DMCA.com Protection Status
  • Art
    • FEATURE: ESSEX DOCKS
    • Shoreline Series
    • Maritime Miniature Framed
    • Maritime Miniature Prints
    • Stationery
  • Narrative
    • Welcome
    • SAINT
    • BEYOND THESE WOODS
  • MRB | CREATIVE
    • About
    • Contact MRB
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Licensing
  • Search
Menu

MARK ROGER BAILEY

Street Address
Los Angeles, CA, 91711
Phone Number
Writer-Artist

Your Custom Text Here

MARK ROGER BAILEY

  • Art
  • Artworks
    • FEATURE: ESSEX DOCKS
    • Shoreline Series
    • Maritime Miniature Framed
    • Maritime Miniature Prints
    • Stationery
  • Narrative
  • Books
    • Welcome
    • SAINT
    • BEYOND THESE WOODS
  • MRB | CREATIVE
  • Resources
    • About
    • Contact MRB
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Licensing
  • Search
Swans+Depart+North+Cove+Pano.jpg

Reliable Narrative Blog

Breaking a Rule at 2:00 a.m.

February 24, 2016 Mark Roger Bailey

This is a cardinal rule for many creative writers. It is for me and has been inviolable for many years. Why break that rule now?

Read more
In by MRB Tags writing, first lines, Hemingway
Comment

RELIABLE NARRATIVE

Newsletter Block
This newsletter signup form needs a storage option. Edit the block and enter a storage location via the Storage tab.

Subscribe

Receive occasional news & updates:

Subscribe with confidence. Reliable Narrative respects your privacy, guaranteed. Cancel anytime.

Welcome and thank you for subscribing to Mark Roger Bailey's email membership and blog. Please visit often and join the conversation.

While you’re here, I invite you to visit my Collections Gallery and Shop to browse my signed, limited-edition prints.

