In a 1947 essay titled “On the Writing of Speculative Fiction,” writer Robert A. Heinlein laid out his now-famous rules. I’ve tried to follow them in the past with varied success, struggling most with #2 and #5. I’m sharing them now as a reminder to myself more than anything. His rules (with an addition from Harlan Ellison that I learned watching Neil Gaiman) are these:

1. You must write
2. You must finish what you start
3. You must refrain from rewriting except to editorial order
   (…and then, only if you agree – Ellison)
4. You must put it on the market
5. You must keep it on the market until sold

I have a habit of overcomplicating things, of trying to go down too many paths at the same time and finding myself stuck for my confused effort. Instead, I’ll be simplifying things going into the last few months of the year.

Keep it simple.