Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Breaking the Rules
It’s not often you’ll find me conforming to a set of rules that everyone follows. I don’t follow specific patterns. I normally don’t allow someone to lead me (though I will admit to the occasional moment where I’m passive). There is a South Park episode, “I’m so much of a non-conformist that I’ll non-conform to you non-conforming.”
That would be me.
So typically when I write, I disregard any rules that I find ridiculous. You can tell sometimes, but I don’t care. I write for fun. I write for enjoyment. I write to edit later. And since Hellion blogged about rules yesterday (which I found funny because I was already set to write this one about not obeying the rules) I figured it would be fun to get a take on rules you can live without when writing a novel.
But that will come later.
So a few weeks ago our lovely Capt’n Hellion and I had our monthly writing meeting. Just to give you an idea of how our meetings normally start off:
“Hi. My name is Sin.”
*Hi, Sin*
“I have a problem.”
*What kind of problem?*
“A procrastination/daydreaming problem.”
*hush comes over the crowd* “You need the room on the left just down the hall.”
That would be me.
So typically when I write, I disregard any rules that I find ridiculous. You can tell sometimes, but I don’t care. I write for fun. I write for enjoyment. I write to edit later. And since Hellion blogged about rules yesterday (which I found funny because I was already set to write this one about not obeying the rules) I figured it would be fun to get a take on rules you can live without when writing a novel.
But that will come later.
So a few weeks ago our lovely Capt’n Hellion and I had our monthly writing meeting. Just to give you an idea of how our meetings normally start off:
“Hi. My name is Sin.”
*Hi, Sin*
“I have a problem.”
*What kind of problem?*
“A procrastination/daydreaming problem.”
*hush comes over the crowd* “You need the room on the left just down the hall.”
Confused look. “Well what meeting is this?”
*murmur* “This is the Sexaholics Anonymous.”
Pulling up a chair. “Well in that case I’m staying.”
See what I mean?
Or maybe you don’t.
Anyway, Hellion says to me, “You need this character interview.” And she says it in that voice that shouts to me, “And you damn well better use it!” But she would never say this to me.
At least I don’t think.
And I say to that. “Alright.” Which in Sin-Speak is, “But I’m not going to use it.”
(Sorry Hellion but you already knew that. LOL)
Okay, so I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say *sigh* that I pulled this little character interviewer thingy out after a good brainstorming session with our Powder Monkey Lisa and felt like I needed to make sure I knew who my heroine was. What I got was ten pages of her rambling on about computers. I liked it better when we didn’t know each other. She never rambled to me. She’s a quiet woman, reserved, knows how to hide her feelings. But there’s something about her coming home to face her past that has her rattling off like a nervous ninny.
So you might wonder what this has to do with rules.
First off, most people follow the writing rules (I don’t know if they are writing rules per se) and make an outline of their story. Write out detailed character sketches. Work hours on story boards, plot details, character arcs. I don’t do any of this so doing the character interview was like breaking my own rule.
Numero Uno in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall not outline.
Numero Dos in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall not conform to any particular writing style but do your own thing.
Numero Tres in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall always write the ending first.
Numero Cuatro in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall not question the character of your characters.
Numero Cinco in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall procrastinate all hours of the day when you could be writing.
And see, I’m breaking my own rules.
Hellion has rubbed off on me. Bah.
So getting back to what I said earlier. I want to hear from you my wonderful, faithful little reader of the ship. When you’re writing, what rule do you love to break? And if you don’t write (Bless your heart, you’re still sane) what rules do you like to break when you’re reading. (And if you say you flip to the ending to read…*Shaking head*)
*murmur* “This is the Sexaholics Anonymous.”
Pulling up a chair. “Well in that case I’m staying.”
See what I mean?
Or maybe you don’t.
Anyway, Hellion says to me, “You need this character interview.” And she says it in that voice that shouts to me, “And you damn well better use it!” But she would never say this to me.
At least I don’t think.
And I say to that. “Alright.” Which in Sin-Speak is, “But I’m not going to use it.”
