If you were going to impose ONE rule for your own journal or other journals, what would it be?

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

Answers

Don't write what you think I want to read; write what YOU want to write about. If you're interested--- I will be too.---Al of NOVA NOTES.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

This Bill Chance "journaling manifesto" is one of the most pretenious pieces of crap I've read in a long time. If it works for him, fine, but to even suggest that such a tyranical dictat should be seriously considered by anyone else is absurb. As a guideline, each mainfesto item has some merit, but really, how many nanoseconds did it take you to think of a reason to break each and every one of them?

I have no right to suggest "rules" for journals, but I'd suggest that writers not follow silly "rules".

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

whoa! let me clarify something - Bill's manifesto IS for himself only, and intended that way. He's just about the least pretentious journaler out there, bar none.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

Always be true to yourself first. If you want to write it, write it and to hell with what anyone else thinks. If you can't be true to yourself in your own journal, what's the point?

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

For myself and all others: write often. The longer you put it off the harder it gets to kick start yourself again. If you don't have time to make it daily, then at least make it regularly.

I'm terribly embarassed by how few entries I've produced this year. That being said, however, I still have trouble forcing myself to do another one. The alphabet exercise was meant to make things easier (the first two entries were cake), but now I'm stuck again.

I thinks Al's advice above is something I'm going to try and take to heart. Thanks, Al!

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

Don't be honest. Nobody wants to know the truth.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

Neil... I am the Empress of Aborted Projects - I've started and dropped more great ideas in here than I care to think about. I think it's got something to do with the fact that I have much more fun planning than implementing - once I've gotten far enough along to say 'yes, this is working nicely' and can 'see' how it will all end, my impetus for carrying it out sort of fades, and I'm off and looking for the next experiment.

Very annoying for both me and those who dared to get interested in the pending result!

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

Dave.. I sort of agree - but I think my agreement is stemming from wanting to be able to engineer only a positive reaction to the truth. People want it - they just want to retain the right to respond however they see fit.

The 'journally' answer is if you can't tell the truth, at least make sure that you tell the Truth. If ya know what I mean.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

I meant nobody wants to know the truth about themselves. Tell them what you're really thinking and you are playing with fire. My wife, my sister, my sister-in-law, and, of course, other journalers, all have gotten up in arms about things I've said about them. So I don't write about them any more. Bleh.

So that's the rule, I guess: don't speak honestly about anyone you know will be reading. No matter what you say they're going to find a reason not to like it.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

LOL.. ok, I won't dispute that one - it's pretty universal. Unfortunately, you're doomed anyway, because if you DON'T mention them, they'll get upset with that too.

So probably best not to look for them to like it, and proceed accordingly.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

I have a large collection of rules (or guidelines) that I've collected over the years that informs my writing. It's split into two parts. Philosophical and technical.

The number one rule on the philosophical list is this:

Always write to the best of your current ability and respect the reader's investment of time, energy, and money.

The number one rule on the technical list is this:

Remember verbs. People use weak, lazy, and inexact verbs. Verbs are often the only difference between a so so writer and a good one.

Etc...

As far as Bill's list goes, I'm sorry, lacking reasons many seem arbitrary at best.

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2000