I ran across an amusing discussion of somebody-or-other's Rules for Writers or whatever she called it. Like pretty much everyone I know, I have lots and lots of opinions on the subject, many of which are quite boring. But, in the spirit of repetition, I felt moved by this to make a list of some of my own ideas about writing. I didn't put it in essay form, because I kind of hate writing essays and definitely love writing lists.
stungunbilly'sRules Guidelines for Writers
stungunbilly's
- There are no meaningful rules for writers; forget the hope. There are so many different goals in writing that each real list has to be tailored to the project. Some suggestions fit most, however, and these are worth immortalizing. Suggestions, guidelines, other bendy things; these are useful. Rules are basically a hindrance.
- Figure out if you have a goal. If you do, tailor your list of guidelines to it. Everything you do that enhances that goal or set of goals in your work is "good", everything else is "bad" writing. Forget absolutes except in context.
- Everybody has a list of pet peeves. If tailoring a work to an audience, learn the most important of that audience's hot buttons and take them out of your work. UNLESS part of your goal is to push hot buttons in your audience. But never hope to please everybody, following any guideline at all. If not tailoring a work to an audience, a good guideline is to write what pleases you to read.
- No technique should be thrown away; all that words and styles and POVs etc. are is tools for your craft. Use the ones you need, ignore the ones you don't.
- Get someone to beta you who is good at creating the exact kind of thing you are trying for if you can.
- Use the spellcheck. I know everyone says that, but seriously. It's not always accurate, but it'll catch accidents often.
- Don't rely on spellcheck. Find homonym and homophone errors manually, or get a well-respected beta.
- Adapt to different projects and their different needs.
- If you have the slightest doubt about the meaning or spelling of a word, keep writing but make a note. Then go back and look it up.
- Keep your goal in mind when listening to or reading criticism of your work. If you're trying to communicate sadness, then "I hate it, it made me cry" is confirmation of your choices. "I loved it, you crack me up" probably isn't.
- Your goals could always change. Re-evaluate often.
- Cliche is inevitable for a writer. But if you write a phrase and it irritates you with triteness, by all means change it immediately. Just rephrase it. UNLESS you are going for triteness there, or trying to annoy your audience.
- If you write something that has a strong effect, note this. If it isn't the one you are going for, and you are still sticking with your original goal, then change it by all means. But then you might use the "mistake" later, when you need that kind of result. Nothing need be wasted.
- Write a lot. Even if it sucks, especially if it sucks, you really don't have to post it. But write. Think of it as an experiment, note your results carefully. This gives you a set of tools that you may use eventually to craft something brilliant.
- Before posting or publishing, try to gain an understanding of the context for your work. If you can, frame it to advantage.