(Sorry Hellion but you already knew that. LOL)
Okay, so I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say *sigh* that I pulled this little character interviewer thingy out after a good brainstorming session with our Powder Monkey Lisa and felt like I needed to make sure I knew who my heroine was. What I got was ten pages of her rambling on about computers. I liked it better when we didn’t know each other. She never rambled to me. She’s a quiet woman, reserved, knows how to hide her feelings. But there’s something about her coming home to face her past that has her rattling off like a nervous ninny.
So you might wonder what this has to do with rules.
First off, most people follow the writing rules (I don’t know if they are writing rules per se) and make an outline of their story. Write out detailed character sketches. Work hours on story boards, plot details, character arcs. I don’t do any of this so doing the character interview was like breaking my own rule.
Numero Uno in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall not outline.
Numero Dos in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall not conform to any particular writing style but do your own thing.
Numero Tres in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall always write the ending first.
Numero Cuatro in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall not question the character of your characters.
Numero Cinco in Sin’s House of Writing: Thou shall procrastinate all hours of the day when you could be writing.
And see, I’m breaking my own rules.
Hellion has rubbed off on me. Bah.
So getting back to what I said earlier. I want to hear from you my wonderful, faithful little reader of the ship. When you’re writing, what rule do you love to break? And if you don’t write (Bless your heart, you’re still sane) what rules do you like to break when you’re reading. (And if you say you flip to the ending to read…*Shaking head*)
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33 comments:
You and I are already breaking most of the same rules. I wish I had some sort of chart before I navigated the waters, but it always goes overboard.
What is that one I keep seeing - BICFOK? Something like that. It's "butt in chair, fingers on keyboard." Actually, the butt in chair part I've got. And my fingers are often on the keyboard but what I'm typing is not my writing.
I have this ailment where I *say* I'm going to do something and I really *want* to do it and I really do *intend* to do it BUT I don't. And then I feel like crappola for not doing it and tell myself this time, I'm REALLY going to do it. BUT I don't.
See a pattern here?
Rules I Break:
1.) Interview your characters before you write. (I don't do this. I interview my characters long after I've been writing on the story, when I'm alone and desperate and avoiding writing at all costs--but still trying to convince myself I'm writing by doing this time consuming interview. If I wanted to interview, I would have been a journalist.)
2.) Never use passive voice. I use it all the time. You could read passages of my stuff and use it to put insomniacs to sleep.
3.) Outline. No, I prefer to suffer through my sagging middles the old fashioned way--and besides, banging my forehead against the keyboard as I try to think of key scenes between my opening and my ending is not productive. I know.
4.) Don't tell every blessed detail (it's boring). Because I refuse to outline, I seem to suffer under the ailment that the reader needs to know how the character gets from point A to point B in nauseating detail, usually with quippy dialog to keep them falling over into a complete coma. (I *am* thinking of my readers.) This leads to editing later, where I ask myself, why did I devote 2 chapters to her driving to church? Who cares?
I also suffer Terrio's problem as well. I have a lot of problems.
Don't we all...
Do you think we could make narrow it down to one rule and that rule would be - "Ignore anything remotely resembling a rule."
There are rules? I try to ignore rules and do what feels right! LOL yes, this is what I keep telling myself.
I don't interview my characters unless I am totally stuck on them, hellion.
passive voice---what's that [she says looking around]
I love how Tiff's rule encompasses everything in her life, not just writing (i.e. do what feels good) *LOL*
Maggie you are my rule breaking partner in crime! I have charts, then I drop them in the water and all the ink disappears. Or the evil pirates erase my memories.
Ter- I'm always AIS, with my fingers on the keyboard, but I'm emailing instead of writing. LOL I need someone to take my technology away. Hellion's got the right idea by not using the internet at home.
Hellion- you're the ultimate rule breaker. That's why you're the Capt'n.
