{"id":722,"date":"2008-10-01T06:00:04","date_gmt":"2008-10-01T10:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/writing-rules\/"},"modified":"2013-08-19T11:21:40","modified_gmt":"2013-08-19T19:21:40","slug":"writing-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/writing-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"12 and ½ Writing Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

This is one of my favorite posters. It hangs where I can see it from my desk:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

12 and \u00bd Writing Rules<\/span><\/a> from AllPosters.com.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everything on there is good advice for any writer, especially those working on pieces of fiction. It also looks great on the wall of your office or den \u2013 it\u2019s currently replacing my rather battered poster of Johnny Depp\u2026<\/p>\n

So what exactly do these rules mean, and how can you use them to make you a better writer? This is my take on it \u2013 I expect everyone who owns this poster has a slightly different opinion!<\/p>\n

1. If you write every day, you get better at writing every day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is common \u2013 and good \u2013 advice that lots of published authors offer. Stephen King, for instance, suggests that aspiring writers should write a minimum<\/em> of 1,000 words a day. Many people, myself included, find that it\u2019s easier to make something a daily habit rather than a \u201cnot quite daily\u201d<\/span><\/a> habit: I\u2019ve written about this one in How to Write Every Day (And Why You Should)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

2. If it\u2019s boring to you, it\u2019s boring to your reader<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was doing NaNoWriMo<\/span><\/a> last year, I found myself churning out sentences, paragraphs and scenes just to hit my wordcount for the day \u2013 what I was writing didn\u2019t always interest me much. If you find yourself struggling to write because you\u2019re bored, stop! No-one\u2019s going to want to read it.
\n
\nThis goes for bloggers too. I was having difficulties writing articles during the pre-launch stage for my new blog, Alpha Student<\/span><\/a>. The posts I was attempting were the same sort of advice that students read everywhere. I realized that if it was boring me, it wouldn\u2019t be much fun for potential readers \u2013 so I rewrote all the pieces I\u2019d produced, putting much more \u201cheart\u201d into them and writing from personal experience.<\/p>\n

3. Get a writing routine and stick with it<\/strong><\/p>\n

For me, this rule goes hand-in-hand with writing every day. If I\u2019m not in a routine, it\u2019s hard to fit writing in. When I worked full-time, I woke up early<\/span><\/a> every morning to write before work \u2013 then wrote until dinner-time in the evening. That was the routine that worked for me.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter what time of day you write, or where you write \u2013 but you\u2019ll probably find it easiest to knuckle down and get on with writing when you\u2019re consistent about it.<\/p>\n

4. Poetry does NOT have to rhyme. Poetry does not NOT have to rhyme.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not a poet (yet \u2013 my Creative Writing MA is going to involve producing some poetry!) so for me, this rule is about not having preconceptions about what\u2019s \u201cright\u201d. A blog post can be four thousand words long if you want: just look at Steve Pavlina\u2019s<\/span><\/a> success. A short story can be six words: Hemingway\u2019s \u201cFor sale: baby shoes, never worn.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are<\/em> a poet, John Hewitt over at PoeWar ran a great series in September on 30 Poems in 30 Days<\/span><\/a> \u2013 he goes through lots of different forms for poems, and offers tips on poetry submissions, competitions and much more.<\/p>\n

5. Resist stereotypes, in real life and in your writing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a writer, whether of fiction or non fiction, you need to be alert to learning new things and meeting new people. That means avoiding stereotypes that block you from being open to the world.<\/p>\n

And in your writing, be careful not to stereotype. Flat, boring characters are ones where the author has been lazy: the beautiful, dim blonde, the teenage thug, the computer nerd. Twist the stereotypes around and create characters who are real, full, human beings.<\/p>\n

6. Writers read. Writers read a lot. Writers read all the time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephen King suggests that writers should read for four to six hours a day. While that\u2019s probably impractical for most of us, it\u2019s still hugely important for writers to read. I\u2019m always shocked when a fellow writer confesses that they don\u2019t read, or claims not to have time to read.<\/p>\n

If you write novels, you need to know what other authors in your genre are doing (read the classics<\/span><\/a> too \u2013 there\u2019s a reason they\u2019ve endured so long). If you write blog posts, you should be aware of what other bloggers are working on. And if you\u2019re a freelance writer, you can use examples of exceptional writing<\/span><\/a> to inspire you and help you improve your own ability.<\/p>\n

