There are lots of rules when it comes to writing.
No head hopping. Avoid passive sentence structure. No cliches. Show, don’t tell. Write using scene and sequel. Make sure your scenes have GMCs. Write tight. Be specific. Don’t use a prologue. Or if you do, make sure it’s done in the correct way.
Et Cetera.
Et Cetera.
Et Cetera.
Yet, we pick up books – published books – and we see the rules broken. And we scratch our heads because we don’t break the rules.
Do you know in The Help, a best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett, there is a scene completely told in objective point of view? The story’s told from three different perspectives, all in first-person point of view. Each of the three voices fleshed out in a way that spins my head, it’s that good. And then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, there’s this one scene.
This one scene that reads like a newspaper article. A detached telling of the events. As if the reader were hovering above the party observing the goings-on of each character. Unattached.
Kathryn Stockett broke a rule.
And it completely, one hundred percent works.
I remember laying in bed, reading that scene, crazy impressed because of how well it works. And I remember thinking….
Kathryn Stockett gets it. She understands that amongst the lot of rules hemming us writers in, there is only one that should never ever be broken. There is only one we should vow to live by. And it’s this.
Do what works.
Three simple words.
Do what works.
It’s a rule that overrides all the others. It’s a rule that lets us break all the others. It’s a rule that helps us understand all the others.
Because, usually, following the rules is what works best.
But not always.
So the next time you’re stuck, wondering if you should prologue or not. Wondering if you should tell or not. Wondering if you should throw in a random point of view or not. Ask yourself this one question:
Does it work?
And if the answer is yes, go for it.
Let’s Talk: How much of a rule-follower are you when it comes to writing? When it comes to life? Is there one rule you live by?
I've been attending conferences for the last year and a half. The rules make sense, but can be overwhelming. "Do what works" is a refreshing perspective. 🙂
Especially liked this post, Katie. As a newbie out here, I strive hard to learn and follow the "rules" of good writing. BUT after that, you reminded us that we also need to roam free sometimes and go as the story leads.
Thanks. Heading off to try both!
Loved The Help. I want to write like that when I grow up.
Yes, yes, yes! I totally agree! I don't know if I'm a regular rule-breaker. Probably not. I'd have to see a need or a purpose in breaking the rule first. But in writing, I'm totally comfortable doing what I think is best for the story. That includes headhopping. *grin*
Love this post, Katie. I'm trying to learn to let go of the rules, because though they run a current of understanding through me, I sometimes feel like I could drown in them. I'm freer and my writing is better when I'm not so choked up on the have-to's.
I love to break rules. I love to make them up as I go along, too. 😉 I don't aim to do so to the point of annoyance. I think it's best done on an as needed basis.
Also, I LOVED your reply on my blog yesterday!!! Yes, passion makes the world go round. You cannot get me to do one thing I'm not passionate about. =)
I read something this weekend that said, "you can't break the rules until you really know them." I suppose if you understand what rule you're breaking, and it works, like you said, go for it.
I don't think I have a firm enough grasp of ALL the rules yet to be a total rogue rule-breaker.
I've heard you have to know the rules and know them well before you can break them. Knowing the rules makes the story shine. And from what I can tell, you can only break them after you've been published and the publisher knows you can write and sell. 🙂
Nice! In life I'm not really a "whatever works" kind of person, but I get where you're going with the thought for the fiction world (or maybe writing in general). While there are rules that have great grounding and good reason for being and breaking them should be the exception, doing everything you can to be grammatically correct can take the voice right out of the story. So there are certain rules I definitely break. Like that one about fragments. 😉
I'm laughing right now because I'm reading a book that has distant POV all over the place, and I LOVE a good deep-POV-book. But in the midst of the distant POV, I found myself gobbling up 200 pages in one day and staying up waaaaay past my bedtime last night. 🙂
As to your questions…I'm finding that most of those rules are there for a reason, and the more I write, the more they become second-nature. By getting to that point, it actually frees me up to break them once in a while. It's tough for a newbie writer to break the rules effectively until they get the hang of them in their writing first.
Katie, I love that you used Kathryn Stockett as your example of success. I was just reading an article about her the other day. Do you know she got 60 rejections on The Help before it sold? 60!!!! She said she started telling people she was working on something else just so they didn't think she was nuts for continuing to work on it.
So persevering is one rule I vow not to break!
Hmmm….the five second rule 😉
Thank you. It has taken me a long time to learn to go with my gut as long as I understand what rule I am breaking. I love rules but sometimes they don't work!
