three rules

W. Somerset Maugham said:

There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.

There’s always a period early in the evolution of a new novel where I’m absolutely sure that I’m done and finished and will never write again and I’m about jumping out of my skin with agitation. But somebody else (can’t remember who) said: if there’s a story in you, it has to come out. I’ve been through this so often now that I know that’s true. It just doesn’t feel true right now.

The best part of writing is stopping. Or it would be, if I could.