7. Make lists of your favorite words and books and places and things.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

My younger brother used to collect unusual pub names in a book; a list like this could be a great resource for a fantasy or comedy author. I like to jot down words that I particularly like in the back of my notebook \u2013 \u201csinuous\u201d and \u201ceclectic\u201d are two of my favorites; I love the way they sound and the way they look on the page.<\/p>\n

Making a list is also a great way to spark off ideas<\/span><\/a>, and combining elements from two separate lists can often be a good prompt for a piece of fiction.<\/p>\n

8. There doesn\u2019t always have to be a moral to the story.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This rule is slightly unsettling for me, as I like my fiction to have a strong theme. I think, though, it means that we shouldn\u2019t try to ram a moral down readers\u2019 throats. Tony Price<\/span><\/a>, the vicar at my childhood church, is a wonderful storyteller, and often uses stories in place of a sermon \u2013 especially at Christmas, Easter or Family services. He talks about \u201ctrusting the story\u201d \u2013 leaving people to take their own meaning from it, rather than telling them what it\u2019s supposed to mean.<\/p>\n

Trust your stories. And trust your readers to draw their own conclusions about good and evil, right and wrong \u2013 without you making your own views explicit.<\/p>\n

9. Always bring your notebook. Always bring a spare pen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is another piece of advice that I\u2019m sure all aspiring writers will have heard time and time again from the professionals: carry a notebook everywhere. Ideas come at odd moments (I get a lot of mine whilst walking) \u2013 and ideas vanish just as easily. Get in the habit of keeping a writers\u2019 notebook<\/span><\/a> to record your thoughts.<\/p>\n

10. Go for walks. Dance. Pull weeds. Do the dishes. Write about it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to take this rule literally. It means that you should write about the everyday things, the normal things, the little details that make life real. It also means you should write about your own experiences. Good fiction is often about normal life, acutely observed.<\/p>\n

(Just keep the \u201cIf it\u2019s boring to you\u201d rule in mind\u2026)<\/p>\n

11. Don\u2019t settle on just one style. Try something new!<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re convinced that you\u2019re destined to write great literary fiction, you might never find out that you have a talent for light-hearted columns. If you think you can only write novels, you might never win a short story competition with a sharp twist-in-the-tale piece.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t convince yourself that you can only write in one particular style or genre: keep experimenting. I was certain that I wanted to be a fiction writer before I began blogging \u2013 and realized how much I love writing non-fiction too. (And I\u2019ve found I can write blog posts in a factual style, a personal style, even a humorous style.)<\/p>\n

12. Learn to tell both sides of the story<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you ever read a story where the good guys were perfect and the bad guys were despicable? Unless you were a kid at the time, it probably bored you. There\u2019s two sides to every story, and very few people are \u201cevil\u201d just because they want to be. Make your villains dark grey, not black, and give their point of view too.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re writing non-fiction, try giving the \u201cfor\u201d and \u201cagainst\u201d of a topic \u2013 even if you yourself come down firmly on one side. Darren Rowse on Problogger did this with Why Should You Join a Blog Network?<\/span><\/a> and Why You Shouldn\u2019t Join a Blog Network<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

12 \u00bd. Stop looking at this poster. Write something!<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can read writing advice all day \u2013 believe me, I have \u2013 but in the end, you have to sit down and put those words onto paper.<\/p>\n

(If you have trouble with this, try the I Should be Writing<\/span><\/a> podcast for regular inspiration and encouragement.)<\/p>\n

Which of these rules work well for you? Do you have any of your own to add to the list?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by Ali, who runs the blog <\/em>Alpha Student<\/em><\/a>: helping students get the most out of university.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is one of my favorite posters. It hangs where I can see it from my desk: 12 and \u00bd Writing Rules from AllPosters.com. Everything on there is good advice for any writer, especially those working on pieces of fiction. … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12163,"featured_media":723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[23],"tags":[2997,2996,2417,2995],"yoast_head":"\n12 and ½ Writing Rules - Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get a writing routine and stick with it. For me, this rule goes hand-in-hand with writing every day. If I\u2019m not in a routine, it\u2019s hard to fit writing in. 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