Rules For Writers--Yes or No?

 

Today's photo poster has five words of good advice for writers. Nothing is Written In Stone is simple but strong. 

Along with many other writers, I offer tips on writing. I urge writers to read reference books about our craft. I prod with writing exercises. I highlight the mechanics of writing and urge writers to learn the correct way of using punctuation, grammar rules, and proper spelling. And more!

All that you read in books about writing, on blogs like this one, and online articles are worthwhile, but they are not written in stone. Things change over the years. One example is the number of spaces between sentences. Years ago, the norm was two spaces. When using a typewriter, we learned to tap the space bar twice. It became automatic. Then, computers came along and editors made a change. One space between sentences. It was a hard habit to break, but it can be done. Some stubborn people refused to switch to the new way, and their submissions were in danger of being tossed. The rule changed, and we had to change with it. 

Another reason we can say that Nothing is Written In Stone is that there are writers who want to write outside the box. It allows them to be unique which may appeal to some editors. Others will reject these kinds of submissions in a flash. 

Some of us follow rules while others rebel and want to write in their own way. There is no law saying you can't do so, but getting published could be a little more difficult for these writers. My thought here is that it's hard enough to get published without adding one more reason for an editor to reject your work. Still, take your chances and write the way that works best for you. 

The one place where Nothing is Written In Stone might not work is when you read but do not follow the publication's guidelines, or those of a contest. Those guidelines just might be written in stone. The editorial crew gave them to us for a reason. Refusing to follow the guidelines is the fastest way to being rejected that I know. 

Personally, I am happy to have some rules to follow, ones that will make my writing more clear and strong. It's why I read books/articles about writing and use them for a guide. This is one more choice writers have. Your decision!

Three Choices for Writers

 

Three choices in our poster today. As writers, we have the opportunity to select any one of them. It all depends on whether you are the pessimist, the optimist, or the realist. Or maybe you waver between the three.

In a perfect world, we'd all choose the realist. At least, I'd feel very much in charge. We all know, however, that we don't live in a perfect world. Let's look at these three possibilities and how we might handle each when writing a 1000 word short story.

If I'm the pessimist, I would delay starting to write the story. I'd complain that this wasn't the right day. I might tell myself my mood would be better tomorrow. Or I'd convince myself the story idea isn't fully formed yet. So, I'll wait until I feel everything is just right. The question is--will the time ever be right? Or will this writer keep putting off writing the story?

If I'm the optimist, I will get ready to write, but maybe everything is not exactly the way I'd planned. So, I'll sit here and hope a brilliant idea will come to me so I can start writing this story that has been haunting me for weeks. Eventually, this writer will get around to writing the story but not without delay.

If I'm the realist, I set things up so that I can sit down today and write that story I've been thinking about for a long time. If I run into problems, I'll work them out. Things can be changed. I know that from past experience. I'll get that story written right away.

You have a choice. Sit around and wait, hope things work out for this story, or make the changes needed so the story idea will come to fruition. 

Once again, it's up to you to make the choice that will work best, the one that works in your favor. The first two are easy. You tell yourself to sit and wait and see what happens. The third one will be more of  a challenge, and it will also help you create a good story. 

Two Choices In Your Writing Life--Which One For You?

Writers deal with both faith and fear as they travel through the long journey of the writing world.

Let's look at both today. Use the following as a checklist. Which ones do you think apply to you? 

Fear

•  I am afraid I'll never be good enough to compete with professional writers. (Guess what? They have fears, too.) 
• I worry that I'll never be published or won't be published in the top notch magazines or publishing houses. 
• I fear submitting my writing
• I worry that I'll run out of topics to write about
• I am terrified of Writer's Block
• I am scared to read reviews in case they are bad
• I am afraid of being rejected
• I worry that my writing mechanics are not good enough
• I'm afraid to go to writing conferences 

Faith

• I believe in myself
• I know I have given my very best
• Someday, I'll be published
• I'll be published in a top rated magazine or publishing house
• I keep learning about my craft
• I have plenty to write about; all I need to do is look at the world with a writer's eye
• I will submit my work on a regular basis
• I will join writing groups to learn and to offer what I know to others
• I will accept speaking engagements connected to my writing

You have two choices. Are you going to allow the Fear section to take over your writing life? Or will you work on the ones in the Faith section? Every one of us can probably relate to several things in each category. Which list is the one for you? 

Will You Follow Your Dream?

Yesterday, my husband I saw La La Land, the movie musical that earned many academy award nominations. Having been a huge fan of those Hollywood musicals of the '40's and '50's, I was eager to see this new offering. I also wanted to see it because my 18 year old granddaughter loved it so much that she's watched it 4 times, and I have a feeling there will be more viewings added. 

I remember being a young girl, sitting in a darkened theater watching the top stars of the time dancing and singing and falling in love and having hearts broken and working to follow a dream. This newest offering still used the Follow Your Dream theme along with the romance and the marvelous musical numbers. 

Isn't that we writers do, as well? We follow our dream of being a successful writer from the very first time we churn out a story, essay or poem. We have something in mind that we hope to achieve. Some of us think it will happen quickly while others know that to reach that star in the sky, we have a great deal of hard work before us. 

It's not always easy to keep our goal alive. No matter how much we want to make our dream come true, there will be roadblocks off and on. Get over one and find another in your way. You know what that spells? Discouragement! How easily we get discouraged plays a major role in achieving our dream.

We have two kinds of reactions when we are drenched with discouragement. We can either let it smother our dream or we can get even more determined. It's our choice as to which reaction we'll have. The depth of your desire will play a part. Letting discouragement push you down and keep you down might be tough to take but it also could be the easier route. The one that is more difficult is when you get angry and have an attitude of I'm not giving up but it's also the choice that will bring you more benefits in the long run. If you choose the second reaction, prepare for hard work ahead with plenty of new roadblocks. 

Have you ever watched a track meet where runners jump hurdles one after another? Think of that when you encounter one problem after another in your writing journey. Get over one and move on to the next. You must keep on going, not stop along the way, keep on going until you meet your goal. Even then, you're not done as you'll have to continue to meet snags here and there. 

The important thing, to me, is to have the dream and stay on the road as you pursue your writing goals.