Writing Tip: Some Writing Rules that Should Not be Blindly Followed Verbatim

Going out on a limb, I would guess that anyone who is checking out this website or is reading and studying any of the various How-To-Write books, is working on their own story. A bit farther out on that same limb, I’m pretty certain that most, if not all, of the people reading this have taken at least one fiction writing class and has had it drilled into their thinking – Obey the Rules of Writing!

The rules were probably presented as being fixed and immutable standards. To violate these rules in class would result in a red pen circle and a scathing note from the instructor. And, to violate these rules in any submission writing would result in a rejection.

Some of those fixed rules are – Do not mix tenses, never have a character’s names begin with the same letter as another character, Use Flashbacks, Adverbs, Adjectives and Passive Voice sparingly. At the change of a Point of View, begin a new chapter or at least a new section, set aside with a White Space.

But, the worst thing a beginning writer can let happen is to become rigid to the point of being a slave to The Rules. Writing rules must never get in the way of crafting a good story or a well written phrase. There are many novels, written by famous authors, which have examples of broken Fiction Writing 101 rules. Why did those authors break them? Simple, they did not let a fixed rule get in the way of an exciting or a moving story.

So, understand the purpose behind the Writing Rules. They are given to beginning writers because they help produce a good story. As one of those beginning writers, when you fully understand them, you will know when you should adhere to them and when you can put them aside to write a great story.

Here are some accepted Rules for Writing that although they are good rules to understand and to follow, should not be followed all of the time.

#1 Write for yourself. The idea here is if you do not like what you are writing, why would anyone else like it. However, that will greatly limit you to one general area of writing – things you like. If you like children’s stories about purple pigs, your readership will be very limited. The answer is to expand what you like and WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND.

If your goal is to be published, there’s no getting away from caring about – at least a little – what other people want to read. In other words, learn what readers like and write about that.

#2 Write what you know. Before I decided to try writing, I was a geologist in the oil industry. I spend most of my time in Houston, Texas. Anyone want to guess what my first novel concerned? Give yourself a Gold Star if you guessed, the Houston oil industry. I used that idea to get my toe wet and as the basis of my learning to tools of the trade.

No, my life was not as exciting as my main character. No one tried to kill me. I did not uncover a corporate espionage plot to bring down my company. But, I had the general feel of the industry and the location.

Concerning the “Rule” of writing about what you know, there is one trait I have used in all of my novels and short stories. In every scene and with every major character, I chose a person I have actually known or a location where I have actually been. in them. I have actually known them or have been in that location. So, when I describe a character or a location – I can see who or what it is. If I write about another dimension, I’d be writing with absolutely no knowledge of that location. So, in that case, as in when I wrote the sci fi novel, TFP, I write without a safety net. I made everything up.

The rule, Write what you know, can be limiting. It should be rewritten to, “Learn about what you want to write, before you begin."

#3 You must be in a writer’s group. The problem is that there are way too many writing groups that are simply not good. As I was learning the ins and outs of how to write, I was in several writing groups. I had almost given up on groups, when I found one that was great. We felt safe sharing our deepest thoughts. And, we were very honest. That last factor that makes a group a good group, everyone brought a particular skill set. I learned how to write with both guts and roses.

After six years, we just drifted apart. All good things come to an end, but I wish I knew how to find them and thank them.

So, to them, if they read this -- Judy, Renee and James, thank you for everything. You helped me so much.

Being in a bad writer’s group is disempowering, frustrating, and counter-productive. Being in a good one provides you a welcoming community, professional feedback, and craft insight.

#4 Don’t read other authors while you’re writing, or you’ll end up sounding just like them. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Reading a favorite author, can inspire you to write. If I begin a new writing project, many times I will read a novel from my list of authors I enjoy very much. Reading the energy a good author puts into the story and seeing the images they paint with their words, inspires me.

#5 Never use sentence fragments. One of the most efficient to make a point is to add the emphasis of stating the point in one short sentence fragment. If it sounds right to your ears, leave it alone. Even a sentence fragment. Note - Even a sentence fragment is a sentence fragment. And it worked.

These five rules are examples of rules that, while good rules, cannot be blindly followed. As an author, as you craft a story that will move a reader, do anything you need to, to catch the reader. In the end, that is the final judge. If they feel your material is too stiff or too formal, that effort fails.