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Ten Commandments for the Happy Writer

March 5, 2009 by Nathan Bransford 237 Comments

Writers aren’t generally known as the happiest lot. As a recent Guardian survey of some top writers shows, even the best ones don’t particularly enjoy it all that much. And in case you think this is a new development, an 1842 letter from Edgar Allen Poe to his publisher recently surfaced in which he was found apologizing for drinking so much and begging for money.

But believe it or not, writing and happiness can, in fact, go together. Here are ten ways for a writer to stay positive:

1. Enjoy the present.

Writers are dreamers, and dreamers tend to daydream about the future while concocting wildly optimistic scenarios that involve bestsellerdom, riches, and interviews with Ryan Seacrest. In doing so they forget to enjoy the present. I call this the “if only” game. You know how it goes: if only I could find an agent, then I’ll be happy. When you have an agent, then it becomes: if only I could get published, then I’ll be happy. And so on. The only way to stay sane in the business is to enjoy every step as you’re actually experiencing it. Happiness is not around the bend. It’s found in the present. Because writing is pretty great — otherwise why are you doing it?

2. Maintain your integrity.

With frustration comes temptation. It’s tempting to try and beat the system, whether that’s by having someone else write your query, lying to the people you work with, or, you know, concocting the occasional fake memoir. This may even work in the short term, but unless you are Satan incarnate (and I hope you’re not) it will steadily chip away at your happiness and confidence, and your heart will shrivel and blacken into something they show kids in health class to scare them away from smoking. Don’t do it.

3. Recognize the forces that are outside of your control.

While it’s tempting to think that it’s all your fault if your book doesn’t sell, or your agent’s fault or the industry’s fault or the fault of a public that just doesn’t recognize your genius, a lot of times it’s just luck not going your way. Chance is BIG in this business. Huge. Gambling has nothing on the incredibly delicate and complex calculus that results in a book taking off. Bow before the whims of fate, because chance is more powerful than you and your agent combined.

4. Don’t neglect your friends and family.

No book is worth losing a friend, losing a spouse, losing crucial time with your children. Hear me? NO book is worth it. Not one. Not a bestseller, not a passion project, nothing. Friends and family first. THEN writing. Writing is not an excuse to neglect your friends and family. Unless you don’t like them very much.

5. Don’t Quit Your Day Job.

Quitting a job you need to pay the bills in order to write a novel is like selling your house and putting the proceeds into a lottery ticket. You don’t have to quit your job to write. There is time in the day. You may have to sacrifice your relaxation time or sleep time or reality television habit, but there is time. You just have to do it.

6. Keep up with publishing industry news.

It may seem counterintuitive to follow the news of a business in which layoffs currently constitute the bulk of headlines. But it behooves you to keep yourself informed. You’ll be happier (and more successful) if you know what you’re doing.

7. Reach out to fellow writers.

No one knows how hard it is to write other than other people who have tried to do it themselves. Their company is golden. If you’re reading this it means you have an Internet connection. Reach out and touch a writer. And plus, the Internet allows you to reach out to writers without smelling anyone’s coffee breath.

8. Park your jealousy at the door.

Writing can turn ordinary people into raving lunatics when they start to believe that another author’s success is undeserved. Do not begrudge other writers their success. They’ve earned it. Even if they suck.

9. Be thankful for what you have.

If you have the time to write you’re doing pretty well. There are millions of starving people around the world, and they’re not writing because they’re starving. If you’re writing: you’re doing just fine. Appreciate it.

10. Keep writing.

Didn’t find an agent? Keep writing. Book didn’t sell? Keep writing. Book sold? Keep writing. OMG an asteroid is going to crash into Earth and enshroud the planet in ten feet of ash? Keep writing. People will need something to read in the resulting permanent winter.

Need help with your book? I’m available for manuscript edits, query critiques, and consultations! And if you like this post, check out my guide to writing a novel.

Art: Moses and the Ten Commandments by Rembrandt

Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: How to Write a Novel, Staying Sane While Writing, writing advice

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    April 27, 2010 at 2:34 am

    I just found your blog today. Great rules for staying happy. Balance in all things.

    Reply
  2. silvia says

    April 30, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    Hola!
    I really liked this!
    Me gusto mucho!

    Everything you say makes so much sense! I've been tempeted by some of the miseries you mention here. Las year I came this close to getting my first children's novel published but just then the head editor left the publishing house and off went my little piece!
    Thank you for showing some care and sensitivity towards "story tellers".

    Reply
  3. M. Pasek says

    May 20, 2010 at 12:52 am

    This is great! Priorities: friends and family over astroids! love it! thanks!

    Reply
  4. Vinda Sonata says

    June 22, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    hi, just found this blog through the recommendation of claudia gray who wrote evernight. i'm so excited i found this blog, and those tips are really helpful. thanks for sharing! you're awesome!!

    Reply
  5. marly youmans says

    August 13, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    Hi Nathan Bransford–

    Like your site and shall send links to various needy-of-Bransford-wit souls.

    Good cheer,
    Marly

    Reply
  6. Debbie says

    August 21, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    Love it! Especially number 8, hehehe. Thank you!

    Reply
  7. Isabelle Lafleche says

    September 21, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    This is fantastic advice. I particularly agree with #9, as we often forget to be grateful for what we have. You should print these on t-shirts!

    Reply
  8. How to Win the Lottery says

    September 24, 2010 at 8:37 am

    Wow. I don't know what to say except for the fact that I love what you have written. I enjoy reading the 10 commandments of a Happy writer.

