What to read if you want proof you can break rules

And who among us?

Good morning wordicorns and scribblers,

Today is about bending and breaking rules. I wanted to share some proof-is-in-the-pudding stories with you today.

Everyone’s journey is different. This newsletter is literally built on that thought.

So I’ve compiled some “I did it, and it worked” and “I did it, and I enjoyed myself more than I would have if I’d stayed in the box” stories.

Copyright Andrew Robinson via Unsplash

I recognize that not everyone starts off on even footing, or they may have (admittedly, even) lucked into something. But each person still has thoughtful comments on what they did or how they did it or why.

I hope at least one of them makes your journey as little easier.

---

Articles/essays of interest

• This was a cool thing that was fresh and new and non-existent before the moment it wasn’t anymore.

• A very cool interview for a very interesting project. It’s so unique we can’t imagine you’ll think anything but, “Yeah, there’s a thing for everyone.”

• “Approaching each genre for me becomes about envisioning the person I think will end up with that book in their hands.” —

  Kate McKean

How To Write 25 Books

• “What happens when we as writers open up the aperture and see ourselves as creative beings rather than strictly writers?” —

  Kern Carter

Turning your creativity into dollars

• “How can a person love my book but suggest I leave the chronic illness out of it?” —

  Alyssa Graybeal

Fallout from Floppy book promotion

• “The audience comes last.” — Rick Rubin. (Okay, so this is a short video, but the founder of Def Jam records makes good points about being an artist. The comments are mixed on his thoughts. That says something too, doesn’t it. There are a million ways to be a writer, an artist, a creator.)

  author

  

  Kole Lyndon Lee on Instagram: “Absolutely love how he describes this. He nails it. A lot of people talk about this, but he gives such a beautiful reason why not obsessing about the audience is important. It’s not that you don’t care about the audience. It’s about making something deeply truthful, which is what’s best for the audience. Same for movies. And he also nails it in terms of why there are so many horrible movies being made right now from you know who. It’s not one person, or a single vision, it’s a conglomerate. Too many people cramming what they want in, trying to please the faceless blob. The audience. When you do that, you end up with something generic. Cookie cutter. The more personal you get, the more resonant it will be in a truthful way. Rick Rubin. Always has the best insights on creativity. I really need to read his book. Video: @greatness ⁉️What’s one movie that has resonated with you the most? A movie that’s made you feel less alone? #rickrubin #creativity #inspiration #motivation #advice #cinema #cinephile #film #filmmaking #filmmakers #filmisnotdead #screenwriting #acting #directing #nevergiveup”

  January 25, 2024

Articles by yours truly

• An article about writing a disabled serial killer —

  Elle Mitchell

• It wasn’t a thing but now it is: a collection of short stories with miniatures —

  Elle Mitchell

  We Used to Be Different is OUT TODAY!

---