I agree, there should be no rules. But see in order to be a non-conformist, I'd have to start following the rules and that doesn't work for me. LOL
Yeah, Hellion's so BRILL at not using the net at home, she spends all that valuable unused net time SLEEPING and eating cake batter. (I seriously should be restricted from being allowed by buy cake mix.)
I did spend some time last night watching Monarch on the Glen. That was new.
Hellion - that rule does not pertain to food for Tiff, remember? For that she has a million rules. LOL!
Yes, in order to go against the grain in a world with no rules, we would have to make rules and that would be horrible...
I too need to unhook my internet. It's sucking the life out of me! LOL! Or my writing anyway.
I love cake batter. Cake batter ice cream. Cake batter from the box. I'll take it any way I can get it. And cookie dough.
And I need to spend more time sleeping. I'm not doing enough of that. LOL
Hellion- taking a half day tomorrow? Inquiring minds wanna know.
I have cake batter ice cream in my freezer right now! Great stuff. I can eat an entire thing of cookie dough without making a single cookie (explains this extra weight) but can't sit and eat cake batter. I can lick the bowl or spoon but can't imagine just eating it with a spoon. LOL!
Not that I want to try and find out how easy it would be...
I think every company that puts cookie dough in a bowl should be sued.
I can't. I have to catch up on files...and being I have yet to touch them this morning, I think it's unlikely I'll be taking a half day. I still need that book...so I might have to work something out.
There's a meeting next week, hence the folders.
Hey, I like my life... less stress if I go by my own rules! LOL
I'm confused today...what rule doesn't pertain to food?
hehehe..the rule there is no rule.
You have lots of rules for food. Makes me look downright easy to please. *g*
Oh we are calling pickyness rules... I gotcha! LOL...
Otherwise there aren't any rules...are there?
My life is one giant rule after another. LOL! I always say everything I do, I do because I HAVE to. Writing is my only WANT to. That's why it's so important. And if the rules bring in a HAVE to element, then that just ruins it.
I always break the rules in every aspect of my life.I never read any rules before I wrote my first word way back when, and I still don't use a lot of rules now that I know some of them.
Biggest rules breakers...
Sometimes I write in passive voice- biggest no no.
I suck at grammar, and punctuation.
I hate an outline.
I suck at plotting.
I let my muse take my writing so far away from the plot I have in mind, I can barely recognize it by the end. Most of the time this hasn't been a good thing.
Great blog Sin:)
This is what I'm not understanding about you and Sin, Lisa--you guys claim wholeheartedly you don't plot.
YET...YET both of you figure out your ENDING first. What's the worst that's going to happen to this character--and what will the outcome to be?
*turns to rest of smart alecs in the room* I don't know about you guys, but that sounds like the definition of PLOTTING to me.
I mean, if you literally sit at your computer with a character (not a sketched one--because we've already decided we don't like that) and just start writing from day one with this character. That's not plotting. But even then you're deciding where to start with this person. You didn't start writing at conception or birth. You picked a moment in the life of this character and said, "I'm writing about this; THIS is important and has meaning and is relevant to other people"
To me, that IS plotting.
But I could be wrong. I'm not exactly action-plot gifted or anything...and I'm almost always surprised who the killer is in a Janet Evanovich book--and if you can be surprised there, you are NOT a mystery novel plotter.
I think what these two don't realize is any thinking you do about your story is plotting. Writing it down, storyboarding, sketching or outlining is not required to call it plotting.
If you are sitting with your fingers on the keyboard, typing away, then stop, look up and think, "I need him to say something that will piss her off so she'll throw something at him and storm out right into the clutches of the bad guy. Now, what can he say?"
You just plotted. *g*
Cap'n I always know how my story will end, but I never have a clear idea of how to get there, and even if I do it changes numerous times before I get it written. I have to admit, if someone asks me questions about where I want my characters to go and what I want to happen to them I start to formulate a plot in my mind. For some reason I do much better brainstorming with someone rather than attempting to plot on my own. But that falls back to the rule that two minds are always better than one:)
And you can't say you *suck* at it because you guys always seem to ask the automatic choice: "What can be done here to make it worse? What's the worst that can happen? How can I wring the most emotion here?"