  • August 2026
    • Aug 2, 2026 Siddhartha - An Indian Tale Aug 2, 2026
  • July 2026
    • Jul 1, 2026 The Inner Lives of Friends Jul 1, 2026
  • January 2026
    • Jan 31, 2026 ESSEX DOCKS Jan 31, 2026
  • January 2022
    • Jan 9, 2022 The Moment Almost Always Comes as a Surprise Jan 9, 2022
  • November 2021
    • Nov 28, 2021 Artists Sunday - Support Artists, Give the Gift of Art Nov 28, 2021
  • December 2020
    • Dec 21, 2020 Art Clarifies Dec 21, 2020
  • November 2020
    • Nov 10, 2020 Pandemics Converge Nov 10, 2020
  • September 2020
    • Sep 1, 2020 What is Your Brand Story? Sep 1, 2020
  • August 2020
    • Aug 2, 2020 Flying Jibs & Euterpe Aug 2, 2020
  • June 2020
    • Jun 21, 2020 Fathers and Sons Jun 21, 2020
  • March 2020
    • Mar 13, 2020 Takeaways As Starting Points Mar 13, 2020
  • October 2019
    • Oct 1, 2019 New England Light Oct 1, 2019
  • September 2019
    • Sep 22, 2019 WARLIGHT | Michael Ondaatje Sep 22, 2019
    • Sep 15, 2019 The Rule of Thirds Sep 15, 2019
  • August 2019
    • Aug 7, 2019 THEY CAME LIKE SWALLOWS | William Maxwell Aug 7, 2019
  • May 2019
    • May 20, 2019 The Secret Life of Waterbirds May 20, 2019
  • April 2019
    • Apr 28, 2019 The Interactive Power of Minimal Art Apr 28, 2019
    • Apr 14, 2019 Between Shore and Sea Apr 14, 2019
  • March 2019
    • Mar 31, 2019 Photojournalism as Art Mar 31, 2019
    • Mar 17, 2019 Today, We Are All Irish Mar 17, 2019
    • Mar 10, 2019 Navigating Choices Mar 10, 2019
    • Mar 3, 2019 The Art of Sail | Tall Ships Mar 3, 2019
  • February 2019
    • Feb 22, 2019 Creativity Squared Feb 22, 2019
  • August 2018
    • Aug 19, 2018 Separate Fictions, Joint Reality Aug 19, 2018
  • July 2018
    • Jul 23, 2018 Fine Art Photography Jul 23, 2018
  • September 2017
    • Sep 24, 2017 LIMITATIONS | Scott Turow Sep 24, 2017
  • August 2017
    • Aug 9, 2017 THE LAST HUNT | Horst Stern Aug 9, 2017
  • April 2016
    • Apr 13, 2016 CONFESSIONS OF MAX TIVOLI | Andrew Sean Greer Apr 13, 2016
  • March 2016
    • Mar 30, 2016 Conflict - The Author's Secret Ingredient Mar 30, 2016
    • Mar 25, 2016 Writing is . . . Mar 25, 2016
    • Mar 17, 2016 Happy St. Patrick's Day! Mar 17, 2016
    • Mar 15, 2016 The Editor's Story: Elisabeth Schmitz Mar 15, 2016
  • February 2016
    • Feb 24, 2016 Breaking a Rule at 2:00 a.m. Feb 24, 2016
  • September 2015
    • Sep 6, 2015 Ten Novel Facts About Rome Sep 6, 2015
  • August 2015
    • Aug 26, 2015 AVENGER | Frederick Forsyth Aug 26, 2015
    • Aug 14, 2015 THE HOUSE OF PAPER | Carlos Maria Dominguez Aug 14, 2015
    • Aug 9, 2015 Intuition Aug 9, 2015
  • April 2015
    • Apr 9, 2015 TATIANA | Martin Cruz Smith Apr 9, 2015
  • January 2015
    • Jan 9, 2015 SKROWERIF | Knate Myers Jan 9, 2015
  • December 2014
    • Dec 7, 2014 NO GREAT MISCHIEF | Alistair MacLeod Dec 7, 2014
  • September 2014
    • Sep 21, 2014 Call of the Writing Sep 21, 2014
  • February 2014
    • Feb 2, 2014 THE CAT'S TABLE | Michael Ondaatje Feb 2, 2014
  • September 2013
    • Sep 24, 2013 THE BIRD ARTIST | Howard Norman Sep 24, 2013
    • Sep 17, 2013 BEYOND THESE WOODS | Mark Roger Bailey Sep 17, 2013
    • Sep 12, 2013 Voyager Rewrites What We Know About the Universe Sep 12, 2013
  • May 2013
    • May 23, 2013 IT'S FINE BY ME | Per Petterson May 23, 2013
  • April 2013
    • Apr 15, 2013 Full Moon Silhouettes Apr 15, 2013
  • March 2013
    • Mar 18, 2013 The KILL ARTIST | Daniel Silva Mar 18, 2013
    • Mar 6, 2013 "Shallows At Dusk" Wins Mitchell Environmental Conservation Award Mar 6, 2013
