
Take a dance class. Improvise a song while you shower.
·
Move around. You'll notice that your mind tends to
go numb at about the same point your butt does: that's your
signal to get up and take a walk outside, wrestle with the
kids, do Tai Chi, whatever. Just move.
·
Is there a character in your story whose been giving
you grief? Maybe you haven't gotten to know her properly yet,
or she you. Invite her to shuffle about your brain while you
peel potatoes and ask her a few questions -- you'll be surprised
at how agreeable she becomes.
·
Get out of the house! Or office. Cabin fever is a continuous
occupational hazard for writers, but you don't have to succumb:
get together with friends, or simply be around other people
in a public place.
There you have them, the golden rules. Maybe
you knew them already -- at least intuitively. I find, however,
that it's good to be explicit about how we structure and govern
our writing lives. Without rules to live by, and goals to
strive for, our art suffers -- languishes from lack of discipline
and drive. So buck up and commit the rules to memory, recite
them once a day. And write, write, write!
Copyright, 1997.
(Sumber
: Bengkel
Cerpen Annida)
|