- Work on one thing at a time until finished.
- Start no more new books, add no more new material to Black Spring. (Apparently he’s giving himself this advice.)
- Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
- Work according to the program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
- When you cant create you can work.
- Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
- Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
- Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
- Discard the program when you feel like it but go back to it the next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
- Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
- Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.
Henry Miller wrote semi-autobiographical novels that merged storytelling with philosophy, mysticism and social commentary which were mainly banned in the US until 1961, due to explicit sex scenes. His books include Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Black Spring, and The Rosy Crucifixion.
From Henry Miller on Writing, by Henry Miller.
