Writing Commandments According to Henry Miller
The writer's work program in the years 1932-33 is as useful now to every writer 90 years later
1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.
2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to
"Black Spring."
3. Don't be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
5. When you can't create you can work.
6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like.
8. Don't be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
9. Discard the Program when you feel like it - but go back to it next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.
[From Henry Miller Miscellanea, as quoted in Hall, Oakley, The Art and Craft of Novel Writing, 1989.] Hall wrote a number of fine westerns, such as Warlock and the Ambrose Bierce series.