Rebecca’s Rules for Writing
Rebecca’s Rule for Writing.
Click on title for complete essay on subject.
Rule # 1: Leave your author ego at the door
Rule # 2: The Story Always, Always Rules
Rule # 3: Write Straight Forward
The following are miscellaneous ‘rules’ I originate during the course of my everyday blogging. I toss them in here as I hit upon them for easy reference. As I address them further, they will have their own page and link.
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- If you’re not crying when you write it, they’re not crying when they read it. If you’re not laughing when you write it, they’re not laughing when they read it. If your writing doesn’t effect you, it certainly is not going to effect the reader. You can not stay detached from your story.
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- Your reader has to trust you to take you all the way into the story and out the other side safely. This does not mean that they are not going to see some bad even horrific stuff along the way (depends on what you’re writing) but they have to be absolutely certain you’re going to hold their hand the entire time while you take them through. Build reader trust.
[...] Rebecca’s Rules for Writing [...]
October 9th, 2007 at 9:06 amW. Somerset Maugham is quoted as saying, “There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately no one knows what they are.”
I like your rules, they don’t restict the writer but rather encourage her to go boldly on with what becomes an outpouring of the heart and imagination.
Also love your blog. You belong to the same club I do, looks like we both over-plan and have difficulty in fitting our ten pounds of ‘to do’ into a five pound sack. Look forward to hearing from you when you have time. Bless you.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:42 amSunny, Great to hear from you. Have been enjoying your work as time allows.
“. . .looks like we both over-plan and have difficulty in fitting our ten pounds of ‘to do’ into a five pound sack. . .”
Yes, but I find that if you really pack it in. . . lol.
Take care. I hope to be in contact with you soon.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:44 amMs. Melvin,
May 9th, 2010 at 1:11 pmSunny and I met you at the writers conference in Orlando. You were so very nice to us. Thank you. I read In the Brief Eternal Silence and loved it. You are very good. I have a special book case for favorite books that I read often and yours is there now in some excellent company. You have also made me see how my historical romance needs a lot of beefing up. Thank you,again. Sincerely, Lynn Ullin
Lynn,
Thank you. A book that gets reread is the highest compliment any writer could ask for. I know that I have my own special collection. It may be ten years between readings, but I know that when I can’t find anything else that quite hits the spot, one of them will.
They include works by Gwen Bristow (Calico Palace), Diane Pearson (Csardas), John Steinbeck (The Winter of our Discontent), and anything by James Herriot.
By all means, once you have beefed up your historical romance, send it along to me if you think it may fit into a Christian theme. Romances are still the best sellers across the book world.
May 10th, 2010 at 7:47 am