Thanks to the wonders of the internet - specifically Social Media - I can sometimes find new topics for this column based on what pops up on other authors' news feeds and websites. In the past few days a very basic topic has re-emerged. The "Rules for Writing". Which is something that can be repeated, so here we go. It's really only one rule, but it can be broken into three parts. So, let's break it down.

·         Apply Behind to Chair - talking about writing isn't being a writer. It isn't enough. You have to be willing and able to put other things aside, ignore the distractions, and put in the time and the effort. You have to be willing to do the job. It isn't glamorous or shiny, but nobody said it was.

·         Apply Hands to Keyboard (or pen) - just because you sat down doesn't mean you're doing the work. Checking email, social media, blogging, and playing games isn't writing. You have to put words on paper or pixels on a screen to count as writing. It can be hard. It can be tedious, but see above. No one said this job was fun and shiny all the time. Sometimes it's a struggle, but if you really are a writer, not just a wannabe, you have to commit word counts.

·         Finish A Project - face it, we've all been there. Stories are all butterflies and puppies for the first few pages, paragraphs, even thoughts when they're new. Then you hit the first bump - which could be stumbling over a character name, the laundry, or family - and you lose the thread of the story. OR, sometimes worse, the Plot Bunnies come to call and you have many good ideas. It's not good enough to project hop. To be a "real" writer, you have to have a Beginning, Middle, and End to a project - and then you have to submit it. A story isn't done just because you type "The End". It has to go out into the world. THEN you're a writer.

That's it. That's really the only rule. You have to do it. You have to put in the time and the effort. That's not to say all the other things aren't important - they're just not "rules". Yes, you need to market research. Yes, you need to follow the guidelines to the publication. Yes, your story has to be in Standard Manuscript Format (which is a different topic ).  But those are guidelines to show that you've done the work. That you're serious about yourself as a writer and your story as a creation, they're skills you learn as part of the craft of writing - but to get to craft, you have to make the conscious decision to follow the rule. You have to apply the behind to the chair, hands to the keyboard (or pen), and finish your project. There's nothing better than knowing you did it - unless it's selling the story and knowing other people, other writers, know you did it. So, go do it, and let me know how it goes. It doesn't have to be a novel. Flash Fiction is just as valid. Good luck.

I had a whole post written up about the "glamorous" life of being a writer, and then I read - with interest - a long, ongoing discussion on ebooks, piracy, and copyright on one of my mailing lists. They all seemed to tie together, and now I'm revamping the column.  And it all stems from both a sense of entitlement and this idea that writers are swimming in money and shouldn't care about getting paid for their work.

Many of my colleagues and friends spend valuable writing time surfing download sites, eBay, and other sites that pop up discovering places their work is available for free - and seriously ILLEGAL - downloads or have been scanned and are available for sale on an unauthorized cd.  And when confronted almost invariably the person responsible says they're "helping" the authors by getting their work out in front of more readers.

Unfortunately, what they're doing is stealing the work of hard working writers and making it harder for those authors to write more books. There's a vicious cycle out there. Where these illegal download sites and auctions may, as one article try to show, get an author a handful of readers, they're "invisible" sales. In a way, so are used book stores which are a different argument and topic.  The publishers don't see those sales, and those aren't considered when they look to see the bottom line numbers when offering (and retracting) new contracts.

The whole Amazon vs. Macmillan brought a bigger focus to ebooks and new technology. The publishing industry is still working to see what the future holds and advocates on both sides of the issue are making passionate arguments. Unfortunately, no one is in a position to see the future.

Just remember, when you look at free downloads - know where they're coming from.  If you get them FROM the author or legitimate publisher grab and enjoy. If you get them from any other kind of site, please reconsider. Many of us who are struggling to be working, producing writers have a second "day job". Writing to entertain you is not as lucrative as the Stephen Kings, JK Rowlings, and Richard Castles of the world make it out to be. Most of us struggle from day to day. Paycheck to paycheck. Those conventions we come to are paid for out of our own pockets  - just like the fans.

Respect the work. Respect the writer. When you're enjoying a book, realize that most writers have given up time with family and friends to work a second job to write that book for you. We've provided it as cheaply as the economy will bear, and we don't get paid enough to do it full time. The authors are not the greedy, money grubbing jerks the press and entitled-thinking pirates make us out to be. We're struggling - like most readers. Please don't make it harder.