    • Mar 2, 2013 Readers Rule Mar 2, 2013
  • September 2012
    • Sep 30, 2012 VIDEO: John Berger and Michael Ondaatje Sep 30, 2012
  • August 2012
    • Aug 27, 2012 Who is Reading Your E-Book: Trace Its DNA Aug 27, 2012
    • Aug 18, 2012 Collect These Images Aug 18, 2012
  • July 2012
    • Jul 22, 2012 Good Night, Earth Jul 22, 2012
    • Jul 7, 2012 Resonance: Dreams give us lift . . . Jul 7, 2012
  • March 2012
    • Mar 25, 2012 Your Brain on Fiction Mar 25, 2012
    • Mar 12, 2012 WOLVES EAT DOGS | Martin Cruz Smith Mar 12, 2012
  • February 2012
    • Feb 15, 2012 Resonance: The more personal . . . Feb 15, 2012
    • Feb 7, 2012 BIRDS IN FALL | Brad Kessler Feb 7, 2012
    • Feb 4, 2012 VIDEO: Carter Bays & Craig Thomas on "How I Met Your Mother" Feb 4, 2012
  • January 2012
    • Jan 15, 2012 Tablet and E-Reader Sales Soar Jan 15, 2012
  • November 2011
    • Nov 16, 2011 Novelist Ann Patchett Opens Bookstore in Nashville Nov 16, 2011
  • October 2011
    • Oct 5, 2011 Steve Jobs (1955-2011) Oct 5, 2011
  • September 2011
    • Sep 24, 2011 Paul Nicklen Gets The Picture Sep 24, 2011
    • Sep 10, 2011 The Day We Lost 3,000 Futures Sep 10, 2011
  • August 2011
    • Aug 13, 2011 Publishers Are Recovering Aug 13, 2011
  • June 2011
    • Jun 10, 2011 IN THE WAKE | Per Petterson Jun 10, 2011
  • April 2011
    • Apr 22, 2011 Storyselling: The Query Apr 22, 2011
  • March 2011
    • Mar 12, 2011 "Sleeping Mallard" Receives John G. Mitchell Award Mar 12, 2011
    • Mar 6, 2011 ANIL'S GHOST | Michael Ondaatje Mar 6, 2011
  • December 2010
    • Dec 28, 2010 The FAITHFUL SPY | Alex Berenson Dec 28, 2010
    • Dec 25, 2010 The INVENTION OF TRUTH | Marta Morazzoni Dec 25, 2010
    • Dec 23, 2010 The Woman-Haters: A Yarn of Eastboro Twin-Lights | Joseph C. Lincoln (1870-1944) Dec 23, 2010
  • October 2010
    • Oct 31, 2010 The GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO | Stieg Larsson Oct 31, 2010
  • September 2010
    • Sep 4, 2010 THE RED FOX | Anthony Hyde Sep 4, 2010
  • July 2010
    • Jul 17, 2010 A MATCH TO THE HEART | Gretel Ehrlich Jul 17, 2010
  • June 2010
    • Jun 25, 2010 Flannery O'Connor Technique Jun 25, 2010
    • Jun 20, 2010 LB Reinvigorates Its Identity Jun 20, 2010
    • Jun 12, 2010 Dan Douma (1946-2010) Jun 12, 2010
  • May 2010
    • May 28, 2010 OUT STEALING HORSES | Per Petterson May 28, 2010
    • May 15, 2010 Authors Are Bound To Publish May 15, 2010
  • April 2010
    • Apr 17, 2010 On Writing "The PACIFIC" | Bruce McKenna Apr 17, 2010
    • Apr 4, 2010 Avoid Mind Reading Apr 4, 2010
  • March 2010
    • Mar 23, 2010 FORTY FATHOM BANK | Les Galloway Mar 23, 2010
    • Mar 15, 2010 ABSOLUTION | Olaf Olaffson Mar 15, 2010
    • Mar 10, 2010 The LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL | John Le Carre Mar 10, 2010
    • Mar 1, 2010 Oscar Appreciates A Good Novel Mar 1, 2010
  • February 2010
    • Feb 7, 2010 SAINT: A Priest's Review Feb 7, 2010
  • January 2010
    • Jan 20, 2010 Thriller Writers Burn It Down Jan 20, 2010
    • Jan 9, 2010 LAST ORDERS | Graham Swift Jan 9, 2010
  • December 2009
    • Dec 28, 2009 The END OF THE ALPHABET | C.S. Richardson Dec 28, 2009
    • Dec 16, 2009 Random House Raises the Stakes Dec 16, 2009
  • November 2009
    • Nov 16, 2009 Write The Story That Will Change Your Life Nov 16, 2009
    • Nov 9, 2009 The WINDY DAY | Rick Bass Nov 9, 2009
    • Nov 8, 2009 Amy Bloom: I'm An Exotic Nov 8, 2009
  • October 2009
    • Oct 29, 2009 Happy Birthday, Internet! Oct 29, 2009