You guys do it all the time!
I love brainstorming. 2 heads are definitely better than one. You can get the immediate feedback of "Why would Jane do that? Would Jack really leap out of a plane--you just said he was terrified of heights? What's he doing on the plane?" and helpful feedback like, "Oh, Good God, I saw that episode of Law & Order last night too...that's not a unique plot twist!"
Okay, I'm going to have to veer off on my own course here. I do try to follow some of "the rules."
I tend more towards the plotter than the pantser. So, there's something. I do a sorta outline, though it's a little more visual than that. (I'm working on it now, go me).
I have even decided that I'm going to get serious and start holding myself accountable to my goals. This was a new years resolution and I've been doing... well, ok. Not great, but ok.
But, I do try to keep the fun in it too. I don't do character sketches. I don't even know the answers to some of those questions ABOUT MYSELF let alone about someone I'm making up. And to know the answers about a make up person but not me, well, that seems a little like I have some psychological disorder.
I also don't have a particular "style," though I do listen to some advice about POV, voice, etc. But, not enough to make my inner-editor nag me too much.
SO, that's something. I guess.
What was my point? Maybe I should plot my blog answers before rambling on and on... hmmm....
I've discovered some of my best plots with the help of others. You can think all night about your plot and never see an idea that another person can see. I think it's because a writer is ate up with their own storyline and over thinks the plot, but a fresh perspective can make all the difference in the world.
*ROTFLMAO* OMG, I'm so glad Marnee said that. I totally relate. I don't know the answers for MYSELF on half that stuff we're asked to answer, let alone for someone completely fictional.
ALL the best plotting is done in the Q&A sessions. It's always better to have someone else asking the questions than trying to ask them of yourself.
I'd rather know (this is MADE UP people) that stuff about a fictitious person than dig deep and learn the answers about me. I barely like myself now. Good heavens I'd hate myself if I knew more!
Marnee - you never fail to make me smile. *g* I also resolved to be more disciplined and so far, nuttin.
I was trying to fill out a character questionaire the other night for my heroine, and I expected anytime for the next question to be....When was your last menstral period? LOL
*LOL* Those questionaires are a bit...intrusive.
I remember downloading one once (the author SWORE by it): it was 22 pages long. I'm not kidding. And these weren't yes-no questions or anything. But on-and-on questions.
Let's just say I've yet to fill it out.
I hate that question, Lisa. I almost never know the answer - for me! LOL!
But when it doesn't matter much, you don't really bother paying attention...
I think some questions help when you are first starting the story but at some point you have to let it go and learn as you go.
I know what you mean Terri! I don't keep track anymore since I can't have anymore little ones so it's like who cares! But I do agree that by reading the questions it sure gave me a lot to think about when creating my characters. I admit it helped me build a more indepth character.
And seriously, learning about the character I go is the fun part. I have an idea about them, but I think how they react to the plot I've figured out is really how I know them.
Of course, I haven't finished a story yet so my way of doing stuff might not be the best way.
But, Marnee, sometimes what you learn in those questions can help toward the development of the plot and even of the other character. I learned that my heroine had mega abandonment issues and that she did photography as a hobby. That gave me ideas for scenes with photography and also told me the hero would have to be a guy who stuck like superglue. He would have to dig in and not let go until he convinced her he wasn't ever going anywhere.
If I didn't know that, the story wouldn't have developed the way it has. Not that it's done. LOL! Like you, these are all theories as I haven't actually finished anything.
Well! I'm gone off to do my thing at work and look at y'all...
Hellion- I wish I could help you out with the folders because I know you need to be in bed resting.
And PS. I don't know my story. I never said I didn't plot. I can plot like the devil himself is licking after my heels and the only way to get out of it is to this of a plot to make him go away.
I tell you- taxes have rotted my brain.
Wenches *tips hat* Rock on! Great comments today.
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