Oft-given advice to new writers

ZeroFlowne · Nov 19, 2008

1. Active Voice

2. Show, don't tell

I notice that those two things are thrown about (see what I did there?) almost reflexively on lots of writing forums (not here though, you guys are cool

as if they were hard rules. Passive voice and telling are not bad things. They shouldn't be used as much as Active voice and showing, to be sure, but they are a worthy component of any piece.

What are some other things that are almost-gospel like in the amount of their repetition?

scarletpeaches · Nov 19, 2008

The adverb is not your friend!

writerterri · Nov 19, 2008

Keep your crappy writing out of the slush pile, there are some of us who'd like to make it to the editors desk.

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 19, 2008

Readers skip prologues.

writerterri · Nov 19, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
Readers skip prologues.

True dat, little, furry, man ferret.

CaroGirl · Nov 19, 2008

Never use said. No, always use said. No, never use dialogue attribution if you can help it. No. Wait. I'm confused.

mscelina · Nov 19, 2008

A first draft will be rejected.

Rewrite or die.

That is all.

dgiharris · Nov 19, 2008

Don't use exclamation points!!!!!

MissKris · Nov 19, 2008

Write what you know.

That advice sucks for genre writers.

mrockwell · Nov 19, 2008

MissKris said:
Write what you know.

That advice sucks for genre writers.

Beat me to it, heh.

-- Marcy

scarletpeaches · Nov 19, 2008

Never start with a heroine called Kate waking up from a dream and being a little bit sick in her mouth and then looking in the mirror and describing her long, flowing hair and alabaster skin.

josephwise · Nov 19, 2008

MissKris said:
Write what you know.

That advice sucks for genre writers.

Only if they take it literally. Which is an odd thing for a genre writer to do.

maxmordon · Nov 19, 2008

Write on what you care

DeleyanLee · Nov 19, 2008

MissKris said:
Write what you know.

Absolutely true. And what I know is dragons, wizards, couples in love, hot sex, fantastic landscapes, magic, gods, etc etc etc.

The etc etc etc is the most important part, after all.

Mr. Chuckletrousers · Nov 19, 2008

Read the Evil Overlord List.

Cybernaught · Nov 19, 2008

"Sorry, this isn't quite what we're looking for."

That one gets thrown at me quite a bit.

scope · Nov 19, 2008

"Write what you know best."

I write nonfiction and most often write about things which at first I know very little about. A good idea, a needy audience, caring, working in some capacity with credentialed people, and a lot of research really works!

KTC · Nov 19, 2008

MissKris · Nov 19, 2008

DeleyanLee said:
Absolutely true. And what I know is dragons, wizards, couples in love, hot sex, fantastic landscapes, magic, gods, etc etc etc.

The etc etc etc is the most important part, after all.

Stop. You got me on the hot sex part.

willietheshakes · Nov 19, 2008

Don't give up your day job.

Karen Duvall · Nov 19, 2008

First novels never get published.

Mad Queen · Nov 19, 2008

Your protagonist has to be likable and sympathetic.

waylander · Nov 19, 2008

A story has a beginning, a middle and an end.
And if your protagonist is not changed by what they have experienced then it wasn't worth telling the story.

MelodyO · Nov 19, 2008

No head-hopping, upon penalty of death.

Unless you're already famous, then do whatever you want.

MissKris · Nov 19, 2008

josephwise said:
Only if they take it literally. Which is an odd thing for a genre writer to do.

What?!?!? You mean you aren't practicing butchering humans into the most pleasingly grillable parts for your cannibalistic horror or charging for sex so that you can better understand your "sweet but misunderstood prostitute who finds true love when the lonely John who just wants to talk shows up" romance?

Pfft, what kind of writer are you? :tongue

Oft-given advice to new writers

It's a dorky day!

Court Jester

It's a dorky day!

Living the dream

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Disgruntled Scientist

Is the random.

Just another genre hack

Penúltimo

Writing Anarchist

Sith happens.

Decker

Commonsensical Maverick

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Is the random.

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

Chalice the Hatchet Knight

California Mountain Snake

Who's going for a beer?

Waiting for love on the web

Is the random.