Friday, June 29, 2012

Henry Miller's Writing Manifesto

Great advice from the fastidious Miller:
1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.  
Clearly, Miller knew
how to relax.
2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to 
   "Black Spring."  
3. Don't be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on 
    whatever is in hand.  
4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. 
    Stop at the appointed time!  
5. When you can't create you can work.  
6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.  
7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
8. Don't be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
9. Discard the Program when you feel like it-but go back to it 
    the next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.  
10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book 
      you are writing.  
11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema – 
      all these come afterwards.
via HuffPo Books.

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