Heinlein "On the Writing of Science Fiction"

Robert A. Heinlein is one of the great masters of science fiction. His novel Stranger in a Strange Land, winner of the 1962 Hugo Award, was the first science fiction book to hit the best seller lists. His work is largely responsible for my own introduction to the genre and, as such, is influential in my own writing.

In a 1947 essay he published the following rules "On the Writing of Science Fiction."

Heinlein's Rules

1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you write.
3. You must never rewrite (unless to editorial demand, and then only if you agree)
4. You must mail what you finish.
5. You must keep the story in the mail until someone buys it.

My mind balks at the third rule. I am the queen of rewrites. Rewrites make the story better, don't they?

I just finished my first flash fiction story. Flash fiction is fiction of extreme brevity. As of this moment, I only exceeded the word count by 19 words. Not bad for this loquacious writer.

In the theme of flash fiction, and in an attempt to honor Heinlein's advice, I am going to keep this blog brief—time to walk away from the keyboard.