1. Work on one novel at a time until finished, while also writing the occasional poem, short story, article, and weekly blog post.
2. Start on your next novel only when you feel you’re done with your last novel, and take a break from the new novel only to revise that last novel according to editorial advice or flash of inspiration, then get back to the new novel as soon as you can.
3. Write in ecstasy, edit with intent.
4. Work according to the best program of your own devising, built honestly and sincerely around the realities of your individual life, which can and should—even must—include writing.
5. Write something . . . anything . . . but write!
6. Clean up yesterday’s writing then write the next section, which you’ll clean up tomorrow before adding tomorrow’s new text. Do no further revision until the rough draft is done.
7. Keep human! Interact with other humans everyday, in whatever way you can, and from time to time take a full week off.
8. Rejoice in the act of writing itself.
9. Give yourself a break and realize that sometimes you have to set aside the project at hand, but you can, and will, come back to it as soon as possible.
10. Write the book you care the most about—the story that speaks to you, that won’t let you sleep at night, that won’t go away.
—Philip Athans
Did this post make you want to Buy Me A Coffee…
Follow me on Twitter @PhilAthans…
Link up with me on LinkedIn…
Friend me on GoodReads…
Find me at PublishersMarketplace…
Check out my eBay store…
Or contact me for editing, coaching, ghostwriting, and more at Athans & Associates Creative Consulting?
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Fantasy Author's Handbook 
Thanks Phil for putting this together… 11 weeks, 11 posts, and I enjoyed every one of them! You struck a perfect blend of classic ideal advice with modern reality.
Pingback: Writing Links 8/21/17 – Where Genres Collide
Hmmm…Interesting take in editing there in Rule #6. I’ve read more than once not to go back and edit, and you seem to echo that wisdom as well. But I hadn’t considered editing only what I wrote the previous day.
This seems like it would serve two purposes. 1) Save time when you’re doing your big edit at the end and 2) refresh your brain on where you were going so that everything you write today is on track.
I’ll give it a go. Thanks!
Pingback: COMMANDER, COMMAND THYSELF | Fantasy Author's Handbook
Pingback: COMMANDER, COMMAND THYSELF… PART 2 | Fantasy Author's Handbook
Pingback: RULES ABOUT WRITING RULES FOR WRITERS | Fantasy Author's Handbook