“These rules, pressed far enough, contradict each other. Such is the nature of rules for art.”
I came across this quote just the other day with another set of rules for authors and I think it sums up my response to many of the rules I have just looked at for writing a modern novel. Rules can be broken, unlike laws which are more binding. Rules are things you have in […]
The Tenth Rule for Writing a Modern Novel
Leave Out the Parts Readers Tend to Skip This is an odd rule. Leave out the parts readers tend to skip. And those would be …? And those would be just about impossible to predict, seeing as everyone is different. Even in my breakdown of all ten of these rules, my difference of opinion to […]
The Ninth Rule for Writing a Modern Novel
Avoid detailed descriptions of places or things For the first time we have a rule that I really like! I can’t stand huge descriptions of the background unless they are an integral part of the story. Personally, I’ve never been good at ‘painting’ in a background, whether it’s with words or anything else. Even as […]
The Eighth Rule for Writing a Modern Novel
Avoid Detailed Descriptions of Characters This is one I’ve definitely broken in my first novel. In fact, there used to be a lot more, but I edited it out. I love hearing about characters, as long as they are ones who are important to the story. Now, I’m guessing this advice is trying to tell […]
The Seventh Rule for Writing a Modern Novel
Use Dialect Sparingly I do agree with this rule. When this rule says ‘dialect’ it’s talking about (I think!) those passages where characters start talking like this, “‘e said that ‘e couldn’t roolly work out that what I was talkin’ ‘boot.’ While I don’t mind this in small doses, in big ones it can be […]
The Sixth Rule for Writing a Modern Novel
Never use the words ‘suddenly’ or ‘all hell broke loose’ I haven’t ever used ‘all hell broke loose’, but I do confess that there are a few ‘suddenly’s in The Heir. It’s interesting, because even before I saw this list, I didn’t really like them there, but I wasn’t sure if I was fussing about […]
The Fifth Rule for Writing a Modern Novel
Keep Your Exclamation Points Under Control I love using exclamation points. A lot. You can probably tell just from what I’ve written so far on this website! But there is definitely a point, especially in a book, where they can become too much. I also don’t like it when, in professional writing, I see a […]
The Fourth Rule for Writing a Modern Novel
Never use an adverb to modify the verb ‘said’ I have less of a problem with this rule, but I still don’t think it’s hard and fast. There is a definitely a degree of truth to it. Do we really need to write ‘Jane said excitedly’ or should Jane’s words carry across the realisation that […]
The Third Rule for Writing a Modern Novel
Never Use a Verb Other than ‘Said’ to Carry Dialogue I hate this rule. I do understand it. When I read books where it seems that the writer must use something different every time a character opens his mouth it can get annoying very quickly. If they think they MUST avoid ‘said’ at all costs […]
Rule Number Two for Writing a Modern Novel
Avoid Prologues This one I haven’t broken yet, although I am considering it with my latest novel. I honestly think it will work better with a prologue. The dictionary defines a prologue as a ‘separate introductory section of literary or musical work’. Basically, it’s a (usually) brief section that establishes the setting of the story. […]