My Writing Rules

1. I have rules for myself:
2. Don’t start on an empty page, especially if you’re forcing yourself to write.
   1. It is better to revise the chapter or paragraph to build momentum.
3. You can move your location, the time you write, and the devices that you use.
   1. Shorthand can also help you build momentum.
4. Music helps to set your mood. Different music genres help you write different genres.
5. Found out, are you a pantser or planter?
   1. Pantser does better with bullet points.
      1. Bullet points can be used as a memory prompt to write at a better time.
      2. Revise and organize your story as you write your first draft.
      3. It is good to know the outcomes (know the director’s story of the ending)
         1. What will happen at the end of the story, maybe not in detail
         2. Outcome: positive, negative/ tragic, bittersweet, or bitter ending.
   2. Planter, have an outline, and use one of the known outlines like Save the Cat.
      1. Edit in the end.
6. Research helps with the needs of your story. (If you are an underwriter or don’t have much word count.)
   1. Know the genre
      1. Study the genre beats by researching information about the genre.
      2. Watch or read a story in a similar genre or with a similar plot.
   2. Know your target audience, what they are comfortable with, and what content ratings they prefer. (Pg, Pg-13, R, MT)
      1. Don’t and Do in every story’s content rate based on your audience.
      2. Some audiences don’t want violence, bad language, or sexual content.
      3. Some audiences are fine with violence, but not sexual content.
   3. Research locations, settings, and historical period.
      1. Be consistent and historically accurate.
7. Prune your story like a garden. (If you written many scenes, but don’t have director or story)
   1. Sometimes you cannot write because the story is not organized, has too many plots and characters, or the scenes are not important.
   2. Don’t delete; just put it on the side.
      1. If you don’t stand alone, it can be a series or another book.
      2. If you are writing a series, it can be put in another book in the series or just mentioned as background information.