One of the things I have told aspiring novelists over the years is that they need to learn the rules of good writing, especially the rules of writing fiction. Not just learn the rules but understand the whys behind them. Once the rules are understood, then a novelist can know when to bend them and even when to break them (on occasion).
If a writer breaks the rules because she doesn’t know them or why they exist, it will = sloppy writing.
If a writer bends/breaks a rule intentionally for a creative purpose, it can = strong writing.
The trouble with “the rules” is that some young (in years and/or in experience) writers often get tied up in knots over them. They work so hard not to mess up any of the rules that they strip the inspiration and life right out their writing. They start counting the number of times another writer uses “had” or an “ly” adverb or a passive verb and lose the joy of reading. They lose sight of the power of storytelling.
English is an interesting language with lots of nuances. It is a fluid language. New words are added to the dictionaries every year. The meanings of words change dramatically. And the rules change all the times, too.
For instance, when I started writing, proper names ending with an “s” required an apostrophe-s to show possession, with the exception of Jesus (Jesus’ sandals) and Moses (Moses’ staff). According to the Chicago Manual of Style, those exceptions are no longer true. Now it is Jesus’s sandals and Moses’s staff. “In spite of” was grammatically incorrect in the 1980’s. The proper word to use was “despite.” One word instead of three. Now “in spite of” is grammatically correct as well.
I want my writing to be strong and crisp and clean. I want to make sure my writing doesn’t get in the way of my story. I’m not always confident that I succeed but I always try my best. Which is why these reviews of The Heart’s Pursuit (releasing next week) mean a lot to me: “The clear, crisp prose shines through with the author’s beautiful description and poignant narrative.” (RT Book Reviews) “You can taste the desert dust and smell the smoke and stench of a crowded gambling hall.” (Publishers Weekly)
Know, bend, break. Whatever a writer does, it should be done for the sake of the story.
~robin
When reading a good book, it can take me right out of the story when I run into a glaring grammatical error or awkward turn of phrase. It’s even worse when I stumble across a phrase that the writer uses repetitively. I start getting irritated every time I see the offending phrase and it can ruin what otherwise would be a well written story. This happened in a book I was reading not too long ago by a very popular author whose novels I usually enjoy.
What I love about your writing is that it never takes me out of the story. You always gives enough description so that I can envision the scene without being so wordy I want to take away your dictionary and thesaurus. Believe me, there have been times I have wanted to yell at the writer “Enough with the descriptive words, let me use my imagination!”
Your writing *is* always “strong, crisp and clean.” You tell the story but you let me live and experience it.That’s why I have been a fan of your writing for many years and look forward to reading your work for many years to come.
Renee, I wasn’t fishing for a compliment when I wrote my post, but you certainly made my day with what you said about my writing. It’s going to float my boat the entire day, smiling all the while. 🙂
Robin,
Thank for this. I needed it right now. Preparing to start writing this summer and I don’t want to let my “editor” brain interfere with my “story-telling” heart.
Carla
That’s so great, Carla. Glad to help!!