tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post4769322092051640544..comments2024-03-17T21:35:22.730+11:00Comments on .W.I.P. It: How to Know when to Break the RulesLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-53342893047222113122011-04-23T20:13:46.283+10:002011-04-23T20:13:46.283+10:00yes, I agree with knowing what rules you are break...yes, I agree with knowing what rules you are breaking (but be ready to pay the consequences).<br /><br />I fully know my a-z's but have at times broken the rhythm to meet my flowing life. <br /><br />Happy Easter to YouStratozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10148600260976577216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-22689210193529967942011-04-23T06:58:50.921+10:002011-04-23T06:58:50.921+10:00This is a fantastic post! Personally, I tend to br...This is a fantastic post! Personally, I tend to break some rules for emphasis.Maria Papadopoulouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18440799849434179288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-87071217721975052982011-04-22T09:08:04.114+10:002011-04-22T09:08:04.114+10:00Stephen, they do add much.
Steven, I don't se...Stephen, they do add much.<br /><br />Steven, I don't see a problem with that. There's music in poetry.<br /><br />Carol, I'm not familiar with that book. I'll have to check it out.<br /><br />LynNerd, yes exactly. It's a good way of capturing the teen voice.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-57269691979189996972011-04-22T09:04:48.631+10:002011-04-22T09:04:48.631+10:00Rachel, I wish I could remember the name of the bo...Rachel, I wish I could remember the name of the book. <br /><br />Madeleine, good example. Shame you had to go through that though.<br /><br />Medeia, good approach<br /><br />Ibdiamond, thanks<br /><br />Talli, exactly. ThanksLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-25499439381598713972011-04-22T08:15:40.296+10:002011-04-22T08:15:40.296+10:00I need to learn those rules. My writing rules are...I need to learn those rules. My writing rules are from over 40 years ago at school, so I have no idea if I am breaking any newer ones, or writer-specific ones.<br /><br />I need to start studying!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-77087801290128703502011-04-22T07:09:55.396+10:002011-04-22T07:09:55.396+10:00You made me laugh out loud with your first example...You made me laugh out loud with your first example, "Let's eat Dezmond." Good one!<br /><br />I write YA and use a lot of sentence fragments, especially in dialogue, since that's the way teens talk. <br />Nice post.LynNerdKelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04167392990015741278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-83950055660003120962011-04-22T03:38:54.762+10:002011-04-22T03:38:54.762+10:00Haha, love the "get over it" part. ;o) I...Haha, love the "get over it" part. ;o) I use sentence fragments, I confess, as well as one word "sentences." It's great for variety of rhythm! <br /><br />You have a great point about clarity. That book, EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES is a popular one addressing the importance of grammar and correct punctuation. :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-52276633412509448452011-04-22T01:32:50.277+10:002011-04-22T01:32:50.277+10:00Absolutely excellent advice, Lynda. A writer shoul...Absolutely excellent advice, Lynda. A writer should know the rules before attempting to break them. I can’t be 100% sure of all the rules I break, because I haven’t learnt them all, but I’m sure it’s an extensive list!<br /><br />I suppose the one I’m most guilty of breaking is rules about rhythm, I do like breaking down a paragraph until it almost reads like poetry.<br /><br /><a href="http://stevenchapmanwriter.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Steven Chapman (writer)</a>Steven Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329115150216721292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-61023804997523014472011-04-22T00:43:38.243+10:002011-04-22T00:43:38.243+10:00I use sentence fragmsnts, especially during action...I use sentence fragmsnts, especially during actions scenes like a fight. They ad much and keep the action moving forward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-29565226682729459912011-04-21T23:47:20.214+10:002011-04-21T23:47:20.214+10:00Fantastic post. Yes, if you do break the rules, yo...Fantastic post. Yes, if you do break the rules, you certainly need to know the rule you're breaking and why!Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-47263707276065270462011-04-21T23:42:49.526+10:002011-04-21T23:42:49.526+10:00OOOOOH, I love this post!
I agree 100% that you&...OOOOOH, I love this post! <br /><br />I agree 100% that you've got to learn the rules before you break them, tho. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-31404563568877760472011-04-21T17:08:42.100+10:002011-04-21T17:08:42.100+10:00I usually break rules for emphasis.
