valarltd | Weeked round up, writing edition

Niven's Laws on Writing

1: Writers who write for other writers should write letters.

2: Never be embarrassed or ashamed about anything you choose to write. (Think of this before you send it to a market.)

3: Stories to end all stories on a given topic, don't.

4: It is a sin to waste the reader's time.

5: If you've nothing to say, say it any way you like. Stylistic innovations, contorted story lines or none, exotic or genderless pronouns, internal inconsistencies, the recipe for preparing your lover as a cannibal banquet: feel free. If what you have to say is important and/or difficult to follow, use the simplest language possible. If the reader doesn't get it then, let it not be your fault.

6: Everybody talks first draft.

For more of Niven's Laws, including "Never fire a laser at a mirror," go here. And if I have to tell you who Larry Niven is, you have no business on this LJ

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Poul Anderson's On Thud and Blunder. Indispensible for fantasy writers. 'Tain't So!

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Write. Write something every day. If you can't manage a whole short story (Ray Brandbury's advice) shoot for a thousand words (Stephen King's advice) If you can't manage a thousand words, write for 15 minutes. You can do anything for fifteen minutes. (Flylady approach). If you can't manage 15 minutes, write five words (Victor Milan's advice).

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