Welcome to a whimsical journey through the wisdom of Neil Gaiman. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and let's embark on a journey that's part literary analysis, part stand-up comedy, and part existential crisis as we explore Neil's rules for life and writing.
Rule #1:
Make Good Art
Neil Gaiman's first rule is as simple as it is profound: "Make good art." Now, I know what you're thinking: "Wow, thanks, Neil. I was planning on making terrible art, but you've really turned me around on that one." But let's dig a little deeper.
What Gaiman is really saying here is that the value of your work isn't determined by how much money it makes, how many likes it gets on Instagram, or whether your mom puts it on the fridge. The value of your work is determined by you. If you've created something that you're proud of, something that resonates with you, then congratulations, you've made good art.
Rule #2:
Do What You Care About
The second rule is "Do what you care about." This is a bit like saying "Eat what you're hungry for" or "Sleep when you're tired." It seems obvious, but how often do we ignore our own desires in favor of what we think we should be doing?
Gaiman is telling us to trust our instincts, to follow our passions. If you're writing a story about vampire werewolves in space because you think it's what people want to read, but you're secretly passionate about historical romance between Victorian-era garden gnomes, then you're doing it wrong. Write the gnome romance. Trust me, the world needs it.
Rule #3:
Try New Things
The third rule is "Try new things." This is where Gaiman's advice starts to sound less like a world-renowned author and more like a motivational poster in a high school guidance counselor's office. But again, there's more to it than meets the eye.
Doing new things doesn't just mean trying sushi for the first time or learning to juggle. It means pushing the boundaries of your own creativity. It means taking risks, breaking rules, and venturing into uncharted territory. It means writing a story that scares you, that challenges you, that forces you to grow as an artist.
Rule #4:
Ignore The Rules
Now, this might seem a bit contradictory coming right after "Do new things." After all, aren't rules there to help guide us, to provide structure and order? Well, yes and no.
Rules can be helpful, but they can also be limiting. They can stifle creativity and discourage originality.
Now, Gaiman isn't suggesting that we should all become literary anarchists, throwing grammar and punctuation to the wind. He's saying that sometimes, in order to create something truly unique, you have to color outside the lines.
Rule #5:
Embrace Your Uniqueness
This is the kind of thing that gets printed on a mug and given to you as a Christmast gift by well-meaning aunts. But as with all of Gaiman's advice, there's a deeper truth.
Your voice, your perspective, your experiences - these are all unique to you. No one else can tell your story the way you can. So don't try to imitate someone else's style or tone. Embrace your own.
As Linda Kowalchek so eloquently puts it in her article, "Writing is all about showing your personality." Your readers deserve to experience your authentic self, not a censored or fabricated version of who you are. So let your freak flag fly, my friends. The world is ready for it.
Rule #6:
Fail Often
Now, I know what you're thinking: "Finally, a rule I can follow!" But Gaiman isn't just telling us to fail. He's telling us to fail better. To learn from our mistakes, to grow from our failures, and to use them as stepping stones on the path to success. So the next time you face rejection or criticism, don't see it as a setback. See it as an opportunity. A chance to improve, to evolve, to become a better writer and a better person.
Rule #7:
Be Persistent
This is the literary equivalent of Dory's "Just keep swimming" from Finding Nemo. It's a reminder that success isn't always about talent or skill. Sometimes, it's about endurance. It's about weathering the storm, pushing through the hard times, and never giving up on your dreams. So keep writing, keep creating, keep striving. Your breakthrough could be just around the corner.
Rule #8:
Believe In Yourself
This might sound like a cheesy line from a Disney movie, but it's actually one of the most important pieces of advice that any artist can receive. Self-doubt is the enemy of creativity. It's the voice in your head that says "You're not good enough, you're not talented enough, you're not original enough." But Gaiman is here to tell you that you are enough. You have what it takes. You just need to believe in yourself.
Rule #9:
Enjoy The Journey
This is perhaps the most overlooked piece of advice in the creative world. We get so caught up in the pursuit of success, in the pressure to be perfect, that we forget to enjoy the process. But creating art should be fun. It should be a source of joy and fulfillment. So the next time you sit down to write, don't just do it because you have to. Do it because you love it.
Rule #10:
Make Your Own Rules
This is Gaiman's way of saying "Take my advice with a grain of salt." Because at the end of the day, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to writing or to life. We're all different, and what works for one person might not work for another. So don't be afraid to forge your own path, to create your own rules. After all, you're the author of your own story.
One Last Thing...
In the immortal words of Gaiman himself, "Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one." So, the next time you're lost in the sea of information, remember to seek out your friendly neighborhood librarian.
Until next time, keep making good art, keep laughing, and keep writing your own story. After all, no one can tell it quite like you can.