Henry Miller’s 11 Rules of Writing
The Surprising Contrast Between His Wildly Chaotic Novels and Miller's Disciplined Life as a Writer
“Routine, in an intelligent man, is a sign of ambition.”
— W.H. Auden
Like many writers, Henry Miller often found himself stuck and frustrated, unsure of how to make progress. To combat his self-doubt, he created a strict daily routine and a set of rules that helped him stay focused and inspired while writing his first novel, Tropic of Cancer.
Covered in this article:
How to maintain focus and discipline in your writing process
Why setting boundaries and sticking to a schedule matters
Balancing creativity with routine and self-care
…and more.
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RULES
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.
By adhering to these principles, Miller eventually finished Tropic of Cancer, which went on to become a groundbreaking work in modern literature.
The novel not only established him as a prominent voice of the 20th century but also paved the way for his later successes, including Tropic of Capricorn and The Books in My Life.
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