Once upon a time, long before calendars were kept but not before things were recorded, God gave Moses a list of Ten Commandments, commandments we’ve spent the better part of several thousand years since breaking at every opportunity. (Some of us more than others.) Mostly, if you think about the commandments, they are rules for getting along with everyone else. They’re more rules of how to live a happy, full life. For instance, if you commit adultery with a woman whose husband is bigger than you and also owns a gun, odds are you will not live a long and happy life. It just makes good sense. Many rules for writing are there to help the writer have a full, happy writing life. There are a number of writing commandments. Thou shalt not commit the sin of atrocious grammar and spelling. Thou shall be most engaging in your story opening and maintain a breakneck pace throughout the story’s arc. If you’re writing a romance, thou shalt have the hero make love only with the heroine; if he has a mistress at the beginning of the tale and she is not the heroine, he will give her her farewell necklace soon after he meets the heroine. Thou shalt show and not tell. Thou shalt not commit the sin of passive voice.
On and on until we’re certain that there are more rules to writing than we could possibly ever learn or implement. We become paralyzed before the computer screen, wondering what grievous writing sin we’ll be committing today! It’s a wonder we ever reach the end of a single tale we craft.
Well, if you recall, once upon a time, long after Moses brought down those stone tablets, but again, before anyone kept any decent calendars, Jesus came and gave us the Golden Rule, which was, in essence, a rule that seemed to contain all the other commandments before it. If you kept this rule, you couldn’t help but keep the rest. Do unto others as you would have done unto you. (I.e. if you don’t want anyone cuckolding to you, don’t be going out and committing adultery, right? Makes sense to me.)
Writing also has a Golden Rule, one in which I believe if you abide by, all the other commandments are followed naturally. Ted Kooser, our national Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner—expressed it best. He said, “But in writing there are no rules other than to remember that somebody’s going to try to read what you’ve written and you don’t want to discourage that person.”
Makes sense, doesn’t it? Just write…and keep in mind someone else is going to read this. Try not to discourage them from getting to The End.
What’s your writing golden rule? What do you think is the best way to keep people reading to the end? Characters? Nail-biting pacing? The unforeseeable twist at the end?
40 comments:
My golden rule seems to be "Write something you would enjoy reading." Grant it, this probably limits my target demographic, but it helps me keep my sanity. *g*
I think mine is about the characters. If you write characters that the reader wants to keep hanging out with, the reader will keep reading just to stay with them longer.
Though, this is an extension of the "don't discourage" rule. But, it helps that, I say.
Good Blog Hellion!
Seems like my golden rule is: Sex- it's good anywhere.
I like to write action. And a twisted plot and a crazy twist at the end. I like what you don't see coming to happen in my writing. It will be just keeping up with that over and over again. But I'm demented enough that I can pull something out of my hat.
I agree Marnee! This was a great blog!
It's about the characters. They need to be someone the reader can relate to, love, hate, want to know more about. Romance is all about the protags, not war, or setting... but the people.
And I love Sin's!
http://www.tedkooser.com/index.html
Does he look like a nice guy you could talk to?
The book I'm quoting him from is called: Writing Brave & Free.
Terr: That was JK Rowling's Golden Rule. Look how well it worked for her. She didn't even know she was writing a fantasy series.
Marnee: I love hanging out with characters! Everything else is just extra.
Sin: *ROTF* NICE. So instead of that rule about: "Stuck in your story? Have a guy come through the door and shoot somebody"--you'd have "Stuck? Have someone come in and give the protagonist a f..."
Tiff: Too true. But I think you have to "love to hate them"--if you just hate the characters (i.e. they're too stupid to live), you'll be too tempted to put the book down.
That guys looks like he's found the joy in the simple things. Oh, to be that lucky.
I have to agree with Marnee & Tiff, I want to want to hang out with the characters. I want to think if they were real we would be friends. But, if nothing interesting happens to them, then I'm probably not going to stay with them for long.
Sin - you crack me up. That sounds like a life philosophy to me! LOL!
I love this blog:)
My golden rule is to be true to myself, and write for me, not for everyone else. This may sound foolish, but in order to write what I do best I had to get past the point of caring what certain people in my life would think after they read my work.
I'm with Marnee my characters are the most important aspect of my work. I want my readers to embrace them. The second thing is making a plot that doesn't drag in the middle. I want write consistantly.
Kooser follows his own advice too. His poetry is wonderfully lucid, a too rare quality in poetry.
I came across an essay bt science fiction writer John Dalmas the other day in which he said the key rule is "Make it interesting." That's essentially what one of my favorite profs in grad school said: "The only unforgivable crime in writing is to bore your reader."
I was trying to decide whether I leaned more towards Terri's philosophy or Marnee's. I think it's both. I like to read character driven books so that is probably my golden rule.
Janga: HA! I love that! The only crime in writing is to bore the reader! Too true!
Irish: I think the characters and write a story you'd want to read are two sides of the same coin. You're not going to have one without the other. You're not going to write a story you wouldn't want to read--because the moment you start writing something you think a publisher will like but that you can't stand the characters in it--you probably won't be able to finish it.
Okay, maybe that's me. *LOL*
Nope, it's not just you. I think the first brings about the second.
