Please excuse me while I climb up on my soapbox again. This is a topic that, as a writing teacher, drives me nuts!
Have you ever read someone’s writing “rules” that makes you a little puzzled because either someone else tells you the exact opposite of what you learned somewhere else, or you have read well known books that include the very types of words you were told to never use? I have! And I’ve come to realize that when it comes to writing, and the style of writing, and the words you use or don’t use, there can’t be any real “right” or “wrong” because everyone contradicts everyone else.
And I’ll prove it! Just try to follow these 4 rules in one story. Or see if they are all followed in a classic story.
Rule #1: Never use the word “Said” (Said is dead.)
Hmm. I’d like you to take a look at some of the old classics. Do they ever use the word “said”? What? They do? How awful! You should probably not read them then because it might influence you to use that word.
[As a writing teacher I have at times given my students assignments to write and have banned the use of “said” but only so they can practice using other alternative ways of writing. I have even written a short story or two taking care not to use “said” so that I could sharpen my writing.]Rule #2: Only use “Said” when you write.
Uh, wait. If you’re never supposed to use “said,” and now you’re only supposed to use “said,” what sort of story are you going to end up with? I guess you won’t use any conversation tags. But perhaps you should check those well read books again.
[As a writing teacher there have been times when I’ve told my students to only use the word “said” so that they could practice showing emotion without “yelled,” “shouted,” “whispered,” and such. I’ve written a short story or two with only “said” so I could practice the very same thing. And it can be fun to try.]Rule #3: Don’t use Ly Adverbs
This always cracks me up. You see, if you are absolutely never to use an adverb that ends in ly you are completely eliminating powerful words from your story. Check those classic books once again. Do they ever use an adverb that ends in ly?
[As a writing teacher I have my students practice using ly adverbs because they don’t always come naturally. And if they practice using them and finding the best ones for their sentences and not just getting stuck on a few amazingly good ones, their writing improves; they are able to create powerful sentences and wonderful descriptions.]Rule #4: Never use “had” in your writing
Uh, what? Perhaps the person who decided on this “rule” didn’t understand English. Had is needful if you are talking about something that happened before now. You can say “the wind blew” but if you say “the wind had blown” it gives a completely different feel to your sentence and when it takes place.
[As a writing teacher I have never told my students not to use “had” nor have I ever chosen not to use it in any of my own writing.]So, if someone says something is a “rule”, or says you should never use or only use certain words, always be cautious. Check those well read books, study the classics. Chances are good that that “rule” is just some modern invention designed to make everyone miserable. Including the readers. 😀
*climbs down off soapbox*
Are there any strange “rules” of writing that you have come across? What do you do when you find or hear of some writing “rule”? Do you follow any of the rules I shared today?
I completely agree!
I think that using “ly” adverbs is fine as long as they are used judiciously like this. =P In my opinion as a reader, I don’t like it when “ly” adverbs are used to the point that the story becomes telling instead of showing.
Yes, there are such things as overkill on any type of word, or specific words that become redundant.
Thank you for this, Rebekah!!!!!!!! 😀 Uggg . . . so many writing “rules” that somebody had to make up. Just because they work for some people – or even most people – doesn’t mean we should all follow them to a “t.” Some of the best writing advice I’ve ever read is “Don’t follow all of the writing advice you find.” 😀
I really, really agree with you, and I’ll stop before I climb all the way up onto your soapbox. 😀 Because it’s one of my soapboxes, too. 😀
😀 *moves over so you can climb up on the soapbox*
Yes! That is the best writing “rule”. There’s nothing wrong with trying different writing styles and ideas, but when we get stuck in the “I can’t” or “I must” then we lose our freedom to be creative.
*Sheepishly stands next to Rebekah’s soapbox so I don’t knock you two off of it*
Hi; unashamed rulebreaker of ridiculous writing “rules” here. *Waves*
I’ve tried to forget all the dumb rules I’ve heard over the years;)
I should get a bigger soapbox. 😀
Some rules don’t mean you shouldn’t and can’t learn from them, but many go too far.
My advice? Use any writing rule as seasonings. A little too much can spoil the soup and not enough makes it tasteless. Don’t get so caught up in “rules” that you can focus on what you are doing: writing! And always stop and pray for guidence. I’m pretty sure God knows the best uses of writing rules after all XD
Exactly. Try things, practice different ways, but don’t get bogged down in the “don’t do” and “must do” that you forget you are writing the story. 😀
Well, your soapbox is garnering quite a crown, Rebekah! I’ll shoulder my way forward and stand with ya on this! As a girl who is a freelance editor — rules pertaining to writing were intended to be broken 😀 Seriously, it’s all about the style and voice of the story and the author writing it, to a large degree. Following too many rules results in a stilted, unnatural story — I mean, you try to carry on a conversation in real life without using “ly” adverbs or the word “said” and you’ll find it’s a hard thing to do . . . and I need to stop before I take over your soapbox 😀
*shakes hand and offers small corner of soapbox since that’s all that’s left*
Yes! I think people have taken suggestions on what needed to be worked on in their own or someone else’s writing and turned it into rules that everyone “should” follow.
I agree with all of these writing rules–although I haven’t ever heard #4 before. I think people gravitate a lot toward “rules”, because they want the exact formula of writing a successful book. Then I think the “experts” (whether well-meaning or not), who know the general rules (e.g. make your story vivid by using expressive words) dumb down that advice to specific rules (like the said or adverb rule). And that just doesn’t work.
I’m taking Old Testament Literature in college, and it’s funny how often the professor notes how much Moses’ writings would be critiqued by an English professor. Just shows how good grammar/writing technique isn’t always best.
CutePolarBear
Rather, I should say that I agree with your soapbox speech, not the rules themselves. XD
CutePolarBear
I kind of figured that’s what you meant. 😉
Yes, when you try to make writing into an exact formula you run into problems because no one writes exactly like the next person.