In a post on Writer Unboxed, Sarah Penner gives our favorite kind of advice: Break the damn rules! “All writing advice should be taken with a grain of salt,” she says. “Writing is art, and art doesn’t mix with rules. Take what works for you as the creator, and leave the rest behind.”
Penner identifies six rules you should reconsider:
- Avoid the passive voice. “The fact is, the passive voice is lovely and artistic,” Penner says,. “It creates a sense of mystery and separation.”
- Write what you know. Most writers don’t know anything about the finer details of their novels when they start writing. “I shudder to think of the many aspiring authors who’ve tossed aside a solid book idea because this rule makes them believe they don’t know enough,” Penner says. “Writers, knowledge can be gained — and imagination does the rest.”
- Write for the market. Instead, Penner recommends aiming for the different and untapped, especially if you are trying to break through.
- Show, don’t tell. “Craft books love to remind us of this one, but in some instances, detail can be irrelevant or redundant,” Penner says. The passage of time is one common instance where you should tell, rather than attempt to relate the minutiae of your character’s life.
- Formulaic narrative structures. Contrary to popular advice, Moment A does not have to occur by Point X in your novel. “Forget page numbers and percentages,” Penner says. “What matters is that the story engages the reader, who — trust me on this — won’t even notice when you’ve transitioned into the second act of your story.”
- Don’t use a thesaurus. “Some well-established authors advise writers to use the simplest word possible — the word most readily available and quick to come to mind,” Penner notes. “But I don’t think I’m alone when I say that sometimes, my (very tired, very taxed) mind cannot always recall the precise word for which I’m searching. It’s then that the thesaurus is my best friend.” The thesaurus can help you find the best word and it might teach you a few new ones.
[Ed. note – I’ll add that you shouldn’t choose a word that doesn’t fit your story or your voice, and you should know its precise definition and connotation. Other than that, use the tools available to you. Like Penner, I’m a fan of the Thesaurus!]
