As a writing coach, I get asked questions about these rules a lot.
“Should I cut my book’s prologue?”
“Should I always avoid adverbs?”
“Should all my sentences be written in active voice?”
“Should I never edit while drafting?”
Here is the reality folks: the answer to ALL of these questions is… it depends.
The rules of good writing are there as guideposts. They are meant to keep you from going too far off track.
Is it a good idea to follow these rules? A lot of the time it is, but a lot of the time is isn’t.
Writing is an art form.
Rules are made to be broken.
Part of becoming a better writer is learning to trust your instinct.
Does your book really need a prologue? Don’t look to the rules for your answers. Listen to your GUT.
It’s important to learn your craft and to
respect your chosen art form.
But it’s equally important to learn to listen to your inner spirit – that creative voice that’s inspiring you to put those words down on the page in the first place.
Learn the rules. Then learn to put faith in your decision to break them.
Your pal in writing,
Kevin T. Johns, writing coach
