Andrew Roe

• Freight Stories, featuring Chad Simpson, Terese Svoboda, Midge Raymond, Glen Pourciau, Eugene Cross, Kip Robisch, Lori Rader Day, Fred Arroyo, and Robin Elizabeth Black.

• Hobart, featuring Andrew Brininstool, Craig Davis, Neil de la Flor, Alex Pollack, and Ethel Rohan.

• decomP, featuring Sheldon Lee Compton, Jude Dillon, Jerome Edwards, S. H. Gall, Britt Gambino, Brad Green, KJ Hays, Kevin Kaiser, Robert Kaye, Karen Neuberg, Amy Oakley, Lynne Procope, Peter Richter, Jacob Russell, Kathryn Sanders, Chantel Schott, Daniel Wheatley, and xTx.

• elimae, featuring Elizabeth Ellen, Michelle Reale, Mel Bosworth, Greg Gerke and many more.
  

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”

— George Orwell, “Why I Write”

I’m supposed to be on a writing break.

But so far it hasn’t been much of one. I’m finding that it’s easier to say “break” than to actually do it.

For example, since deciding on a break I’ve done edits and revisions on stories; written two or three new flashes; scribbled notes and ideas for a couple of stories; and written a handful of blog posts.

Plus, I’ve submitted a few stories and I’m still checking blogs, Facebook, etc.

And when I go bed, my mind turns to writing: Am I working on the right project? Should I ditch the novel I’m working on and start another? What about the memoir thing? Or should I revise my short story collection? Should I finish that story that’s about 75 percent done, because it will be a good fit for the collection? How many stories do I currently have submitted? How long ago did I submit that story to Literary Journal X? Are they really considering my story or did it fall behind the file cabinet? And why do I spend so much time on stories when everyone knows short story collections don’t sell?

In other words, pretty much the same as before.

I’ve realized that even though writing has taken a back seat in my life, it’s still a seat — and it’s still very much a part of my day-to-day life. It’s difficult to just stop. Maybe I can’t. And maybe that’s OK.

Or maybe I need to do something more extreme. Limit computer and Internet use? Banish pens and Post-its? Maybe.

I don’t think anyone thinks there are actual writing “rules” that, if followed, can lead to “success.” But maybe some people do. I don’t know.

“Rules” are made to be “broken,” of course.

One of Elmore Leonard’s “rules” is to never use a verb other than “said” for dialogue.

Does anyone adhere to that? Not even an “answered” or “continued” or (gasp) “insisted”? I don’t think so. The “rule” here is a reminder to not get carried away with language attributed to speech and the way people talk.

“I didn’t know you liked Cher,” she purred.

Does anyone’s voice ever sound like purring? You get the idea…

I’ve been reading a few more posts and articles about writing advice and rules, as well as various comments. Proclaiming “rules” can really get people riled up.

I also came across this tidbit from Richard Ford: “Don’t have children.” Which reminds me of John Malkovich in Woody Allen’s Shadows and Fog: “Family is the death of the artist.”

More on the Ford quote from The New Yorker‘s book blog:

“I delight in Richard Ford’s terrifically sourpuss ‘Don’t have children,’ because I’ve read his books and this rule strikes me as being so Richard Ford. He is met by Helen Dunmore’s ‘If you fear that taking care of your children and household will damage your writing, think of JG Ballard,’ which strikes me as being so Helen Dunmore.”

I don’t know much about JG Ballard (or Helen Dunmore), but I guess he had kids and still managed to write and have a career.

I’ll end with this quote from Francis Ford Coppola:

“My advice to aspiring filmmakers is to get married and have a family. It’s motivation and inspiration.”

Wait, I’ll end with this about Richard Ford: I met him at Squaw Valley a few years ago. He has a great voice. He rides motorcycles. One afternoon we watched people bungie jumping. “Those people are crazy,” he said.

Some links…

• Mark Sarvas offers thoughts and advice to first-time novelists.

• Elmore Leonard’s famous rules for writing (“1. Never open a book with weather”; “10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip”).

• Several authors (including Zadie Smith, Annie Proulx, Joyce Carol Oates) give their advice.