Personal Precepts

Write like it’s important, like it matters.  It is, and it does.
Write like someone depends on you, they crave your words.  They do, they might.

Edit like there’s no tomorrow.  There’s not.
Edit like it doesn’t hurt.  Expect it to.

Revise like you erred.  You did.  Fix it.
Revise for the precise word.  It exists.  Find it.

Read aloud like a love song to yourself.  It should be.
Read with meaning.  If there is none, ask “why?”

Listen to what you wrote.  More with heart than ears.
Listen to the words’ music.  Melodies of color, texture, and emotion.

Wait, if it’s not ready, for it to mature.  It will.  So will you.
Wait on beginning and ending suns.  They herald new passions.

Watch your audience. Their eyes will say more than their mouths.
Watch for a reader’s hesitance.  Seen, you missed the mark.

Explain only if asked.  You might be, but don’t expect it.
Explain when asked, only what you said.  Not what it means.

Apologize only for punctuation.  But try; commas are seldom fatal.
Apologize otherwise for nothing.  It’s your soul and your truth.

Tolerate failure.  It foreshadows success.
Tolerate imperfection. It is an itch to scratch.

Trash the whole epic. Often that’s noble.
Trash self-doubt.  If you have no faith, no one does.

Let your characters talk to you.  They will write your story.
Let your story embrace your moral.  All three of you will be stronger.

I often ignore these reminders.  It shows.

© SPWilcen 2020
TheProse 7/2/2020; spwilcenwrites “Odds & Ends – January 7, 2021”