THAT FOUR-LETTER WORD

Rules are meant to be followed – right?

WRONG! (Or at least "not always".) Now, I'm not saying to write a 300,000 word manuscript and then send it willy-nilly all around to every agent, editor and publisher in the world. And if you want to read one agent's spin on following the rules, click here.

We’ve all heard, “Write what you know” and “Become an Expert in Your Field.”

Maybe I’m just a wannabe rebel—or imagining myself following in the footsteps of James Dean, Brando and Elvis. But one thing all these men had in common was stepping outside the box, breaking the mold and making their own way (okay three things they had in common, but it really all boils down to one thing). We all have to make our own way, direct our own path, and travel our own road to publication.

These icons (Elvis, Brando and Dean) weren’t satisfied when others set limits for them. And, they weren’t willing to accept random restrictions.

And, I see some things, like dieting: putting up boundaries isn’t always the best approach; especially when it comes to the printed page. Sometimes it’s better to eat that chocolate-dipped cherry, or indulge in that jelly-filled donut. Because it's difficult to live in denial. Resentment grows--like a wicked weed, and people begin to feel deprived—or atleast I feel deprived, and then I end up binging.

Oh, wait I was talking about writing, not food..., or was I?

I say: write about whatever it is that interests you – if it whets your creative whistle, we'll want to read it.

When we follow all the rules, writing becomes a four-letter word: W.O.R.K. And writers should think writing is fun.

If writing isn’t fun, for me, I won’t want to do it, late at night, when most sane people are fast asleep, while visions of sugarplums (there’s the food again) dance in their heads.

Life should be full of flavor and writers should follow their own rules to make writing [a]muse[ing].