Most writers have their own special “rules for writing,” even if they don’t talk about them. I find other writers’ rules fascinating, even when I don’t agree with them. A lot can be learned by reading about other authors’ approaches to writing. The New York Times and The Guardian have published famous authors’ answers to this question on a number of occasions. The Guardian has a very long, disorganized article that collects many of the rules, which you can read here. The Marginalian has a collection of advice from writers, that is more in-depth and less focused on “rules”, that you can read here.
This article is an attempt to organize that collection and to link to other authors’ rules as well, including more recently published authors’ rules on writing.
Below are links to different writers’ rules on writing. The authors are in no particular order.
His most famous piece of advice? “If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it”.
2. George Orwell’s 6 Tips for Effective Writing
Orwell gives readers full permission to ignore his rules.
3. Nietzche’s 10 Rules for Writing
His rules were originally written down in a series of letters to a female psychoanalyst.
4. Neil Gaiman’s 8 Rules for Writing
It would be hard to dispute his first rule.
He called his list “Belief and Technique for Modern Prose”.
6. Walter Benjamin’s Thirteen Theses
Literary critic and essayist, Walter Benjamin, came up with these theses a long time ago, but many still hold true.
7. Geoff Dyer’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
His rule number six is one of my favorites — “Have regrets. They are fuel. On the page they flare into desire.”
8. Jeanette Winterson’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
“Be ambitious for the work and not for the reward” is my favorite piece of advice from her.
9. Henry Miller’s 11 Commandments
His first commandment is “Work on one thing at a time until finished”.
10. Margret Atwood’s 10 Rules for Writing
Number 5 on her list is my favorite.
11. Roddy Doyle’s 10 Rules for Writers
His advice includes avoiding the online bookies.
12. Helen Dunmore’s 9 Rules for Writing
Among other helpful tips, she advocates listening to what you have written.
13. Anne Enright’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
Her rule number 3 is pretty controversial.
14. Johnathon Franzen’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
Despite his first rule or belief, I always feel like an adversary when I am reading his work.
15. 10 Writing Tips From David Hare
My favorite piece of advice from David Hare is “Style is the art of getting yourself out of the way, not putting yourself in it.”
16. 5 Rules for Writing Fiction from P.D. James
P.D. James believes, among other things, that bad writing is contagious.
17. Hillary Mantel’s 10 Observations About Writing
Hillary Mantel’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
Both lists are interesting, and are rather different from each other. One starts out focusing on the narrative, the other on accountants.
18. Michael Moorcock’s 10 Tips for Good Storytelling
This acclaimed science fiction writer has good advice for genre and non-genre writers.
Ogilvy was an author (of business books) but he is much better known as a legendary ad man. His tips reflect that fact.
20. 6 Writing Tips from John Steinbeck
The Paris Review originally published these excellent tips.
21. Michael Morpurgo’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
This poet and author’s rules are very helpful.
22. Rick Riordan’s Advice for Writers
Rick Riordan’s advice is much more wide-ranging than most other authors and largely aimed at young readers.
23. 5 Rules for Fiction Writing from Annie Proulx
Annie Proulx encourages wide reading.
24. Sarah Waters’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
Sarah Waters’s rules are the most detailed. She includes concrete information, like the fact that she has a goal of a 1,000 words a day minimum.
25. Ian Rankin’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
His last two rules are get lucky, stay lucky.
26. Will Self’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
Will Self’s first rule is one of my personal favorites.
27. Zadie Smith’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
Zadie Smith urges authors not to confuse honors with achievements.
28. Colm Tóibín’s 10 Rules for Writing Fiction
The Irish writer recommends that writers stay in their ‘mental pajamas’ all day.
29. Lisa Jewell’s Top Tip’s for New Writers
This list from thriller writer Jewell is a little different as it focuses on aspiring writers.
30 and 31. V. S. Naipaul’s Rules for Beginners and Amitava Kumar’s 10 Writing Rules
Amitava Kumar’s tips are part of a larger, fascinating essay that includes all of V.S. Naipaul’s Rules for Beginners. Also, I love any list that includes walking in it, and Kumar’s list does.
Ford’s first rule is to marry someone you love, who thinks you being a writer’s a good idea.
33. A.L. Kennedy’s Rules for Writing
Two of her rules involve humility.
34. Esther Freud’s 7 Golden Tips for Writing
Her last rule is “Never forget, even your own rules are there to be broken”.
35. Mark Twain’s Rules for Writing
I completely agree with his fifth rule.
These rules were found in a letter Lewis sent to a young fan in 1956.
37. William Faulkner’s Advice on Writing
Literary Hub collected these 20 pieces of advice from Faulkner.
38. Anton Chekhov’s Writing Principles
These principles were found in a letter he sent his brother.
20 rules or “suggestions” from Anne Rice.
40. Eudora Welty’s Rules for Writing
“Beware of Tidiness.”
My favorite rule of hers is number 2.
“No hugging. No Crying.”
43. Melissa De La Cruz’s “My Advice to Young Writers”
These “rules” are aimed at a younger audience. De La Cruz’s conversational and engaging writing style, and the fact that she gets into actual practical aspects of publishing, like being paid, really helps make this worth reading for new writers of all ages.
44. Meg Cabot On Writing
Along the lines of De La Cruz’s advice, this too is conversational and accessible and aimed at younger writers, but still includes some valuable tips.
45. Phillip Pullman’s One Rule for Writing
“My main rule is to say no to things like this, which tempt me away from my proper work.”
Bonus Content: if you still want even more reading material, author Joe Fassler spoke to a hundred and fifty writers and distilled their advice down into the 7 most common writing tips, which you can read here.
Emily Harstone is the author of many popular books, including The Authors Publish Guide to Manuscript Submissions, Submit, Publish, Repeat, and The 2022 Guide to Manuscript Publishers.