    • Oct 18, 2009 What VOYAGER 2 and a Blog Post Have In Common Oct 18, 2009
    • Oct 17, 2009 Weblog - Mission To The Unknown Oct 17, 2009
    • Oct 6, 2009 A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY | J.L. Carr Oct 6, 2009
    • Oct 3, 2009 GREAT HEART | Davidson & Rugge Oct 3, 2009
  • September 2009
    • Sep 3, 2009 How Much Does Amazon Want? Sep 3, 2009
  • August 2009
    • Aug 26, 2009 Negotiation Tips For Writers Aug 26, 2009
    • Aug 22, 2009 Novel Opening Lines Aug 22, 2009
    • Aug 16, 2009 SAINT at Amazon Aug 16, 2009
    • Aug 14, 2009 To Teens, Knowledge is Infinite Aug 14, 2009
    • Aug 7, 2009 e-Publishing Opens Doors for Authors Aug 7, 2009
  • July 2009
    • Jul 28, 2009 Nicholson Baker Test Drives the Kindle Jul 28, 2009
    • Jul 22, 2009 Kindle Posting 1: Most Systems 'Go' Jul 22, 2009
    • Jul 21, 2009 Kindle & The Evolution of a Writer Jul 21, 2009
    • Jul 5, 2009 Creative Writing & The Money Myth Jul 5, 2009
  • June 2009
    • Jun 29, 2009 "The Ledge" | Lawrence Sargent Hall Jun 29, 2009
    • Jun 28, 2009 The Last :05 Seconds Jun 28, 2009
    • Jun 22, 2009 Dramatic Structure | Aristotle Jun 22, 2009
    • Jun 17, 2009 One Chance Jun 17, 2009
    • Jun 14, 2009 A tree fell in the woods today... I heard it Jun 14, 2009
  • January 2005
    • Jan 30, 2005 TO THE LIGHTHOUSE | Virginia Woolf Jan 30, 2005
  • ABNA
  • Academy Awards
  • agent
  • Amazon
  • Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award
  • Amy Bloom
  • Apple
  • art
  • Authors Guild
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Berenson
  • blog
  • book
  • bookstore
  • Borders
  • business
  • Catch-22
  • Charles Moon
  • computers
  • Craig Thomas
  • David Angell
  • e-book
  • e-books
  • E-Reads
  • Eastboro Twin-Lights
  • editor
  • Ehrlich
  • fiction
  • Galloway
  • Graham Swift
  • Great Heart
  • Hall
  • Hemingway
  • Hollywood
  • iPad
  • iTouch
  • Ivan Doig
  • James Joyce
  • John Le Carre
  • John Truby
  • Kessler
  • Kindle
  • Knopf
  • knowledge
  • Konrath
  • Lannan
  • letter
  • Lisa Scottoline
  • Lisbeth Salander
  • literary
  • London
  • manuscript
  • marketing
  • Martin Cruz Smith
  • McKenna
  • memoir
  • metaphor
  • Michael Ondaatje
  • Mystery/Suspense
  • narrative
  • neuroscience
  • New York Times
  • Nicholson Baker
  • Nook
  • novel
  • novelist
  • novella
  • NY Times
  • Paley Center for Media
  • Penguin
  • persistence
  • Petterson
  • Pew Research
  • photo
  • professional
  • publisher
  • Publishers Marketplace
  • Publishers Weekly
  • publishing
  • Random House
  • Saint
  • Scribner's
  • script
  • short story
  • Sony Reader
  • Stanford
  • Steve Jobs
  • story
  • The Lovely Bones
  • Thriller
  • tiger
  • Viking
  • Vintage Books
  • Virginia Woolf
  • Voyager
  • Walter Kirn
  • write
  • writing
  • writing tip
  • Yannick Murphy
Summary Block
This block is invalid. Please check the block settings and try again.
Featured
Aenean eu leo Quam
Aenean eu leo Quam

Quisque iaculis facilisis lacinia. Mauris euismod pellentesque tellus sit amet mollis.

Read more →
Newsletter Block
This newsletter signup form needs a storage option. Edit the block and enter a storage location via the Storage tab.

- Stay in Touch -

We respect your privacy.

Welcome - Thank you for joining the Mark Roger Bailey Member email community. I respect your privacy and will not share your name or email.

-MRB

Terms Privacy

Reliable Narrative Blog RSS

© Mark Roger Bailey 2025