Robert A. Heinlein "On Writing"

Robert A. Heinlein had five iron-clad rules for writing that translate well from the science fiction world into the world of screenwriting. Sci-fi writer, Robert J. Sawyer adds his own sixth rule to the mix that is a prerequisite.

"Heinlein used to say he had no qualms about giving away these rules, even though they explained how you could become his direct competitor, because he knew that almost no one would follow their advice."

"...if you start off with a hundred people who say they want to be writers, you lose half of the remaining total after each rule — fully half the people who hear each rule will fail to follow it."

Rule One: You Must Write

You can't just talk about wanting to be a writer. You can't simply take courses, or read up on the process of writing, or daydream about someday getting around to it. The only way to become a writer is to plant yourself in front of your keyboard and go to work.

Rule Two: Finish What Your Start

You cannot learn how to write without seeing a piece through to its conclusion...Once you have an overall draft, with a beginning, middle, and end, you'll be surprised at how easy it is to see what works and what doesn't. And you'll never master such things as plot, suspense, or character growth unless you actually construct an entire piece.

Rule Three: You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order

This is the one that got Heinlein in trouble with creative-writing teachers. Perhaps a more appropriate wording would have been, "Don't tinker endlessly with your story." You can spend forever modifying, revising, and polishing. There's an old saying that stories are never finished, only abandoned — learn to abandon yours.

Rule Four: You Must Put Your Story on the Market

Send your story out. You can live the fantasy that you're a "professional writer," but one day you'll have to see if that fantasy has any grounding in reality.

Rule Five: You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold

Work gets rejected all the time... If the rejection note contains advice you think is good, revise the story and send it out again. If not, then simply turn the story around: pop it in the mail, sending it to another market.

Rule Six: Start Working on Something Else

As soon as you've finished one piece, start on another. Don't wait for the first story to come back from the editor you've submitted it to; get to work on your next project.

Of the original hundred wannabe writers, only one or two will follow all six rules.

The question is: will you be one of them?