Many, many
of the “lies” addressed in these parts have to do with the “rules” passed along
to aspiring writers at conferences and workshops, in books and articles, by
critique groups and manuscript readers.
Most of the
“rules” are based, in some part, on reality. But seldom are they universal
enough in application to even qualify as “rules.” “Advice” or “considerations”
would make more apt descriptions.
The simple
fact is, if you want to write, and write well, you have to figure it out for
yourself. No one else can guide the pencil or stroke the keyboard or tell you
how to tell your story.
That’s not
to say you should ignore the “rules” you hear. Neither should you accept them
unconsidered or untested. Try that, and you’ll end up hopelessly confused, staring
at a blank screen or sheet of paper wondering how to proceed and continually
contradicting yourself as one “rule” clashes with another.
I think the
best advice concerning following the “rules” is that offered by W. Somerset
Maugham: “There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one
knows what they are.”