Hey Katie! The one rule I follow? Rules were made to be broken. *wink*
Wonderful post, though and these are the writers I love to read. The ones that can break a rule and the reader (especially a writing reader) almost doesn't even notice it. If a writer has voice then she/he can get by with a lot.
Over the last ten years or so, I've noticed the rules of writing change. What was acceptable in the 90s and early aughts is no longer acceptable. For that reason, I try to stick to the basic rules that don't change so quickly–grammar (changes, but slowly), story arc, etc. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to develop voice and rhythm. A great voice covers a multitude of sins, such as adverbs. Really, I mean that. Adverbs are soft and rolling and great for rhythm–for the sound of story, rather than the mechanics of it.
I think I must be a conformist, but hopefully I can stay within the 'rules' and still be interesting.
Though I'm contemplating breaking the rules bigtime with this novella collection…we'll see if it works or if I crash and burn. 😀
I didn't know any of the rules when I wrote my first book, and it shows, which is why that manuscript remains in the recesses of my hard drive. Gradually I began to learn the rules and, being an obedient oldest child, absorbed them into my DNA. The result was stifling. My stories became lackluster pieces of technically correct prose.
I made a conscious decision to think of the "rules" as "generally accepted guidelines," and that freed me to follow my instincts at times. I gave myself permission to break a rule if I had a good reason for doing so and it was best for the story. The result: I found my voice–or it found me.
I'm pretty sure I don't even know all the rules yet, so there is a good chance I'm breaking them all.
My thought is that the best way to learn is to just do it and then fix it as necessary with rewrites.
I try to follow the rules, but to every rule there is an exception. You're completely right, write what works and what fits the story or character.
Bravo. You said it best.
THIS. I try to know what the rules are and pay attention if they'll add or take away from a story. But if what works for my story is against the rules, I'll write it anyway. There have been times I'll break a rule just to see if I can write it well the other way. 😉 In the novel I wrote for NaNo2009, I deliberately wrote cliches–as many of them as I could. I know that sounds weird, but it shaped the story and made it exactly what it needed to be.
I like to break rules. In writing and in life. It has actually become a big part of my writing voice. And hey, Jesus broke rules all the time. I figure I'm good breaking rules as long as they're not his.
Richard's right–breaking some rules shows immaturity in craft. But once you reach a level of writing experience that breaking a rule is an intentional choice for purposeful effect, then the rules becomes tools the writer uses, even while in the process of breaking them.
I'm with Heather. I'll read anything if it's good whether rules are broken or not. I try to follow most rules, but occasionally, like you said I have to bend or break to make it work.
Love it! And the comments that have followed, especially Richard Mabry's about finding your voice.
It's important to know the rules so you know when you are breaking them and do it on purpose because, in a particular instance, it works. Great post!
Cheers to the doc's last point!
A great post, Katie. I'd say I L it, but I can't b/c of my challenge. 😉
I keep an article in my writing desk about how The Help came to be, its publishing journey and it is such a motivator. Maybe I'll bring a copy to conference for you to have.
~ Wendy
I think every writer feels that they're in a vise trying to write while following rules. What I eventually found was that some rules make sense–avoid passive voice, don't head-hop–and some are just the preferences of certain editors and agents (like the prologue thing). You're exactly right. Write what works. Otherwise, it's not really your voice.
The rules drive me nuts. I get them. I know why they're there and why you're not supposed to break them, but then like you say, when you read a book that throws caution to the wind, and it's fabulous, you're like 'huh?'. I guess I've always been a bit of a rule breaker. Whether or not that works in my favor remains to be seen.
Life rules? Honesty. That's my biggie.
I like it! It's definitely been my parenting rule lately as we handle spring sports, a broken arm, piano recitals, etc…. do what works :).
As a writer, I'm distracted when I read and I see a major rule broken, like major head-hopping. But I'm also pretty forgiving as a reader. If it's a good story, I usually skip right over the broken rules. You're so right, if it's working it doesn't matter if you're breaking the rules b/c it works. So, I like combining your post with what Paul said. Learn the rules, break them if you need to, but always stick to the ONE BIGGIE and tell a fantastic story.
I'm not anymore but I had to be at the start in order to learn the rules! What a great example you gave.
Which goes very well with Do what works. I kinda like yours better. Tell a good story. If you have to break the rules to do it, then so be it. Thanks for the wise words, Paul.
I try to follow the rules, but I know I often forget them, at least in a first draft. Usually I'm more focused on rules of narrative at first. Once the story is down I know I can go back fix the problems I left behind.
I suppose that would be my one rule. Tell a good story.