A Writer's Manifesto

Yike. Manifesto. Sounds pompous, right? I agree, but manifesto is one word and declaration of intent are three. Efficiency wins.

Since I've decided to become a working fiction writer, I want to examine my goals and lay some ground rules for myself. I put them here in case they can help you, too. Feel free to add points in the comments, or link to your own writer's manifesto.

1. I'll write.
Regularly: I'll schedule time to write and honor that schedule. Freely: I'll write first drafts with the laptop screen down, using only lowercase letters and periods. Without excuses: I'll not postpone writing to feed a muse, because muses do not exist.

1a. I'll make brave decisions.
Nothing else is worth writing. Or reading.

2. I'll keep my crap first draft to myself.
It's a three-eyed troll with dandruff and bad breath. It talks during movies. It farts in libraries. It is not ready for society.

3. I'll revise.
With flaming swords of grammatical righteousness and structural truth, I'll smite the crap. I'll add things, delete things, move things. I'll try not to overuse commas, as is my wont.

4. I'll employ beta readers.
They'll be people I respect as readers or writers. I'll appreciate their time. I'll thank them for their help.

5. I'll accept constructive criticism.
The only goal is to make the story as strong as it can be.

6. I'll scrap what doesn't serve the story.
Description, scene, character, chapter. If it's loitering in my story, I'll kick it out. There's wordsmithery, and then there's verbal masturbation. I'd rather not be the only person enjoying my work.

7. I'll defend what does serve the story.
Sometimes I have good ideas. I'll fight for those.

8. I'll be patient.
My agent has other clients. My editor will have other projects. Publishing moves slowly. Except when it doesn't, in which case...

9. I'll be ready.
I'll learn what I can about the industry. I'll anticipate requests. I'll be flexible.

10. I'll treat publishing for what it is: a business.
I expect to make a modest living, so those who pay me can expect me to deliver. I'll treat those who work with me as professionals with similar goals. When editors tell me an idea won't sell, I'll listen; they know the market, or at least the amount of risk their house will accept.

11. I'll take responsibility for reaching my audience.
I'll understand my stories and where they fit (and don't fit) in the scheme of things. I'll embrace available technology. I'll ignore my natural tendency toward wallflowerness and participate.

12. I'll appreciate my readers.
I'll listen. I'll share. I'll point them to other authors and books.

13. I'll be true to myself.
When I want to be alone, I'll step away. When I want to explore a new genre or medium, I'll do so. When my opinion is constructive, I'll voice it. I'll write stories I would want to read.

14. I'll give back.
Others have helped me, so I'll do the same, even if only to refer people to sources more knowledgeable and useful than me (i.e. almost all of them). I'll volunteer time, effort, and product to causes that speak to me and the writing community.

15. I'll read.
A lot. If the author is alive, I'll buy their book new (ebook if available, paper if not). If the author is dead, I may buy it used, check it from a library, or use a public-domain e-text. I'll learn what craft I can from those books and enjoy the rest.

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