I have compiled a list of duties that I and every other writer must follow if we are to be taken seriously. While I must confess, that I have fallen far short of many of these things, it does not make the statements any less true.
(1) Art is work performed to a standard; there is no difference between you and a carpenter.
(2) Nail yourself to the wood of your desk. Cast aside perfectionism and build your work with your two hands, for you are a craftsman.
(3) As a craftsman, you will be judged by your product alone, not by your intentions or excuses. A craftsman’s value comes from what he completes, not what he thinks about completing.
(4) Do not make movies in your head; instead, paint a picture with words that stir the spirit and boil the blood.
(5) Time passes whether you work or not, so make the best use of this time.
(6) Since your spirit is anchored to the physical world, art does not belong to those with their heads in the clouds.
(7) You will be read not only by the people of today, but by the people of the future as well. Thus, the negativity of internet critics means nothing, for they refuse to take up tools themselves and instead harass those who seek to communicate with the present and future.
