Spend time gossiping. This direction made me raise an eyebrow. I was anxious to see what value Masello could find in petty hearsay. He goes on to explain that involving yourself in the rumor mill keeps you in the loop, and directs you in what stories are "worth telling," so to speak.
While I see value in keeping current with what's hot and whats not, as well as exactly what it is that outrages or mortifies the general population, I can also see where this could easily become a diversion. I find that while having a keen eye on market trends is important, you have to be able to know when to stop researching and get to the business of writing. As with many of the unconventional Rules of Writing, there is a helpful nugget at the base of gossiping that one must be careful not to overuse or abuse.
Buy the smoking jacket. This, in actuality, is a new take on one of the more conventional wisdoms. A play on the "if you see it, and believe it, you can achieve it," Rule 56 preaches that while you’re "working hard at becoming the successful writer," it is perfectly acceptable to see yourself as that person with all the payoffs of achieving the goal. If to you, that means owning a smoking jacket and enjoying expensive cigars, then by all means do it.
The other ninety eight Rules of Writing shared in this book are, at the very least, good advice. This is not a style book, but more fresh ideas on how to approach your topics, your characters, and your writing in general; I found it to be fresh, comical, and most important, thought-provoking.
It is my opinion that, with the endless supply of writing how-to books out there, this is one that is worth the read. You will have to sort out for yourself which ones are hard-fast rules to work by, but I am confident you will find at least a few suggestions that will give you a fresh approach and a new attitude.
Edited: PC
Article comments
1 - Mark Sahm
If Masello had an online version of "burn your journal", then 90% of bloggers are wasting their time!
I agree with you though that if you have aspirations for larger texts, don't use your journal (or your blog) as a clutch.
2 - Connie Phillips
As I said, a lot of the rules are not hard and fast. Many people use their blog as a forum for serious writing, thus it would be the furthest thing from a crutch.
I also imagine there are just as many who use their blog as a way to write without really writing.
It depends what you want out of it, I suppose.
3 - Loretta
I loved "Writer Tells All." It was hilarious.
I'll have to look for this Masello book. He does have good advice.
I never wrote anything really worth reading until I forced myself to publish it for people to read.
If you use your blog as a forum for your work, you improve your writing.
4 - Connie Phillips
Loretta,
I agree about forcing yourself to lok at your writing.
I think you will enjoy this book.
A lot of his rules are not hard and fast, but hold an element of truth well worth applying.