Writing into the Dark: How to Write a Novel without an Outline

by Dean Wesley Smith

done, it can’t be shown and thus can’t cause you any (imaginary) harm. Rule #3: You must refrain from rewriting unless to editorial demand. Critical voice uses the myth of rewriting to make sure nothing will ever be “good enough” and ready to show anyone. Rule #4: You must put your work on the market. Critical voice can think of a thousand ways to make you afraid of the repercussions of mailing or indie publishing your work. Rule #5: You must keep your work on the market until it sells. Critical voice does wonders when you get rejections from an editor, and can stop you from putting the work back out. And if publishing indie, some imaginary expected sales figure not hit, or some bad review, will cause beginning writers to pull down work.