October Novel Prep Challenge

I love this. It emphasizes the shades of grey in the writing "rules" (which should really be called "guidelines") we've always been fed. There are exceptions to every rule. Everything in moderation. *insert your favorite cliche here*

Because cliches can serve a purpose, too.

About #9. I think the point of the "blank page is the enemy" rule is to prompt you to just write something. I have found that when I just accept that my words will be crap and start writing them, they start to flow out of me. By the second or third paragraph, they're not crap anymore (IMHO.) Then in the edit stage, I just delete the first three paragraphs. What I'm saying is that I like the "blank page is the enemy" rule and disagree that we shouldn't enforce it. Where the article sees submission (when you "give your power away to some inanimate object"), I see a viable scapegoat (the blank page is to blame!!!) And since I believe that it's very important to establish blame, I choose to enforce this rule to the fullest extent of literary law.

By the same token, I'm guessing I might have the same objection to #1 (when it's published "next week," whenever that is.) I do think you need to just start writing at some point. I'm interested to see what the author's argument against that is.

Otherwise, I agreed with everything. I especially love #7. I'm guilty of subjecting myself to guilt trips for failing to write daily, yet I seem to do fine when I finally get around to doing it.

Cheers,
Michelle