I realized something just now (literally just now!) — I’ve never taken a creative writing class.*
I’m entirely self-taught as a writer, and I’m a little insecure about it.
I’d already completed a first draft of my manuscript before I learned that good fiction writers were supposed to follow certain rules:
Using adverbs = lazy writing
“Said” is the best, some say only, dialogue tag you should use
Plotting > pantsing
Show, don’t tell
Stick to one point of view
Succinct > flowery
Don’t overuse commas
So, so many others that I can’t even remember right now
I’m grateful to these rules. They’ve helped me become a better writer, and my manuscript really is stronger without all those dialogue tags and adverbs.
That doesn’t make them good rules — or bad ones. They’re helpful at times and smothering at other times, and that is true about every creative rule that has ever existed.
You could fill multiple universes with everything I don’t know about creativity, but I do know this:
There’s no such thing as a good or bad creative rule. There are only rules that serve or smother our creative goals, and only sometimes, depending on the context.
What so-called rules of your craft do you love to break? Which ones have generally served you well?
*That’s actually changing soon. Thanks to this wonderful platform, I just signed up for my first ever writing workshop over at Writing Co-Lab!
Robin, whatever rules you are keeping or breaking, it is working! Congrats on signing up for your first writer's workshop. I'm sure you will enjoy it!
I enjoy breaking rules using art supplies, e.g. "you don't need white in watercolours" and "use watercolours in a very watered down manner" - actually, breaking these rules led to beautiful and fun discoveries. But I feel some technical rules are fundamental, e.g. having enough value contrast.