[Originally posted on my previous website, michael dot sirois dot com]
Robert Heinlein’s rules appeared in an essay “On the Writing of Speculative Fiction (1947).” The publishing industry has changed a great deal, but the thought behind most of these are still perfectly valid.
Heinlein’s Rules for Writing
- You must write.
- You must finish what you write.
- You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
- You must put the work on the market.
- You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.
I also have a set of rules for writing, gleaned from here and there. Sometimes I wish I followed them more often.
Michael’s Rules of Writing
- Write crappy first drafts.
- Words don’t bleed. Cut them.
- Write now, edit later.
- There are NO mistakes, only creative opportunities.
- Don’t think. Just write.
- Rules? There are rules?
You can get a Rules of Writing t-shirt (or mug or mousepad, or lots of other items). Click on the t-shirt below.

Michael
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