My One Unbreakable Rule (Brenda Hiatt)

I’ve really enjoyed reading my fellow bloggers’ different takes on various writing “rules” this month. The recurring theme seems to be: Rules are all well and good as long as they work for a particular story or author. If they don’t, out with ‘em! And…yep. That’s pretty much how I approach writing “rules” as well. I can only think of ONE rule I never intentionally break, and it’s one I highly recommend any serious writer adhere to: 

Stick religiously to that one, and I honestly believe a storyteller can get away with (almost) anything else. At least in fiction, where our main goal should be to engage and entertain readers. 

Sure, I do my best to follow plenty of other rules (guidelines?) in my writing, like getting the spelling and grammar right (except when it’s wrong on purpose). Having at least one sympathetic character. Stuff like that. But most other so-called rules? Meh. Thing is, quite a lot of the standard “rules” came about in service to Rule Number One (see above). The various plot structure charts out there are mainly about keeping the reader interested. Ditto guidelines on creating characters. Like most writers, I have my own list of guidelines and processes I’ve developed over the years that I try to follow when planning or writing a novel. But honestly? They’re nearly all in service to Rule Number One.

 

Excepting that one, all-important rule, I’ve become less and less prone to take externally-imposed writing “rules” at face value over the course of my (scary long) writing career. For example, I can remember agonizing over whether or not it was “okay” to include a villain’s viewpoint in one of my early historical romances. (I did, and I think the book was better for it.) I also agonized before attempting first person POV for the first time. And whether to shift from first person past to first person present. And including more than one person’s POV in a first person book. (I eventually wrote a book with SIX first person viewpoints!) 

 

My books are by no means perfect, but judging by reviews, I’ve done a decent job of adhering to Rule Number One.

 

And I can live with that. 

ps - Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Brenda Hiatt is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the award-winning Starstruck series. At ten books and counting, each has received better reviews than the book before. She especially loves the reviews that complain about the reader staying up all night to find out what happens next!