Rules to Write By

Mar 15, 2023 | Better Blogging

Most of my clients have never written a book when they come to me for the first time Part of my job as a coach is to help them master the basics of the book-writing process. Over the years I developed the following rules as easy ways to remember and talk about good book-writing practice.

The Dabo Swinney Rule

When Dabo Swinney was appointed as interim head football coach at Clemson in 2008, he thought the team needed a fresh start. The phrase he used to describe what he expected was “all-in.” He expects a Clemson football player to give his full attention and effort.

When it’s time for you to write, you must be all in. When it’s time to write put all your energy into writing. There will be time for other things later.

The Raymond Chandler Rule

Raymond Chandler was one of the great writers of the 20th century. In 1949 he shared some of his writing philosophy with journalist Alex Barris. He summed up a paragraph of advice with the following rules for writing time.

“Two very simple rules, a) you don’t have to write, b) you can’t do anything else.”

The Horn and Hardart Rule

Advertising legend Ed McCabe wrote the advertising for the Horn and Hardart automat chain. In the days before fast food, Horn and Hardart was a force in the not-fine-dining segment of the restaurant business and one of the first successful restaurant chains. Ed McCabe’s slogan for Horn and Hardart is something that should describe your writing.

“It may not be fancy, but it’s good.”

The Elmore Leonard Rule

Elmore Leonard wrote fifty novels, mostly westerns and crime fiction. About a third of them were turned into movies. He also wrote “Ten Rules for Writing,” which you can find in several places on the web. He summed up the ten rules with this rule. Call it the eleventh if you must.

“If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.”

You will be tempted to write like a writer. Resist that temptation. Instead, write like you’re talking with a friend.

The Ernest Hemingway Rule

In 1935, Ernest Hemingway left Key West in his boat and headed for Cuba. He took a young man with him on that trip who had hitchhiked from Minnesota to ask for Hemingway’s advice on writing. Here’s a quote from the article Hemingway wrote about the trip. It was published in Esquire in October 1935.

“The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day when you are writing a novel, you will never be stuck.”

If you follow Papa’s advice you will start every writing session knowing exactly what you’re going to do. You won’t lose time deciding what to do. Instead, you’ll start making progress right away.

The Firefighter Rule

When the fire is out firefighters might be tired. They might want a nap or just to kick back for a bit. But they don’t do that. Instead, they get busy. They make sure their equipment is in working order, cleaned, and properly stowed. They make sure supply stocks are replenished. Then they’re ready to go the next time the bell rings.

When you’re done with a writing session, follow the firefighter’s example. Make sure you have everything you need for your next session. Make sure you plan what you’ll do between writing sessions.

The Vince Lombardi Rule

Vince Lombardi was a legendary football coach. When he took over as coach of the woeful Green Bay Packers in 1959, he set a new standard for their performance. Here’s what he said.

“We are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it because nothing is perfect, but we are going to relentlessly chase it because in the process we will catch excellence.”

Write that way. Chase perfection. You won’t catch it, but you’ve increased your odds of excellent performance.

Takeaways

The Dabo Swinney Rule

The Raymond Chandler Rule

The Horn and Hardart Rule

The Elmore Leonard Rule

The Ernest Hemingway Rule

The Firefighter Rule

The Vince Lombardi Rule