Continuing our elaboration of Jack Kerouac’s Belief and Technique for Modern Prose.
Try never get drunk outside yr own house
Why not get drunk outside your own house? This is good advice for obvious reasons. You could get into a fight, make a fool of yourself, or suck face with a total stranger. You’ll avoid DUIs, black eyes, and regrets if you indulge at home.
What does this have to do with modern prose?
If we apply Jack’s advice to writing, we might say that it means to keep our grandiose ideas safely tucked away until they’re sober enough to get dressed and walk out into the light of day.
I’ve seen too many writers rush to publish and sabotage themselves by not polishing their work.
Resist submitting your wild typewritten pages while still high on creative madness. Keep your writing safe till the energy has settled, the manuscript has matured, and you have your editor look at it first!
—Christa
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