Don’t sit contemplating a famous writer who has committed suicide

Roddy Doyle’s first rule for writers is: “Do not place a photograph of your favourite author on your desk, especially if the author is one of the famous ones who committed suicide.”

I think that’s just brilliant, largely because writing is harder than many non-writers ever conceive it to be. I often come upon people who ask if I have fun scribbling away while other people are working.

It reminded me of the story I heard of a writer who was asked what she did by a doctor on a plane.

“Oh,” he replied, “I think I’ll knock off a book when I retire – stop myself getting bored.”

“Funny you should say that,” she said. “I thought I might develop a hobby for retirement too. Thought I might dabble in a bit of brain surgery.”

It happens in writing workshops too. People sometimes arrive looking for the magic release button that will allow a book to pour out of them. It can be a bit of a shock to realise it’s not going to be a synch. Then slowly, they realise it’s a more valuable achievement than that. It can be done, but it requires commitment and effort. And (usually) they realise that, despite the effort, it is worth working at and striving for. 

Roddy Doyle’s rule was included in The Guardian’s list of rules about writing in response to Elmore Leonard’s new book, 10 Rules of Writing. 

I also enjoy Colm Tóibín’s list, which includes:

1 Finish everything you start.

5 No alcohol, sex or drugs while you are working.

Never mind his mental pyjamas, I sometimes stay in my actual pyjamas, if I can’t find my precious writing pants.

And I have to say that number 5 is probably good advice, even if it breaks every romantic image of male writers of the hard-drinking, hard-writing, just plain hard… okay, enough of that.

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