Who likes rules? Not really anyone, I would imagine. Yet we all know they keep things from dissolving into complete chaos and creating overwhelming disorder. Such are the rules of writing. I'm not talking about grammar here or typical writing conventions. I'm talking about what does and does not work for the reader. Examples would be switching between multiple points of view. The no-no of prologues. Another might be not to blend or cross genres.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Hey, wait a minute, I've seen all these used in various books and they worked. So, what does that mean exactly? It means, pardon my French, screw the rules.
Don't go getting mad at me. As I said before, we have rules for a reason. All I'm saying here is it's your writing and to start with, do what you want. If it works, you'll know it. If it doesn't, go back to what the various rule-makers have said. The point is if you are a good writer, people will probably like it anyway. It's more about the delivery than the idea of something.
Let's focus on the multiple POV point. This used to be a major no-no but recently we've seen it change. The Help would be a good example. In it, Kathryn Stockett takes each chapter and devotes it to one of three characters and her point of view. It works because she follows a formula. The POV shifts with a chapter titled with the character's name so you can easily see when she changes it. Also, she does a great job with developing each character's voice and you learn to identify with that as well. About three quarters of the way through the book, she does the unthinkable and drops in a chapter devoted to the Benefit. This is written in third person omniscience POV so as to tell all the momentous happenings occurring during the night. Although according to the rules this shouldn't work, it does. Not only does it work, it pulls together a lot of the plot lines up to that point and has all the characters together in one big scene.
I use this popular example because it's a well received story that doesn't always follow the standard conventions a novel is supposed to but it does so well.
I know you've read novels with prologues you've loved. I certainly have. One of my favorite suspense authors did this a lot and I never found it distracting to the story. Instead, I found myself growing more excited as each chapter passed knowing I was nearing the momentous scene. Mixing or crossing genres is becoming ever popular these days and you rarely find a novel now that fits only into one.
I'm a rule follower by nature and I struggle with this. My mind comes up with ideas I think could be creative and interesting but don't necessarily fit with what's been done before. But, that's okay. Right? The things I mentioned above would suggest so. Still, when I read a blog or article describing all the things you should and should not do, I start to doubt myself. I guess the moral of the story is write it first and see if it works. You'll know or you'll soon find out and you'll be the wiser for it. Don't be afraid to take risks. Kathryn Stockett did and we all know how that worked out;-)
It's Derby time in the 'Ville. An exciting time for the locals and visitors to our fair city alike. This is the time of the year when I'm most proud to be a Louisvillian.
Song I love: My Old Kentucky Home, Stephen Foster. If you've been to or seen the Derby, you'll know why;-) Happy Derby!
No comments:
Post a Comment