Post by Zab Jade on May 31, 2018 19:23:59 GMT -8
Rules that is, though obviously not the ones of this site. The rules I'm talking about the ones about writing. You know the ones. No run-on sentences, no fragments, never start with and/or/but. These are good rules to follow... if you happen to be writing an essay or the like. The point of that kind of writing is to inform. You want to impart knowledge cleanly and concisely.
Creative writing, however, is different. The point is to entertain, and to do that, you have to set the mood. One of my favorite books is Rules of Prey by John Sanford. He's a fantastic writer and was a journalist before turning to fiction. There's a brilliant scene in the book that's written mostly in short, choppy sentence fragments. I didn't even notice it until the fourth or fifth time I read the book. The scene is one of chaos and confusion, and the way it's written pulls the reader in and makes them feel that chaos and confusion for themselves.
One of the worst beta readers I had was in college to be an English teacher. She kept trying to correct all of the things that where technically breaking the rules but where deliberately done to create mood and set the scene. Interestingly, two of my best beta readers both have English degrees with a focus on creative writing. One of them is even an English teacher. Both understand the nature of creative writing and how it plays by its own rules.
So, my advice to my fellow writers: Do what your story wants, even if that makes breaking the rules, because the art of story can't be confined by the box of the essay. Boxes are meant to be worn on the head, not used to confine stories.
Creative writing, however, is different. The point is to entertain, and to do that, you have to set the mood. One of my favorite books is Rules of Prey by John Sanford. He's a fantastic writer and was a journalist before turning to fiction. There's a brilliant scene in the book that's written mostly in short, choppy sentence fragments. I didn't even notice it until the fourth or fifth time I read the book. The scene is one of chaos and confusion, and the way it's written pulls the reader in and makes them feel that chaos and confusion for themselves.
One of the worst beta readers I had was in college to be an English teacher. She kept trying to correct all of the things that where technically breaking the rules but where deliberately done to create mood and set the scene. Interestingly, two of my best beta readers both have English degrees with a focus on creative writing. One of them is even an English teacher. Both understand the nature of creative writing and how it plays by its own rules.
So, my advice to my fellow writers: Do what your story wants, even if that makes breaking the rules, because the art of story can't be confined by the box of the essay. Boxes are meant to be worn on the head, not used to confine stories.