When I first started writing, I learned there were specific rules to follow. This puzzled me because I couldn’t find a definitive list of these rules anywhere, yet fellow writers and contest judges were quick to fill me in.
No Rock Stars: I learned this one after I’d completed a story called Follow That Dream. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t have a rock star hero. No sports settings. Hmm, I had one of those, too. Evidently there are several occupations on the no-no list. Politicians and artists, please step this way.
The hero and heroine should meet in the first few pages. This one made a little more sense if the book was a short story or category romance, because we want the hero and heroine center stage. But what about a 100,000 word novel? Surely it wouldn’t matter if they didn’t meet straight away?
The hero and heroines shouldn’t be deformed in any way. One of my favorite reads is A Man Like Mac by Fay Robinson. The hero is confined to a wheelchair. Heck, I have scars – not in-your-face scars, it’s true, but they’re there. Did this mean a character like me couldn’t step between the pages of a book?
Everyone has to write alpha heroes. I love alpha heroes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like a beta hero. The beta hero might be less obvious, but that doesn’t mean he’s any less “heroic”. Variety is good, right?
There should be only one point of view per scene or chapter. Hello! Can I say Nora Roberts? Also, if you’ve read my books, you’ll know the POV character doesn’t follow this rule. You should only use the hero and heroine’s POV in your story. Nope, I didn’t follow this rule either.
No foreign settings. I like to thumb my nose at this one. New Zealand is not a foreign country! I love to read books set in different countries. It follows that I’d like to write them as well.
Historicals should only be set in Scotland or Britain. While I enjoy British-set historicals, variety is the spice of life.
Formatting a manuscript – Courier 12 pt with 25 lines per page. I had a judge knock off points in a contest because I put one space between my full stops and the next sentence. Evidently I was meant to put two spaces. I’ve also had a few contest judges who circled was every time I used it in a sentence. Poor maligned was!
Write what you know – I don’t think so because that would be a very boring story. For me, writing is about learning new things, discovering new occupations and traveling in my imagination. I bet there are other writers like me who enjoy writing about things and places they’re not familiar with. That’s why there are so many articles about research for writers.
At conferences, I’ve heard authors ask editors and agents what sort of book they’re looking for. The answer is usually the same: a good read. They’re not concerned about rules because all they want is a good book.
In the e-pub world just about anything goes. Authors are given the chance to experiment, to combine genres and write about any setting or occupation. Although the same freedom isn’t available with New York publishers, this shouldn’t stop an author from writing the book they want to write. Take a look at the publisher’s submission guidelines and follow their instructions. These are the only rules that matter. Add a little imagination, write the best book you can and submit with confidence.
Have you come up against these writing rules? Are there any I’ve missed?
It leaves me scratching my head about what careers are acceptable when writing.
by Sandra July 22nd, 2008 at 4:30 amGood post, Shel.
Oh, boy, Shelley - you hit on so many sore spots for me with this post!
No Rock Stars: so I guess someone should tell Nora Roberts and Susan Elizabeth Phillips this rule, huh? Cuz they’ve both written about rock/sports stars.
The hero and heroines shouldn’t be deformed I like it when my heroes or heroines have scars, (and I’d heard that it’s good to make a hero/heroine less than perfect by adding a scar or two, internally or externally) But again, one of my favorite Jo Beverly characters is missing an arm, a heroine has a limp, JR Ward’s Zsadist - can’t even begin to describe his scars …
Historicals should only be set in Scotland or Britain. Yeah, this one REALLY bugs me. I have a historical I started to write set in - wait for it - CANADA during the War of 1812. (Hmm, then again, considering from a Canadian POV the Yanks are the bad guys, yeah, maybe that’s not a good saleable story idea.) But I have given up reading historicals, especially regencies because they’re sounding all the same nowadays - let’s get some different locations in there.
I had a judge knock off points in a contest because I put one space between my full stops and the next sentence. Oops, guess you’ve found out since that the judge was *gasp* wrong? Because the standard in today’s typing with all these adjustable fonts is a single space. 30 lashes with a wet noodle to that out of touch judge.
The answer is usually the same: a good read. Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard too - and I’ve read stories who ‘follow the rules’ and been bored out of my skull. Bring on the ‘different’!
And yet why on why do people keep insisting you stick to these danged ‘rules’? One reason why I don’t like contests …
by Leah Braemel July 22nd, 2008 at 5:16 amNo rock stars?
Don’t tell Trevor …
by Susan Helene Gottfried July 22nd, 2008 at 5:43 amThat judge reminds me of those old horrors who judge figure skating. They would fall on their ass if they so much as tried walking on ice with spiked shoes and know zero about artistic performances, but woebegone if you land on the inner instead of outer skate afte the triple Axle.
Ma favourite is the You Need to Have a Romance Subplot (in Fantasy, Hist Fic or whatever) one. Not. Because I can’t write romance.
by Gabriele July 22nd, 2008 at 7:32 amBooks that follow the rules are blah.
Okay I had a judge and a crit partner tell me that Fox’s Bride was not a novel but an outline. ????