And wouldn't it help to have a point? Or is that the same thing as make it interesting?
Yeah, my life philosophy is a tad like that as well. LOL
*tipping pirate hat* You're welcome. Just think without me you could probably go one day without the word "sex" being mentioned. But then Tiff would mention it. It works either way. :)
And I live by the writing philosophy... Have nothing better to do in your story- then have some kidnapped, tortured and almost killed. Then have them saved. Then you have more to write about. :)
You mean theme and/or core story?
I think that's essential too, but I don't think it's necessary to know what it is at the start. Some people don't realize they have a point until they're almost at the end of the book. That's just how they write, and why discourage active writing just because they didn't do it according to the policy?
No I mean extra to the plot. LOL. I sometimes just throw it in for fun. My plot normally isn't focussed around something like that. Though it might be something you felt was coming.
Sex? Something you felt was *coming*? Come on, Sin, tell me you didn't type that with a straight face?
I think I'm a lite version of Sin when I write...:) I like to create an almost impossible scene for my heroine to live through emotionally or physically. Then I have her rescued by the hero or she pulls up her big girl panties and walks through the flames.
*holds up hand* Pirate's honor. I did NOT crack a smile when I typed it. But I did with your reply. LOL
Lis, writing is more fun that way. :)
You have to admit, the idea of a surprise orgasm is kind of funny. And just think if the reader is reading somewhere in public and *BANG* there's an orgasm.
You can kill a reader that way...
I can see the warnings now "Warning. Contents of this book may kill. Surprise orgasms on the horizon."
hehehe...Orgasms are closer than they appear. LOL!
Jeez, I'm dying here. LOL
DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE A HEART CONDITION, ARE PREGNANT OR DO NOT WANT TO BECOME PREGNANT.
Sorry, I'll stop now.
OMG, you guys are cracking me up. Surprise orgasms. Here's a variation on a warning we see posted in CA a lot:
Warning: This area contains substances known by the state of California to cause orgasm.
(usually, it's cancer - and this sign is posted like, in front of every building with asbestos or whatnot. It's at every restaurant drive-thru.)
Okay, back on topic...
My golden rule of writing is...whenever you feel a little bit scared, like what you're about to write is just too personal, too raw - that's when you've hit the good stuff. Don't back down.
Oh, Tessa - how could we have forgotten?!
BE FEARLESS!
Anna C. would be so disappointed if we'd not added that one. Thanks for reminding us. And showing us how it's done. *g*
Tessa, that is so true! (How could I have forgotten the most important rule in pirating? Scared pirates are POOR pirates.)
Besides, I've written stuff that has been "raw" and once you've written it, let it sit, revised, et al...it's fine again. It's therapeutic, but a hell of a lot cheaper.
Well, except for the cost of your computer and word processing software.
Tessa--my friend Pam went to San Fran last Sept and when she got back, she told me about those signs--in a most horrified voice. "THEY HAVE SIGNS! No, no, you don't understand! Signs that say, 'This may give you cancer', they're just hanging up there and no one bats a freaking eyelash! It's normal that whatever you're standing next to or living under is going to give you cancer."
Well, of course, EVERYTHING gives you cancer.
There's a happy thought for the day...
At least most of the good stuff gives you cancer.
Tessa! Great to see you over here! Made a mental note to myself to be fearless. Much easier to do when there is no risk of injury. LOL
Thanks for the warm welcome, pirates! (There are pirates in the book I just finished, SURRENDER OF A SIREN, you know. Hope you'll all check it out...in 2009)
How could I forget Anna's "Be fearless!" Yep, that's pretty much my point, only Anna said it better. Typical. :P
And yes, those cancer signs are everywhere. It's crazy. No one pays the slightest attention.
Tessa - of course we'll be picking that one up. But you do realize you will need to mark your calendar for a guest blogger here on the ship. I mean, come on, it's a ship! What place could be more perfect?!
Tessa welcome!
I love the title for the new book, I'll definately have to add it to my TBR pile.
Yes, Tessa will definitely have to come blog with us! You couldn't feature it at a more perfect spot. *grins* Maybe Jack can interview you!
Omy, I hate rules. If they're there I have to follow them.
Tessa, I like yours about getting to the good stuff. How right you are.
Oh, Renee, I'm with you there. Not knowing the rules is much better for me than knowing them and trying to ignore or break them. It's just not in my nature! LOL!
Blissful ignorance - that's my golden rule. *g*
I think Blissful Ignorance is the best rule, personally. *LOL* You're a lot happier about your writing until you realize there's feedback. *LOL*
Oh Terri, I'll have to keep that rule in mind.
Renee-who should be writing.
Tessa! That's wonderful advice and a great reminder.
And Renee, I should be writing too.
*Marnee who is determined to get an hour or so at the computer this evening*
Marnee - didn't you have to be on the computer to post this? LOL!
*ducks out to make dinner*
Hey Connie, I read Cinthia Hamer (a loyal squawkee) the Naomi sending Ardis to Valhalla scene over coffee at Caribou on Friday.
She starting gasping and crying (and making all the business Joes look at us), because she was laughing so hard.
And then I go home, read a scene about how Prescott has so badly misunderstood Joe, and start bawling myself.
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