By Peter A Bell

I HAVE A FEW personal rules, or guidelines, that I try to keep in mind when writing. Such as,

• There is nothing that can’t be written about. Which means that inspiration must be everywhere.

If you are struggling to think of something to write about, it can only be because you haven’t opened yourself to the inspiration that is around you.

• Never set out to write an article. Set out only to write a phrase or a sentence. The rest will write itself as ideas and thoughts connect with one another. Or it won’t. In which case, don’t set out to write a different text. Just write a new phrase or sentence.

• A text is never finished. You just stop working on it. Stop working on a text before you start making changes just for the sake of it. Never be satisfied. At best, be content.

• Spellcheck! Especially names!

• Save your work at least as often as you blink. Which reminds me… I’m still not sure what this article is going to be about. I’m waiting to see where my initial thought takes me.

That was the thought about ‘blank page syndrome’ and how this ceases to be a problem if you set out only to put down a few words so the page is not blank any more. And neither is your mind. This idea of just doing something without really knowing what will come of it, if anything, connects with the theme of uncertainty which looms so large in our political discourse. It sometimes seems that politicians and political commentators talk about little else but the lack of certainty; the urgent need for certainty; or the impossibility of ever achieving certainty. The latter often at the same time as they demand the certainty they are saying can’t be had.