Rules of Thumb 2

 A few more rules of thumb — this batch from Erskine Caldwell.

• “I was not a writer to begin with; I was a listener.” (Oral storytelling is the basis of fiction. You learn by hearing.)

• “I’m not interested in plots. I’m interested only in the characterization of people and what they do.” (Worry about a plot if you’re writing a mystery.)

• Produce then revise: Rewrite it six to 12 times. Don’t add much. Fat spoils lean.

• “To me short-story writing is the essence of writing.” (His terms: 1-50 pages. He says he wrote 150 stories and quit.)

• Routine: 6-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. Or even and odd days. Or bus trips. Or boat trips.

• Projects: One thing at a time.

• Aging: When you’re young you have no judgment. Everything is good. As we age, “good” gets harder.