David Holmgren developed his 12 principles to assist architects, engineers, environmentalists, farmers, and anyone else involved in creating a sustainable habitat. In honor of Earth Day, I have found a further use for them.
1. Observe and interact.
To write truthfully, you need to pay attention to what’s around you. Even the wildest fantasies are inspired by what’s going on right here and now. Want to write realistic dialogue? Listen and talk to people.
2. Catch and store energy.
Take notes; you never know what will spark your next idea. Open yourself to inspiration in common and uncommon places.
3. Obtain a yield.
Keep your day job until your writing pays. To take this in another direction, does your creative work sustain you in other ways? If not, reconsider how you are spending your energy.
4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback.
“No one understands my brilliance!” Possibly. You can either be brilliant all on your own or listen to and consider suggestions, especially if more than one of your readers give you the same critique.
5. Use and value renewable resources and services.
Write what you know; work with what you have. You know which projects are likely to pay you back for the time invested.
6. Produce no waste.
Focus your ideas and nurture those that are likely to bear fruit. Obviously not everything you write is going to see publication or even a second draft, but if you suspect you might be frittering away your time, you’re probably right.
7. Design from patterns to details.
Develop your outline or plot first, using a pattern that makes sense to you and is at least somewhat familiar to your audience. Add the small touches, the trees in your forest, as you go.
8. Integrate rather than segregate.
You can apply this to your associates, your jobs, and your writing projects. It’s a far more efficient use of creative and emotional energy.
9. Use small and slow solutions.
Remember that story about the patient tortoise and the arrogant rabbit? Incremental change is easier to implement and monitor than a drastic, reactionary rewrite.
10. Use and value diversity.
Eggs, meet multiple baskets. Try a new method if you’re stuck. Seek out different critics.
11. Use edges and value the marginal.
My favorite one! Watch the interstices in any system or population; really interesting stuff happens there and often goes unnoticed. Got a rough edge in your story? Instead of trimming it off, examine it closely. It may be your new center.
12. Creatively use and respond to change.
Change happens, and fighting it is a waste of your time. Put it to work for you instead of complaining.
I hope these concepts are helpful in your writing endeavors and life in general. Celebrate Earth Day by reusing them and passing them on.
