Your Book Of Rules to Writing

catian · Feb 17, 2012

I thought maybe we could all share one or two things we do religiouslyas a writer that helps us achieve our goals, get us to our destination, which is to complete the story that we all dream o,f and go back and start another one feeling great!!.
Itcould be anything from language/ideas/tricks anything really

for me the two things I always do are

1) consistancy with my characters.
I get to keep all my characters everytime I create one.

2) link all the stories I write so that they all fall into place, like a puzzle, when and if they are put together.
It is like building a library of ideas through a running theme.
My books never stand out from each other when put together.

jaksen · Feb 17, 2012

I hate rules. I has none. I just write what my fingers tell me to write.

And my head. That's where all these people live who want to be in my stories.

Dr.Gonzo · Feb 17, 2012

Not to sound like a writer.

To see things my character would see and ignore the rest.

Make sure there's plenty between the lines.

To do what's right for the story and for my character, even if it goes against everything else.

scarletpeaches · Feb 17, 2012

If my characters argue with the outline, the outline loses. Every time.

Also I liek to spel right gud.

quicklime · Feb 17, 2012

scarletpeaches said:
If my characters argue with the outline, the outline loses. Every time.

Also I liek to spel right gud.

me 2. or talk in textspeak.

l8r

my only rule is if it detracts from the story, cut it. You can do anything you want, even break the rules, if it improves the story, but if you're doing anything that weakens it, cut it. No matter if you really like it, no matter if it is cool, or it is a rule, or it is just something you love the sound of. Always try to keep from giving the reader a reason to pull back and go "wtf?"

Little Ming · Feb 17, 2012

Only one rule: Keep the reader reading.

dangerousbill · Feb 17, 2012

catian said:
for me the two things I always do are

My rulebook:

1. Always view every 'rule' with deep suspicion and make sure it's really gonna help.
2. Go back to #1.

scarletpeaches · Feb 17, 2012

I view those who scorn rules with even deeper suspicion. Nine times out of ten it sounds like "Wah, wah, wah, rules is ebil."

Buffysquirrel · Feb 17, 2012

This is my rule: it isn't different when it's me. IE, I can't do what I deplore in other people's writing just because it's ME. It's a hard rule to keep to.

Lseeber · Feb 17, 2012

Things I always do as a writer?

I write. I edit mercilessly. I write some more. I edit mercilessly.

You get the idea.

Beyond that, I really don't have any other hard and fast rules. I figure if the idea can survive both my pen and the editing chopping block, it may be a keeper.

Laura

Layla Nahar · Feb 17, 2012

Are there rules in writing? What about heuristics?

DeleyanLee · Feb 17, 2012

I have no rules, but I do have a commandment:

Thou shalt not confuse thy reader.

Really simple.

amschilling · Feb 17, 2012

scarletpeaches said:
If my characters argue with the outline, the outline loses. Every time.

This is #1.

Plus:

2. My internal editor MUST be sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to the Bahamas until the first draft is done. That fussy little sucker isn't allowed anywhere near the first draft, and quite frankly he comes back from vacation hung over. He's a lot easier to deal with when he's got a rum hang over.

kuwisdelu · Feb 17, 2012

Make it good; make it interesting.

bearilou · Feb 17, 2012

Read.

Mr Flibble · Feb 17, 2012

1- spend a lot of time in POV character's skin

2 - Enjoy myself in the first draft (I can always take out teh wilder flights of fancy later)

3 - write (or edit) as much as I can possibly bear, as often as possible.

Chachant · Feb 17, 2012

Think about my characters, plot, etc. while in the shower. That's my only rule, and I guess it doesn't pertain to actual writing, but it does help me flesh out everything.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 18, 2012

HEINLEIN'S RULES FOR WRITING

1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you write.
3. You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
4. You must put the work on the market.
5. You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.

Brickcommajason · Feb 18, 2012

1. Write every day
2. Even when you don't want to
3. Even when it's pulling teeth
4. If you have writer's block, see rules 1 through 3
5. Violate rules 1 through 4 one day per week, and one week per quarter.

Everything else will come with the practice and time you get from rules 1 through 4

randi.lee · Feb 18, 2012

I don't make the rules, the rules make me!

Kidding... Although I don't think I have any rules aside from "finish what you started," and even that one I don't adhere to all the time...

SomethingOrOther · Feb 18, 2012

Little Ming said:
Only one rule: Keep the reader reading.

"Little Ming attributes his/her success as a novelist to a radical technique: s/he kidnaps people and makes them fight for their daily ration of food by answering quizzes about his/her novels. 'Keep the reader reading,' s/he says. 'That's the only rule. One guy got all 100 questions correct, and I gave him a pizza!'"

Logan! · Feb 18, 2012

Have fun.

Which, now that I think about it, is maybe the reason I don't write as often as I'd like--sometimes it just isn't fun.

Linda Adams · Feb 18, 2012

No rules for me, either. It's whatever works, and I'm willing to try something that everyone says, "Don't do" because I think it'll be good for the story.

Susan Coffin · Feb 18, 2012

No rules. Just writing.

Layla Nahar · Feb 18, 2012

IdiotsRUs said:
2 - Enjoy myself in the first draft

I like this

Your Book Of Rules to Writing

Caped Codder

Wonderfully Irreverent

all out of fucks to give

Retired Illuminatus

Seashell Seller

Writing Anarchist

Revolutionize the World

DenturePunk writer

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

There's a dog under my foot

Certified Non-Genius

-

Soldier, Storyteller

Tell it like it Is

Seashell Seller