If you know me, then you know my story involves a lot of baby Kimboo reading many writing guides as I attempted to figure out what kind of writer I am. One of the things I learned early on was that there were (are!) rules for everything.

It did not take me long, though, to figure out that many of these rules contradicted each other. Not always, of course. There do seem to be a very few “universal laws” that get repeated often, such as the demand to write everyday. There are also the strictures about using outlines and to always have an editor read over your work. Universal constants, at least!

Every writing guide seemed to have its own take on how to be a writer, though. There was a lot of variation depending on what I might want to write, but there was also a lot of variation based on what the author of the writing thought was important. While I could figure out that some of the advice was not good for me personally, it proved that all the expertise in the world would not result in agreement on how to write a book.

In this episode, I dig into the idea that there are rules for writing a novel and, using the wise words of W Somerset Maugham, I explain how there are no rules.

I’m sure that statement causes hives for teachers of writing courses, but remember: I am in the inspiration and motivation game. Technique can be taught and taught well, and depending on how you write you will surely find a good teacher to help you perfect your craft. But the best teacher is useless if you are not practicing the craft. When I say there are no rules what I am talking about is the rules of sitting down to write. The  first step you have to take before you can perfect anything is to create something to perfect! The rules for writing are alchemical mysteries, things we must create for ourselves like magical elixirs.

Join me in this episode of the Author Alchemist podcast as I talk about the Alchemy of the rules of writing.

Alchemical Lesson of the Week

The only rules that exist for writing are the ones that get you writing! So use what works, jettison what doesn’t, and make them up as you go along. Remember everything can only be fixed in edits if you have written something to edit!