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Violanthe
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Joined: 24 Jul 2003
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Nik
Senior Member
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 805
Location: UK
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 Umm...
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:17 pm |
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Um, yes, I'd have to agree.
"All of the above..."
IMHO, story-telling is the key: Happens I usually do it badly... |
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Gordon Long
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Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Posts: 203
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Eight Rules
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:49 am |
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Can't argue with any of those. I follow all of them religiously, especially the first one.
I wonder, though, why people who make up rules usually start them with the word "Don't" Maybe it's much harder to write "Do" rules. |
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Ian
The King of the Swing
Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 231
Location: Kent, England, U.K.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:34 pm |
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| Quote: | | Steve Berry's 8 Rules of Writing |
Rule number one is "There are no rules". So why the other seven? 
Seriously, I find "Steve Berry's 8 Rules of Writing" to be a bit basic/obvious. It could be very useful for young children at school (no sarcasm).
The 8 rules are a bit confused. |
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Gordon Long
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Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Posts: 203
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Eight rules
Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:01 am |
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Rule number one is "There are no rules". So why the other seven?
If you look through Berry's facetiousness (there really is such a word; I looked it up) there is a basic truth in those rules that translates into one of the techniques of good writing. It's the idea of breaking rules. The standard rules of writing, the obvious ones, set up standard reactions in readers, because they know what to expect. If you are aware of the expected reaction, you can break the rule in order to get another reaction. If not overused, this gives a touch of originality to your writing. |
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Ian
The King of the Swing
Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 231
Location: Kent, England, U.K.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:15 am |
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I don�t see the rules as being at all facetious. Steve Berry is obviously keen to encourage young writers or absolute beginners. There is nothing wrong with stating the obvious to the young and enthusiastic. The best advice is common sense.
I mean if you have read one good novel and have the ability to analyse what you have read and have any kind of instincts as a writer this list is not for you.
Yes, you can play with the reader�s expectations. |
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DougGogerty
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Joined: 29 Mar 2006
Posts: 418
Location: Minnesota
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:41 pm |
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As I have stated on numerous occasions, there are no rules to writing. It is an empty world that must be filled. There are "guidelines" that writers can follow, but even those are very flexible. Thus, I would label these as 8 guidelines for successful writing. You cannot just string together words, there must be some basis for coherence. Other than that, it is a jungle out there. Even if you ain't got no good English skills, if you can write coherent stories -- it's all good!
_________________
Douglas E. Gogerty
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Around the Campfire
"No, I'm from Iowa. I just work in outer space."
-James T. Kirk |
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Gordon Long
Regular Member
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Posts: 203
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Eight rules of writing
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:17 pm |
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[quote="DougGogerty" I would label these as 8 guidelines for successful writing. [/quote]!
Doug, you sound like a critic (sorry, no serious insult intended) playing with sematics. Writing is an intuitive art, and trying to pin it down to 'rules' and 'guidelines' is what critics do, to try to get a left-brain handle on a right-brain process.
Still, I enjoy rules. Sort of like glass bottles on a fence. Pretty to view, and so much more fun to shoot at than black and white target paper. |
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