
I remember when I started writing, I was surprised to learn there were so many rules I needed to learn—and follow.
Show, don’t tell.
Do not use adverbs in your writing.
Don’t use cliches.
Write a certain number of words per day to be successful.
And on and on.
But, I was also told something else: After you learn to follow the rules effectively and become successful, you may pretty much throw the rules away and write however you please.
The truth is, I think when we find ourselves “eligible” to abandon the rules, we will want to keep them because they make our writing better.
But like I told my critique group yesterday, I will rejoice when the rule about using minimal adverbs in writing is no longer required.
I can’t help it. I love those -ly words…
Lovely, slowly, carefully, brilliantly, passionately, and so on.
Oh, how I long to use them in my writing without feeling guilty!
Lol I think that rule is overstated though. So many writers have found great success by using them, JK Rowling being an example, that I’ve given up on writing rules. I haven’t even followed all these rules to a tee and already I’m breaking them. We should write as playfully as we want, is what I say 😛
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Thanks for your comment. Rule-breakers are trailblazers!!!
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