Not so much a law, but an idea for writers as suggested by Kate Wilhelm:

Throw away your first three ideas.

The first is low-hanging fruit that anybody can figure out (or already know). The second is something still a little obvious. The third is something few can figure out… but the fourth… that’s the gem you need to dig up.

It’s this law of writing that plays out in the back of my head every time I sit down to the keyboard. Whether I’m writing on this site, gathering my thoughts for the day, my journal in the morning or even a simple tweet, I’m always asking how hard I’ve had to dig to get at it.

The harder the dig, the more honest the writing and subsequently, the more vulnerability that is shared.

We can all engage on the surface (small talk) and while it has its uses, it’s not where the conversation needs to be. I try to get there, but sometimes, there are places I fear to tread.

Perhaps that’s why Wilhelm’s law is such a powerful idea–it forces you to come to terms with yourself.