How important are the rules?

Subject: How important are the rules? Tue Aug 14, 2012 8:45 am

Quote :: There is an old standard saying about the arts: 'You need to learn all the rules, and then forget them' ... In writing a book, you are moving along on the wave of your inspiration and intuition, and then you come to a difficult passage, an area you have to cover in order to get from here to there, and your momentum stops. That’s when you have to bring in the rules.

A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living

How does this work for you guys?

Ann

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:11 am

To push the envelope, you must understand the envelope.

To think out of the box, you must know what it's like to be in the box.

Learn the rules. Bend or break them when you need to.

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:22 am

Quote :: To think out of the box, you must know what it's like to be in the box.

Yeah.

Annie

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:29 am

When I'm writing for children, I follow all the rules. Apart from that, I'll write sentences without a verb. Today, as ever. Single word sentences. Yes. Sentences beginning with a conjunction. But only if it goes with the flow. Most of the time, I tend to adhere to the rules of grammar.

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:38 am

I do, too, unless the speaker probably wouldn't. Then I try to go with how that character would say it.

Sometimes fragments, dangling participles, and sentences ended with propositions are a part of contemporary speech.

The main point, IMHO, is that you can't break a rule unless you know what it is, and know why you are choosing to do so.

At that point, the most important factor is the writer's intent. It overrides any rule.

Just me.

Annie

Number of posts : 1 Registration date : 2015-06-10

alj wrote:

Quote :: 'You need to learn all the rules, and then forget them'

My take on this: Learn the rules until you know them so well you don't have to think about them any longer.

I'm still learning them several million words later.

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:15 am

Alj is no longer with us, but once again here is some of her wisdom left for us. Some great writers abandoned all the rules - but they are the exception, not the rule.

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Wed Jun 10, 2015 12:09 pm

Ann left us with a wealth of information. The forum would be a much poorer place without her contribution. I remind myself daily.

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Wed Jun 10, 2015 12:28 pm

The reality is that Ann is still with us, perhaps more so than someone we met in person. For us, she was her avatar and her words and the wonderful stories about cooking and family that brought her to life while her optimistic visions and philosophy, guidance and help were always there too.

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Wed Jun 10, 2015 5:10 pm

This forum is not very active, and yet it has provided a legacy for a small group of authors, who remain in our thoughts. That alone justifies keeping the forum going these past seven years.

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:49 pm

Thank you, Shelagh, for your kindness in keeping us in contact. I know many people dropped off for which I am sorry. They post on Facebook which I find a very distressing place to post.

Subject: Re: How important are the rules? Sat Jun 13, 2015 5:48 am

I don't think it is about forgetting the rules, but discovering which ones work for you. Learning your own technique and methods is the difficult part.

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