This week in the L.A. Times there was an article by David No about actress Jenny O’Hara who said the best piece of advice about acting she ever got was in a play directed by Gene Saks. Before opening night Saks told the cast: “Don’t whore. Go out there and play the play.” 

“It’s the best advice you can give an actor when you’re ramping up to opening night,” said O’Hara. “You have to stay true to the play and not pander to the audience.” 

This goes for writers too. Don’t whore, stay true to the story. Don’t try to sell us something, don’t try to impress us. Just write what happened and how you felt about it and what meaning you found.