tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622477097361465.post7930627129307197646..comments2024-03-10T00:27:43.883-08:00Comments on <center>Aimee L. Salter</center>: "The Rules" - Understand Them Before You Break Them - EM CastellanAimeeLSalterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763596557256341788noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622477097361465.post-20695327284922150972013-05-06T18:57:52.702-07:002013-05-06T18:57:52.702-07:00The rules can be useful for avoiding cliches, cop ...The rules can be useful for avoiding cliches, cop outs, and things that annoy the reader. Probably that third one is the most important.<br /><br />For example, I HATE dream sequences. I never find them realistic. If I were trying to choose between the boy next door and the wild guy, I wouldn't dream of floating in a canoe down a river with one of them on each bank. I'd dream of a pig knocking on my door and handing me a bowl of goldfish, then turning around and sitting down in my high school Latin class with Morgan Freeman at the chalkboard. Dreams in books are just too convenient, an easy way to get across an idea.<br /><br />That being said, some (few) authors have written beautiful dream sequences. If you're a talented author, you can turn something simple or over done into something fresh and wonderful.Kelsey Beachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12500526637612455354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622477097361465.post-87912820923738146692013-05-03T12:26:52.914-07:002013-05-03T12:26:52.914-07:00Great thoughts on those pesky writing rules. Like ...Great thoughts on those pesky writing rules. Like your examples I've seen plenty of times writers have broken those rules and yet the book has been great, but the inverse also applies. Like you Aimee, being able to info dump - or for the matter, just tell instead of describing is easier, it rarely reads well.<br /><br />Certainly while I'm learning the craft, I figure I should at least be aware of the rules (reading the agent blogs it seems like a good idea) before I break them!<br /><br />Great post EM. It always helps to know the reasons behind the rule!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15380202410896276712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622477097361465.post-26592795432511534182013-04-30T07:25:19.788-07:002013-04-30T07:25:19.788-07:00Great points--rules exist for a reason but don'...Great points--rules exist for a reason but don't always apply. I might even take these a little farther and say it's not enough to have a good reason to break some of these rules though--you have to NOT be able to tell your story properly without breaking that rule. I also consider my story's motif when deliberating on breaking a rule. For example, my fantasy manuscript opens with a fight scene--but violence is something my hero agonizes over and struggles with throughout the book, so it introduces a key theme. Emily Wenstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11648966627549065372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622477097361465.post-3203314092671496012013-04-29T16:31:17.992-07:002013-04-29T16:31:17.992-07:00I hate rules! Defy them break them or follow them ...I hate rules! Defy them break them or follow them but not for their own sake. Write from the heart and you can never be wrong!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622477097361465.post-35145580430099130682013-04-29T13:26:49.995-07:002013-04-29T13:26:49.995-07:00Funny, we all have different experiences. Learn di...Funny, we all have different experiences. Learn different things. Ive heard all of these before. But this industry is so subjective! <br /><br />I hate the rule against info-dumps. I totally agree that it's boring for the reader. But sometimes it's just easier, dang it.AimeeLSalterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17763596557256341788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622477097361465.post-51839699940027302682013-04-29T05:18:25.966-07:002013-04-29T05:18:25.966-07:00I agree with three and four for sure and somewhat ...I agree with three and four for sure and somewhat five, the rest are iffy to me. Brandon Axhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027731412064014586noreply@blogger.com