My Rules Of Writing

[Edit: just revitalizing this journal for some reasons.]

(Just thought I would put this up here for anyone who likes my writing or asks me about writing in general to read.)

1. Don't ever let anyone discourage you or try to tell you how you should or shouldn't write. Writing is an expression of the inner voice of oneself, and you should not silence that voice, no matter who tries to force you into silence.

2. Always listen to advice or critique given to you. You don't always have to agree with it or act upon it, but you should always listen. It is part of how you will learn and grow as a writer.

3. Writing can, and should be, a selfish venture on some level. Your audience and readers are important, but if you do not love what you are writing and you are not attached to the story, the ideas, the characters, etc. then you won't be happy with what you are writing. Write for yourself primarily, then your readers. It is not a crime to make yourself happy with what you are writing.

4. Don't ever forget your audience and readers; they are one of the biggest reasons you write, because stories are best when shared. Even if you have a specific target audience, try to keep in mind that your writing can, and will, at some point, draw in readers from outside of your target audience. So even if you want to draw in certain kinds of readers with a theme they specifically will take interest in, try to remember there will always be others. (I.E. Even if you're writing for college-age readers, try to remember that younger readers might be precocious enough to read your story, but they may not always understand certain vocabulary, elements, themes, etc. So it always helps to try to find alternate ways to get across certain things in your writing in a way that still flows well and remains interesting but doesn't degrade readers who are outside your target audience.)

5. As with critiques and advice, take into account feedback from your readers. What do they like? What don't they like? What is confusing? Is it simply something in a story or is it something that envelopes all of your writing? You do not necessarily have to change things always according to feedback, but it helps to listen and remember such things later on. After all, sometimes your readers teach you things you wouldn't expect!

6. Nobody's writing is perfect. Somebody will always find fault with something in your writing, whether it is a physical error (ex: a spelling mistake or improper grammar,) or a perceived error in just how you personally write, because they're probably comparing you to someone else in their mind that they hold in higher regard. You can not completely please everyone with your writing. But that should not discourage you; just remember, we're human, we err, therefore we and all we make is, in some way, just short of perfect, but that does not mean we cannot strive to achieve perfection; we just have to remember to remain realistic and humble.

7. Try not to bog down your writing with too many details. Some people love their details, and there is nothing wrong with that. But I find that, particularly where description of anything is involved, (ex: describing setting, characters, character interaction, etc.) that sometimes it helps not to describe every last little thing in absolute detail. [Especially if you get really flowery with your descriptive prose.] Try to paint an image for your readers, but don't get too focused on being concise; allow for the readers' imaginations to supply some of the details for them as they read. That way, every reader will take from the story their own unique experience.

8. Everyone has their own writing style. Mimicking the styles of published authors you enjoy can help you to learn and practice flexibility and fluidity in your writing, but eventually, you will have your own style, and it will be uniquely yours. And your style may fall under a certain type of writing, but there is still your unique inner voice as a storyteller present in your work, and even if your writing evolves and grows, that inner voice will still be present. So even if it takes a while, you will find it, so don't ever give up.