That the heroine shouldn’t be the pirate. That’s not PROPER!!
I would love to see their faces now, 5 Stars at The Romance Studio.
by Amy Ruttan July 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 amAmy, yeah, I don’t get that comment about Fox’s Bride at all.
And I just remembered - Wylie’s book about a rock star just got published, so there’s another blow about that rule.
In one contest I recently helped judge, one of the other judges mentioned that they’d noticed unpubbed authors judged entries a lot tougher than pubbed authors. Be interesting to track that, wouldn’t it?
by Leah Braemel July 22nd, 2008 at 8:20 amI threw out the rule book years ago. Most of the time the people who are most determined to make you stick with it aren’t good writers.
by Alice Audrey July 22nd, 2008 at 8:37 amI think the ebook world can afford to spread its wings regarding settings/characters because the production costs are low. Print books are costly - now more so than ever. Print authors are straightjacketted when their contracts arrive - trust me on that one.
by julia July 22nd, 2008 at 8:45 amRules? There are rules?
by J.K. Coi July 22nd, 2008 at 9:24 amMore like guidelines.
by Gabriele July 22nd, 2008 at 9:46 amSandra - I know. I’ve had judges tell me my pop star and rugby players will never sell as well. Not true. There are heaps of great books that I’ve loved with heroes from these occupations.
Leah - it’s interesting because I’m pretty sure that unpubs are harsher judges than pubs. Maybe it’s because they think they have a better chance of publication if they stick to the “rules” while pub authors know from expereince the “rules” aren’t right and judge accordingly. It’s hard to say.
Susan - Trevor is safe with me. I’ll read his story any time.
Gabriele - of course you don’t need a romantic subplot! That’s just silly.
by Shelley Munro July 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pmAmy - an outline? Who knew? I’ve had some very random and cutting comments from judges. I haven’t judged any contests this year, but I think my contest entering experience has made me a more lenient judge.
Alice - the rubbish bin is a good place for most of the so called “rules”.
Julia - yes and no. I can understand print publishers not taking so many risks, but I think that’s separate from following every one of these rules.
JK - so I’ve been told.
Gabriele - that’s a good word for them. Guidelines.
by Shelley Munro July 22nd, 2008 at 12:24 pmYou know, this reminds me of a talk Molly O’Keefe gave to the TRW last year. She was discussing the first five pages of a manuscript and had us list off the ‘rules’ we’d heard you had to stick by (no prologues, don’t start with dialogue, etc.) She said not to think of them as rules to be rigidly followed but tools to be used as needed or abandoned if not.
by Leah Braemel July 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pmOh yes… the “rules”…
I’m so sick and tired of hearing about them. However, I see big NY published authors breaking them. So personally, I’m a “rule” writer now. I’ve only got one rule in my life: Write the best story possible. 
by Tempest Knight July 22nd, 2008 at 1:34 pmLeah - I hadn’t heard the rule about not opening with dialogue. I do it all the time! Personally, I write the story that’s in my head. If an editor comments on something I’ll listen, but other than that I just let go and write what I want.
Tempest - I think that’s a great rule to live by. Take what works for you and run with it!
by Shelley Munro July 22nd, 2008 at 2:49 pmOk, I’ve never written a book in my life. Not even a short story since I was out of high school. On the other hand I devour novels. I usually read about one book a day f it’s an average 300 pg print, more if they’re e-books. So I may not know about judging and getting printed but I know what I’ve read and what I like and it breaks all of those rules.
by Amy W. July 22nd, 2008 at 3:56 pmOne of my favorite print authors constantly writes about disabled hero/heroines and I love it! I also love books that have sports or music stars in them! I think those rules are crazy. The only one I might agree with is POV, not for me but I’ve been in book clubs and such where they all complain about it being hard to follow. Oh well, I still like them.
All I have to say is give me a good read and I’m yours! Keep up the good work everyone!
Hugs,
-Amy
Huh. I heard all kinds of rules. The Alpha Male one is one I broke recently with “Resisting Command” but I was told “Fem Dom doesn’t sell”. It’s my best seller so far.
by Jennifer McKenzie July 22nd, 2008 at 5:57 pmWho knows?
This is an interesting post because I was told I couldn’t introduce my hero before my heroine if the book was mostly about her. If the majority of your commenters throw the rules out the window, am I allowed to do that too? Within reason, of course.
by Barbara Martin July 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmBarbara - Why? What was the reasoning?
If it were me, I’d write the book the way you see it. The book I’m reading at the moment had a prologue, which I’m told is not meant to be done and introduces the hero first. I’m really enjoying it.
To me, a good book is all in the execution. It doesn’t matter what order things are done or introduced by the author. As a reader, all I want is an entertaining story.
by Shelley July 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 pmThe only rules are that there are no rules.
Long live variety!
by N.J. Walters July 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 amShelley, thanks for your input. Now I’ll just keep writing as in the manner I began with.
by Barbara Martin July 23rd, 2008 at 5:33 pmI’m glad I could help, Barbara.
by Shelley Munro July 24th, 2008 at 1:42 pm