With all of the talk about "rules," I sometimes wonder if we aren't being groomed to sound exactly the same, like we're all writing into the same corner. Let's call it the 2009 Writing Rules Corner. I'm thankful for the rules, but it's possible to take them to the extreme, and worse, they change all the time.
I agree with most of them and, trust me, I'm thankful for them. My writing has improved leaps and bounds, but some of the rules have changed my writing style in a bad way. With my last book, I stomped my foot and made the decision to break a few rules.
Adverbs are not demons. "Ing" verbs aren't the devil's minions. Dialogue tags are sometimes necessary. And no, I'm not saying to dump adverbs, ing-verbs, and dialogue tags back into your work willy-nilly, but they aren't disgusting scabs to pick out. They're words.
I'm glad I bent the rules, because my voice peeked through. Sure, many will read my book and tsk-tsk over the rule-breakage, but the writing reflects me.
Trust your voice. Believe in it. Don't worry about breaking some of the rules. Your voice is what makes you unique, and if your voice includes a few adverbs, so be it!
Have any of the rules stifled your voice?
Happy Writing!
YES! Sometimes the rules deflate me. I like giving myself the luxury of breaking the rules...especially when I write the rough draft. Thanks for this post, Jill!
ReplyDeleteI'm such a "Live by the rules" kinda girl so every time I learn a new one I automatically rush to my MS and make sure it's being followed. But really. I like my adjectives. They are pretty. I still tend to use to many!
ReplyDeleteRules are tough for me--once I learn them I have to force myself to allow myself to break them!! AAAH! And I know it's ok too but I hate to have someone else say I broke too many! What to do!
ReplyDeleteGood morning!!
ReplyDeleteKatie: The rough draft is a great place to break the rules!
Marybeth: I love it! I can see you rushing to your manuscript. :) And adjectives are pretty, aren't they?
Terri: I've taken the rules to the extreme. No more! I don't think editors are looking for technical perfection as much as they're looking for well-told stories. Obviously, I'm not talking about grammar and such--there's no excuse for mediocre craft! I'm talking about the little personal choices.
Thanks for stopping by!
To me, writing rules are more like guidelines. For the most part, they guide me, but I'm still leading and directing my writing.
ReplyDeleteI think the other thing we have to remember is that any time we're learning something new, it takes more conscious effort to implement it. But once it becomes second nature, then we can write more effortlessly but better.
I totally agree! I keep the rules in the back of my mind, but allow myself to break them as needed.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Sometimes I'm at war with myself, because I want to do things "right," but what I want more is to use my voice.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Jody: Good point! I've found the same. The more I consciously adapt a rule, the more it becomes second nature.
ReplyDeleteMeganRebekah: Right on!
Janna: Yep. Voice and storytelling are key. I'm still finding a balance of my way and "rules" way.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Jill, I loved this blog. I agree with you (and I'm going to use an adverb,) completely. One of my pet peeves when I read is going back and figuring who said what, especially when I thoutht it was the other way around. Clarity is so important to a reader.
ReplyDeleteJill, I wrote five manuscripts before I knew the rules, and yet three of them finaled in contests. What that told me was that story trumps.
ReplyDeleteI read a debut novel recently in which the author breaks one rule after another, and yet her book is loved by many and has garnered awesome reviews. I attended a conference where her editor was there on staff and asked him about this. His answer will stay with me. The editor said he hadn't really thought about the rules; he liked the story, and that's why he bought it.
While I tend to be a rule-follower, I'm learning to trust myself and let my voice out. So far, it's working for me. I had an entry final this month in which I intentionally broke the rules a few times. To me that's the key. If I break them without reason, I can weaken my writing. If, however, I do so because it works for my story, I'm OK with that.
I completely agree with you! I had so many adverbs in my first ms, and I removed almost all of them because of the rules. Honestly, I think it seems stale and flat now. My voice seems to have been muted. Breaking the rules isn't always a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a hard one. I know that many of the rules are there for a reason, but I don't follow them religiously. Sometimes WAS is the right word.
ReplyDeleteNancy: I'm telling--you used an adverb--heh! Yes, the "he said, she said" is necessary many times. It's important to know who's speaking.
ReplyDeleteKeli: Thank you so much for sharing your story. It proves what I've been mulling over for some time. Voice and story are much more important than worrying about an extra dialogue tag or a few adverbs. You give me hope!
