Henry Miller's Writing Tips

Work on one thing at a time until finished.
Start no more new books, add no more new material to ‘Black Spring.’
Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
When you can’t create you can work.
Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
Discard the Program when you feel like it—but go back to it next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.

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Permalink Reply by I. J. Parker on November 2, 2012 at 3:16am

Yes, I like most of those. And I do most of those.

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Permalink Reply by P.I. Barrington on November 2, 2012 at 4:10am

Thanks for posting this!! For me, #1 & #10 are the pertinent ones! I needed to be reminded to stay on the current book instead of scattering myself all over the place to the detriment of the story I should have been working on...it's just so hard...I have so many that I want and need to write. Discipline. I need discipline...!