    Keep on posting something like this. It gives not just hope but it can also be inspirational. šŸ™‚

    Reply
  9. Lindsay says

    October 11, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    I needed to read this. I am in the midst of trying to write a book and the part about having time to write is what I needed to hear. Follow link to read my short overview. Your opinion would mean a lot to me. https://lindsaycasale.wordpress.com/2010/09/

    Reply
  10. E. Verna says

    November 6, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    WELL DONE! Nathan you are a very remarkable writer. Your 10 Commandments is awesomely amazing. Wish I could write better than you. LOL.

    Reply
  11. Amanda says

    November 28, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    Had to laugh at Anonymous way up above, "shameless bunch of butt kissers…" There may be a glimmer of truth there…

    HOWEVER, enjoyed the post, and think positivity week is a nice idea — especially in a profession where good news often takes its time to come around.

    Reply
  12. Samantha G says

    January 2, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    "Writers aren't generally known as the happiest lot." I love how writers are thought of- people who sit under trees in the sun smoking cigars with a typewriter in one hand and millions in the other. Of course, I think of agents as coperate men and women dressed in suits with coffee breath- anyone want to correct me? Thanks for the funny post Nathan- I defo will be printing this one out.

    Reply
  13. Xan says

    April 7, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    Thank you, Nathan, for all the inspirational blogs. As a new writer struggling with myself, mostly, and the demands of the industry, your blog has helped keep the goals realistic and me feeling more optimistic! šŸ˜‰

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    June 13, 2011 at 1:43 am

    You make me so happy.

    Reply
  15. serenelyrapt says

    June 15, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    Just loved the 'asteroid coming'.. šŸ™‚

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    October 15, 2011 at 1:42 am

    Everything on this site is so amazingly helpful and I love it! This post is my favorite so far though. Practical and so true.

    Reply
  17. John Barnes says

    January 18, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    Very sound. One further note on the matter of the day job: People with day jobs tend to stay more interesting for longer, even if the day job is dull or routine. People who spend all day at the desk get dull after a while, and begin to think the whole world lives in books.

    Reply
  18. Bridget from Chicago says

    February 8, 2012 at 6:12 am

    I am so happy this blog came my way while surfing tonight. Loved the tips for my writing adventures and queries…
    Bonus! I was able to find a great book for my young boys too. It's in my Amazon cart and I know they'll love it.
    Thanks so much,
    Bridget

    Reply
  19. The WizDyme says

    February 15, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    Nice post. Very uplifting and lots of truth.

    Reply
  20. Fa says

    March 1, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Nathan, I love you for this.

    I was about to quit my day job to launch my writing career. I'm 41, never written anything, and I know that being a writer is what I want to be when I grow up (20 years late!).

    I'm writing blurbs at home, and am thinking launching a blog to force me to write every day.

    I have 3 novels in my head but lack the "meat" to fill them up. Working on that too..!!

    In any event, your blog is wonderful. The writers that post here are wonderful. I am thankful to all of you. I shall prevail! And will have to keep crunching numbers for a living (for now!!).

    Reply
  21. MariaAnna says

    April 20, 2012 at 10:28 am

    Love your humor. The commandments are getting a space on my desk. The blog is getting a bookmark. Thanks

    Reply
  22. MariaAnna says

    April 20, 2012 at 10:33 am

    By the way I am going to writers' hell. Broken too many commandments.

    Reply
  23. Dana Fredsti says

    May 22, 2012 at 7:41 pm

    Sharing sharing and sharing some more. A writer friend of mine sent me some notes he'd taken from a workshop where the first piece of advice was: Quit your day job.

    After I laughed myself silly, I told him what I thought of the workshop advice. I think he'll find your post more helpful and less likely to find him begging for quarters on a street corner.

    Reply
  24. Anonymous says

    July 2, 2012 at 5:06 am

    Ha, I loved the last one. Asteroid coming? Keep writing. We'll need something to read in the resulting permanent winter. Ha.

    I realyl do like these tips and I am definitely keeping them in mind.

    Reply
  25. Kara says

    December 20, 2012 at 7:33 pm

    This makes me super happy. Thanks Nathan

    Reply
  26. Cassi says

    January 18, 2013 at 7:43 pm

    I really needed to read this. I can now go in to this potential paid writing gig with a more level head and realistic goals. Thank you thank you!

    Reply
  27. Jamie says

    March 8, 2013 at 12:13 am

    Nathan, you're a friggin' genius. I'm writing these commandments down and taping them to my laptop screen.

    Reply
  28. Anonymous says

    October 25, 2013 at 5:04 pm

    I love #9! Thank you for your perspective.

    Reply
  29. J.S. Johnson says

    June 17, 2014 at 11:05 am

    And here I was, planning to write a "but writing is awesome!" entry in my blog later this week.

    Thanks for this – it's important for everyone to remember, not just writers.

    Reply
  30. Shona Moyce says

    October 18, 2014 at 11:28 am

    Perspective – you do it so well! Thanks for the tips… particularly in the event of an asteroid… duly noted! šŸ™‚

    Reply
  31. Sandi says

    June 2, 2015 at 1:52 am

    How ironic that I'm writing this just as an asteroid is about t

    Reply
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About Nathan

Hi, I’m Nathan. I’m the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series, which was published by Penguin. I used to be a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and I’m dedicated to helping authors achieve their dreams. Let me help you with your book!

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