A few months ago I printed a 25 page article from The Guardian called “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction.” Thirty different writers contributed their lists. I thought the article might inspire me to start thinking about writing another novel.

A Billy Collins poem, “Advice to Writers” was the prompt for a writing group I am part of. The poem is an imaginative journey that Billy Collins does so beautifully. What I came to write as a response to the prompt was my own advice to writers. It works just as well for any creative endeavor. And as a bonus, I have 15 points of advice:

1. Before you get started, make sure the kitchen is in a state that will make it easy to make lunch because you’ll be hungry after hours of writing. Otherwise, you’ll throw together something while nibbling that whole bag of potato chips you weren’t supposed to buy.
2. Make a large cup of tea—or coffee with cacao nibs and real cream.
3. Open your computer. Do not look at email. Maybe just check if your order has left the Fed-Ex facility yet. Oh, and check the hourly weather.
4. Find where you left off writing yesterday (or last week or before Christmas) and read what you wrote.
5. There’s a cacao nib in your teeth that won’t dislodge so get some dental floss.
6. Now the cat is staring at you. Go get her food dish. She likes to eat wherever you are. Rather she expects it.
7. There goes that couple from Santa Fe, walking their dog, Biscuit. You don’t remember the couples’ name but you have it written down in a drawer with their house key. They want you to feed Biscuit for a week while they’re away. You don’t know why they asked you; you’ve only spoken over the fence a few times. You wonder if they’re Russian agents investigating whether or not you’d be a possible asset.
8. OK. Write.
9. Take a sip of coffee
10. Blow your nose
11. Wonder if you took your thyroid medication this morning.
12. Those coupons for the hardware store expire in two days. What is the likelihood you’ll get up there by then. You don’t know what you’ll even buy but that’s five dollars.
13. Check Fed-Ex. Is it Out for Delivery yet?
14. OK. Write. Starting now.
15. Maybe read that “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction.” For the first time.