theguardian Ten rules for writing fiction

[A_Little_Show]

[deleted]

 

[sr71plt]

Well, #3 is barf. Others should be used sparingly but the guidance to only use "said" is barf.

Other points this anal retentive?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I like David Mamet's 2 rules for writing: write from your subconscious, edit with your conscious mind; and share communion with readers NOT the menu from McDonalds. He concedes miracles do happen but his rules are reliable.

 

[lovecraft68]

My one rule is write the story the best I can with the actual story being the number one focus.

When I'm done I do the best I can to clean it up, then pay someone to do the rest.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

My one rule is write the story the best I can with the actual story being the number one focus.

When I'm done I do the best I can to clean it up, then pay someone to do the rest.

Is that your secret? LC writes OH SHIT! and your editor changes it to, IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES.

 

[Adre]

Read everything E.B. White wrote. Try to do it that well. You can't, but try anyway.

 

[lovecraft68]

Is that your secret? LC writes OH SHIT! and your editor changes it to, IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES.

No, my secret is I let my writing tell the story, I don;t look at rules or read how to books, I don't care that so and so says you should or should not. My only influence for better or worse is my muse.

You can give some basics and grammar tips, but a book cannot show you how to write.

If Tom Brady came to my house he could spend all day trying to show me how to throw a football and I'll still suck at it. he has a gift I do not. On that note Stephen King cannot teach me how to write.

The best advertising slogan ever as well as, to me anyway, the most motivational slogan ever put forth is three simple words.

Just do it.

And you can't do it if you're reading about doing it and wondering how everyone else is doing it. I have an editor that can fix my grammar, I don't need anyone to tell me how to tell a story.

 

[oggbashan]

Like most of these sets of writing rules, and many of the How-Tos on Literotica, these ten rules should be considered as advice to think about, but not necessarily to act on.

Does the advice fit with your writing? Does it make you think - Yes, No, Maybe?

If the advice makes you consider what you are doing, how you write, and how you could improve, then it is worthwhile.

If it doesn't - ignore it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

No, my secret is I let my writing tell the story, I don;t look at rules or read how to books, I don't care that so and so says you should or should not. My only influence for better or worse is my muse.

You can give some basics and grammar tips, but a book cannot show you how to write.

If Tom Brady came to my house he could spend all day trying to show me how to throw a football and I'll still suck at it. he has a gift I do not. On that note Stephen King cannot teach me how to write.

The best advertising slogan ever as well as, to me anyway, the most motivational slogan ever put forth is three simple words.

Just do it.

And you can't do it if you're reading about doing it and wondering how everyone else is doing it. I have an editor that can fix my grammar, I don't need anyone to tell me how to tell a story.

Well you do it well. Why didn't you FAWC this time?

 

[RoyceConnors]

Writing is just grade 10 English and imagination. Grammar, punctuation and spelling is all anyone needs to write. Style and method are a personal part of writing each writer looks to achieve and stand out. I f every writer followed the same rules, they'd all read the same.

G,P&S are the only rules, everything else is a guideline to assist you.

 

[lovecraft68]

Well you do it well. Why didn't you FAWC this time?

Because I'm not one of the cool kids.

 

[patientlee]

Read everything E.B. White wrote. Try to do it that well. You can't, but try anyway.

I wrote a high school term paper on that very topic. I'm sure the paper itself sucked though.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Because I'm not one of the cool kids.

It could be worse, I'm not cool or a kid.

 

[sr71plt]

It could be worse, I'm not cool or a kid.

It is worse. He was banned from participating in FAWC. The real question is why you didn't participate. For a couple of days there you gave us blow-by-blow descriptions of what was going to be in your wonderful story.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

It is worse. He was banned from participating in FAWC. The real question is why you didn't participate. For a couple of days there you gave us blow-by-blow descriptions of what was going to be in your wonderful story.

My style gives me up. My storys setting was close to Haiti, and Nigger woulda been my ruin.

 

[SamScribble]

The best thing about most rules - writing or other - is that once you know them, you can get on with breaking them

 

[HeyAll]

Richard Ford has an interesting rule:

2 Don't have children.

The only real rule, as far as I'm concerned, is to write everything with proper grammar. Other than that, everything is opinion.

 

[sr71plt]

Proper grammar can be a matter of opinion as well.

 

[oggbashan]

Proper grammar can be a matter of opinion as well.

And its rules are there for the breaking of...

 

[RichardBacula]

I try to keep [Elmore Leonard's] rule #10 in mind with my writing.
With online erotica, that means that I try to work the plot, characters, and backstory into the sex scene itself, it to make it as succinct as possible.

 

[Bramblethorn]

My rule of thumb with this kinda stuff is: people are describing something that works for them, and probably exaggerating it for effect.

If a lot of authors are giving the same advice it's worth evaluating that advice - why are they saying this, and does the reasoning apply to your own work? - but certainly not something to be followed blindly.

 

[patientlee]

Richard Ford has an interesting rule: Don't have children.

Seriously. I have one puking tonight.

 

[sr71plt]

Of course I wonder who Richard Ford thinks is going to wipe his ass and push his wheelchair when he is ninety when no one had been having children in his last fifty years. I suppose he won't give a thought it will be people whose folks took on the expense and grief of having and raising children.

 

[lovecraft68]

Of course I wonder who Richard Ford thinks is going to wipe his ass and push his wheelchair when he is ninety when no one had been having children in his last fifty years. I suppose he won't give a thought it will be people whose folks took on the expense and grief of having and raising children.

So we have kids to wipe our asses and spend their days taking care of us?

That's a paternal attitude.

I'm hoping to have enough money put away that they won;t have to do that.

Besides, I raised them I sure as hell wouldn't want to have to be dependent on them. To many chances for "hey old man, remember that time you sicced the dogs on that boy I liked...."

 

[sr71plt]

The people who do that were someone's child. I don't believe you are that dumb, not to understand that, LC.