LazyWriter: I know what you mean. Some of my "extra" words give a musical quality to the writing. And some are over the top. It's hard to distinguish between the two.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Erica: Yes. They're especially (don't hang me--adverb alert!!) necessary in internal dialogue. My characters ask themselves plenty of questions and the following words come into play: Was, Would, Could, Should. I will not apologize for this!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Hi Jill -
ReplyDeleteI get frustrated when I see established writers breaking the rules. New writers are held to the highest standard.
Once a writer proves they can sell books, editors seem to give them a lot more freedom.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Susan: We should all strive for high standards. However, if the standard changes often (which it does), doesn't being a terrific storyteller trump? If we ask editors, we'll get a yes. Rules are only part of the equation.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by!
I am in full agreement with your post. Don't lose your voice! That's the most important thing. (Of course, don't suck at writing either.)
ReplyDeleteBreak 'em girl! LOL Yes, rules tend to freeze me. I've learned the important ones, the ones that make me stronger, but then if the sentence sounds better and flows smoother with the word 'was', I use it. If I need to tell for a paragraph and don't feel it takes from the story, I do. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're at a great place because the "rules" are really just guidelines. That's it. Editors, from everything I've read, seem a little confused when rules are mentioned. LOL
Like some of the other commenters, I've found that the rough draft is the best place to break the rules! Sometimes I get frozen on a sentence or concept because I'm afraid to use an adverb or an -ing verb, but I have to remind myself that it's okay, especially in a rough draft. I can let my voice come through the first time around, and fix it up later if need be!
ReplyDeleteIcyRoses: Ha! Too funny!
ReplyDeleteJessica: Yeah, I get that too. I've come to the conclusion that the only ones who know the "rules" are new writers and contest judges. Seriously. :)
Faith: Welcome! Nicely put! My edits always include a judicious Find/Replace search of the word "only." It seems to be my favorite word!
Thanks for stopping by!
Rules are good and are definitely needed.
ReplyDeleteBut then...there are the rule-Nazis who take it to the stifling level.
(Like the people who don't ever want to see a passive sentence. Ever) LOL!
i want to buck against the rules...yet i know i shouldn't as a newbie not-yet pubbed. *sigh* however...my fav POV is still first...and i will continue to write first person. ARE YOU LISTENING AGENTS AND EDITORS? I LOVE CHICK LIT!! wow...needed to get that off my chest.
ReplyDeleteJennifer: Rule Nazis--love it! No more stifling!
ReplyDeleteJeannie: If you put a unique twist with excellent storytelling on chick-lit, it will sell. Agents just want fresh, well-written tales. They don't want technically perfect rehash.
I always assumed editors and agents cried over adverbs and such, but I don't believe it's the case. I'd say most new authors fall into the same traps: overuse of adverbs, head-hopping, unclear GMC's, lack of conflict, overuse of sentences starting with "ing" words. All of these together add up to craft problems. But a good story, minus most of the craft issues, plus the writer's unique voice will sell a book. Adverbs included.
Thanks for stopping by!
ahhhhh, I love rules... but it's also fun to take a hammer to them and break a few sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI think many of the rules are touted to newbie writers because they are broken SO very badly. like the adverb thing and the dialogue tags. But very rarely, if ever, do I read a book who doesn't break them SOME of the time. Because they were meant to be broken. Just... only a little:-)
I hear ya, sister! I'm ready to throw some rules out the window myself. I'm just in that kind of mood tonight.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, good post. I think as we become better writers, the rules aren't really rules anymore. There are places in our writing for really good adverbs, but in other places we need to simply find a better, more-descriptive verb.
If you know the rules, it's okay to break them sometimes. Without your unique voice, your ms will be just another blah-but-correctly-written bunch of words.
ReplyDeleteTrust thy gut!
Krista: I'm going to borrow your hammer :)! And I agree, the rules were put out there to help us because there are so many cases of badly broken ones.
ReplyDeleteHeather: Good point. I've become much better at finding great action verbs, and maybe that's why I'm feeling stifled? I needed the adverbs before, but now I just want a few.
Angie: "Trust thy gut." Perfect!!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
This is a beautiful post, Jill! Rules are good, but not when they're interfering with telling the story. In my real life, vs my imaginary authorial one, I'm a stickler for rules. But writing isn't real life, and it's wonderful to let the story come first. :)
ReplyDeleteDanyelle: You're right. Writing isn't real life and the story should come first. Nice!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
I've always believed that rules are meant to be broken with the right attitude!!
ReplyDelete