When I decided to self-publish my novel, one of my first moves was to join writer’s groups on the internet, in order to learn more about the tricks of the trade, to discuss, to exchange and to connect with people who were going through the same process as I was. However, the discussions on those groups did not only revolve on what happens after a book has been written: the majority concerns the actual act of writing fiction. And I was surprised to see that this act of writing is subject to an immense number of rules.
Show don’t tell. Write about what you know. Thrillers have to follow this formula. Romances have to follow that formula. If you do otherwise, then your book isn’t in the right genre. You must limit yourself to one type of point of view (aka POV). You must not have too many POV characters. If a scene is not useful to the plot, delete it. You must not change POV in the middle of a chapter. Do not use too many adverbs. Do not use too many adjectives. Do this, do that…
All right, maybe I exaggerate. Just a little. The fact is that there seems to be a great number of rules that should, ultimately, allow you to write a good novel. Good according to the criteria they have set. A recipe is given to would-be novelists (like me), and if you don’t follow it… Well, editors, agents and Co won’t follow you either, because what you write will not be what they expect to read. Or what the market expects to read.
There seems to be a general tendency, according to which people, and what they write, are put into little boxes. Well-defined little boxes. Little boxes defined by a specific set of rules. And I’m both appalled and frustrated by that
Not that I refuse to admit that rules are important, and even useful. When you’re a beginner, they give you guidelines. They can help you to sort of tame your imagination while spurring on your inspiration. They pave a road for you that, ultimately, could lead to publication. They help you to write better. But the road they allow you to follow is lined with huge walls over which you cannot see. Which block out any view, narrowing your horizon, and your fiction as well.
Rules should be followed and used carefully. They should be guidelines, not obligation, when it comes to fiction, at least. For fiction, in a way, is the celebration of imagination. Fiction should be rich and luscious, at times innovative, at times a little unruly. Fiction should break away from rules. Fiction is creation, and as such it must constantly recreate itself, lest it should become stale.
Rules are comfortable, and safe. Rules give an illusion of control. If you do not follow rules, you are judged. But look at literature, look at past writers. Look at which one we remember today, which ones are studied at school and universities. They often are the ones who broke the rules, who reinvented fiction, who breathed a new life into it.
So every rule should come with this label: “use with care.” And if it has to be broken, why not? Who cares if what you write isn’t what agents and publishers want to read? Self-publishing options make it much easier to become published and get your book out into the world. And also to make your own choices and decisions.
So all of you, would-be novelists, if you want to break the rules, do so. If your book does not fit into any given genre, invent another one. If you make mistakes, if your book doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter. We are here to learn and experiment. We are here to keep literature alive. We are here to create. We are here to write what we want to write, not what people expect us to write.
Show don’t tell. Write about what you know. Thrillers have to follow this formula. Romances have to follow that formula. If you do otherwise, then your book isn’t in the right genre. You must limit yourself to one type of point of view (aka POV). You must not have too many POV characters. If a scene is not useful to the plot, delete it. You must not change POV in the middle of a chapter. Do not use too many adverbs. Do not use too many adjectives. Do this, do that…
All right, maybe I exaggerate. Just a little. The fact is that there seems to be a great number of rules that should, ultimately, allow you to write a good novel. Good according to the criteria they have set. A recipe is given to would-be novelists (like me), and if you don’t follow it… Well, editors, agents and Co won’t follow you either, because what you write will not be what they expect to read. Or what the market expects to read.
There seems to be a general tendency, according to which people, and what they write, are put into little boxes. Well-defined little boxes. Little boxes defined by a specific set of rules. And I’m both appalled and frustrated by that
Not that I refuse to admit that rules are important, and even useful. When you’re a beginner, they give you guidelines. They can help you to sort of tame your imagination while spurring on your inspiration. They pave a road for you that, ultimately, could lead to publication. They help you to write better. But the road they allow you to follow is lined with huge walls over which you cannot see. Which block out any view, narrowing your horizon, and your fiction as well.
Rules should be followed and used carefully. They should be guidelines, not obligation, when it comes to fiction, at least. For fiction, in a way, is the celebration of imagination. Fiction should be rich and luscious, at times innovative, at times a little unruly. Fiction should break away from rules. Fiction is creation, and as such it must constantly recreate itself, lest it should become stale.
Rules are comfortable, and safe. Rules give an illusion of control. If you do not follow rules, you are judged. But look at literature, look at past writers. Look at which one we remember today, which ones are studied at school and universities. They often are the ones who broke the rules, who reinvented fiction, who breathed a new life into it.
So every rule should come with this label: “use with care.” And if it has to be broken, why not? Who cares if what you write isn’t what agents and publishers want to read? Self-publishing options make it much easier to become published and get your book out into the world. And also to make your own choices and decisions.
So all of you, would-be novelists, if you want to break the rules, do so. If your book does not fit into any given genre, invent another one. If you make mistakes, if your book doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter. We are here to learn and experiment. We are here to keep literature alive. We are here to create. We are here to write what we want to write, not what people expect us to write.
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