July 6, 2020
What generic ‘rules’ did you abide by when you started writing that have gone out the window?
It’s easier to talk about the rules I broke on purpose when I first started writing than the ones I stuck to because I ‘had’ to. I’ve always been a bit of a rebel and my books reflect that.
For example, my first cover didn’t have a picture of a man’s naked chest. None of my covers have. In my opinion, they are overdone and boring. I also made my main character a woman instead of a man. In a paranormal, wolf-shifter story with a strong romantic element, that’s not playing by the ‘rules.’ I can’t claim it as a true romance because it contains no sex scenes.
In the second and third books of the series, I put the female main characters on the covers, instead of the male leads. They deserve the recognition.
Then you have my other series, The Harmony Duprie Mysteries. It’s pretty standard when you have a female sleuth, her love interest is in law enforcement. I played with that in the first book, The Marquesa’s Necklace.
“I appreciate your concern, Detective.” And I did. “But I have a life to live.” I stood and picked up my beer. He stood too, and moved close to me. One arm snaked around my waist and he pulled me close. I looked up at him, tried to decide if I would let him kiss me, and if that’s what I wanted.
Spoiler alert: I broke the rules.
What else have I done ‘wrong?’ How about the fact I don’t have a murder in each of my mysteries? No one dies in most of them. I’m writing about a small town and there are lots of other mysteries to solve besides people getting killed by the bad guy of the moment.
I dug up a list of rules for writers, and shook my head at many of them. It was suggested for beginning writers to avoid the use of words more than five letters long. Now think about how many times I broke that rule in the last sentence.
The same list said to turn off the internet when you write, to write everyday and the same time every day. While I understand the concepts behind those ideas, I beg to disagree. If I’m writing and need to research a point, it would drive me up a wall to have to wait to hop on the internet to get the information I need. I want it now, so I can continue in my story and not have to retrace my steps. And while writing everyday is fine, in practice it isn’t always practical and leads to guilt. We can all use less guilt. And writing at the same time every day? Another good idea that doesn’t always translate to real life.
Rules exist for a reason. Most of them aren’t totally arbitrary. Like the use of periods and commas. (Although I’d debate the rules about commas.) They help to make it easier for others to understand what we are saying. But there are times when ignoring or bending the rules is what it takes to express yourself as an author and give your characters life. Sometimes they should be treated as guidelines instead of absolutes. That’s a good thing when used with caution.
So, what rules do you think deserve to be broken?
Don’t forget to check out what the other authors have to say about this week’s topic by following the links below.
Until next time, stay safe.
July 6, 2020
What generic ‘rules’ did you abide by when you started writing that have gone out the window?
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I so hate book covers with a half naked muscle-bound man on them. I go out of my way not to read any book with a cover like that!
I’m sure at one time they were groundbreaking and edgy. Now they are filled with badly photo-shopped in tattoos.
Bare-chested men on covers looks so shlocky. LOL. I always think of Fabio… and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.
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I don’t get the bare-chested-guy covers either. Really, what is the point of that? Why have a cover that looks like everyone else’s?
I know all sorts of rules. I don’t pay attention to them when I’m writing the draft and then I do pay attention to them, mostly, when I’m self-editing.
At least when you read a book with one of those covers, you know what you are getting.
Yes, it almost always means they’re going to fall into bed without hardly knowing each other’s names.
No comments on covers from me, there’s probably another set of rules there. Someone once said to me, “what’s the point of having rank if you can’t abuse it now and again?” In a way, that applies to the so-called rules of language. It worked for Shakespeare.
I love having the internet on. I agree with you 100%. I need it to research. I like your cover, too. 🙂
Thank you for the compliment on the cover. Credit goes to my cover artist, K.M. Guth, who does a wonderful job.
I agree.
I couldn’t put a real person, or the image of a real person, on a cover. Characters on my end belong to the reader. Hints and that’s it. A pre-run of a coming of age female wannabe feminist/ female rights activist had an auburn haired Barbie in a shredded, smoldering cheerleader outfit, the Barbie covered in abrasions and various bandages. Stereotype busting. GI Joe and Romance novel underwear model dudes…no thanks.
+1 on what you said about murders. While some of my capers are strewn with dead bodies, sometimes the real bad “person” is culture shock, or self esteem or heartbreak or a car that won’t start.
I broke my own rules once and described an outfit down the the pink socks, only because it was in such stark contrast as to what the character normally wore. Later, it became a continuing, if minor, part of the plot.
I like your cover very much, Patricia. I think your comments about the rules you break are interesting. I don’t really ever think about it much, in the greater sense of stories and writing. I think that I break the rules by not writing to the formula demanded by the traditional publishers. I never will so I don’t dwell on it.
I know what I’d have to do to my stories to satisfy traditional norms, and I’m not doing it!
I agree. Plus, I love the topic of covers of bare chested men. Good for you for rebelling against that one. I love it.