I break the m...I usually break rules for emphasis.<br /><br />I break the most rules for dialogue to depict actual speech, and then sparingly in other areas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-82721073208583217892011-04-21T16:56:07.481+10:002011-04-21T16:56:07.481+10:00Oh yes i agree with you. I took a C&G Patchwor...Oh yes i agree with you. I took a C&G Patchwork & Quilting course as a complete beginner and while i needed to learn the basics of P&Q our tutor wanted us to step outside the box. I wasn't read to do that without knowing the rest first. Needless to say we clashed bigtime. Of course I was later told she shouldn't have press-ganged me into the C&G until I was more proficient. Great post :O)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-12851273616006756912011-04-21T15:27:05.362+10:002011-04-21T15:27:05.362+10:00Hmm.. I think I do the very short sentence thing.....Hmm.. I think I do the very short sentence thing... And in school we were taught not to start a sentence with "and", but I do that too :-)<br />That book with the blank pages sounds very interesting. What was it about?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181241692016438730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-90478619474785319512011-04-21T15:25:51.855+10:002011-04-21T15:25:51.855+10:00JEFritz, yep and sometimes they are needed.
Clari...JEFritz, yep and sometimes they are needed.<br /><br />Clarissa, hahahaha your last sentence is the funniest. Sometimes we have to sell those rule breakages ;)<br /><br />Laura, yeah I recently read ANOTHER book where the character did that. Good one to avoid.<br /><br />LTM, hehe thanks, Leigh<br /><br />Nancy, yep, you did it well in your book.<br /><br />Charmaine, I should read Chasers (gosh there's a lot of books I should read hehehe)<br /><br />Shallee, occasional rule breaking is good. Glad you liked.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-5711495627153165542011-04-21T12:20:01.162+10:002011-04-21T12:20:01.162+10:00I don't habitually break any rules, but I do b...I don't habitually break any rules, but I do break some occasionally, usually for the points you mentioned. I love how you broke it down! It really helped clarify the "rules" of breaking the rules. :)Shalleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-82017006626826101432011-04-21T11:35:58.117+10:002011-04-21T11:35:58.117+10:00I usually don't like the lack of dialogue tags...I usually don't like the lack of dialogue tags, but YA novelist James Phelan did that in the Alone book, Chasers. And it was brilliant because when the twist came it all made sense.<br /><br />As long as you know the rules, it's okay to play with them.<br /><br /><a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Wagging Tales - Blog for Writers</a>Charmaine Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06642615452680721583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-85155304690436505922011-04-21T11:31:35.892+10:002011-04-21T11:31:35.892+10:00The rules I break are mostly incomplete sentences ...The rules I break are mostly incomplete sentences to add tension.<br />Nancy<br /><a href="http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.</a>N. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-22859385487546128812011-04-21T11:23:51.173+10:002011-04-21T11:23:51.173+10:00we can't all be Cormack McCarthy. Good one, Ly...we can't all be Cormack McCarthy. Good one, Lynda! :o) <3LTMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239077455322030275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-29792668365295648952011-04-21T10:59:14.995+10:002011-04-21T10:59:14.995+10:00I do a lot of sentence frags and sometimes do a fe...I do a lot of sentence frags and sometimes do a few other things. I just think it's important to know and understand those rules before you start breaking them.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636585111057799728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-55215321579967905932011-04-21T10:07:33.411+10:002011-04-21T10:07:33.411+10:00I'll break a rule when it's for the better...I'll break a rule when it's for the better of the story. It's too hard to think of the rules. But seriously, one rule I don't break is describing the character in the mirror. Even done well I don't understand why it's allowed. :)Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-33451223852284360742011-04-21T09:37:45.108+10:002011-04-21T09:37:45.108+10:00One thing most classics have in common is that the...One thing most classics have in common is that they break the rules. I love breaking the rules. My publisher, doesn't like it so much.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-53393271229347240882011-04-21T09:34:43.308+10:002011-04-21T09:34:43.308+10:00Lindz, having the skill to control rhythm is an im...Lindz, having the skill to control rhythm is an important one. Oh and Dezmond doesn't mind ;)<br /><br />Ann, that's why reading is so important. It's seeing the grammar in action.<br /><br />Suze, hahaha gotta love the zombie agents ;)<br /><br />Dezzy, phew, glad you don't mind ;) lol! that book is genius.<br /><br />Theresa, oo, I like made up words.<br /><br />Alyssa, Strunk & White is definitely a good one. I use the Australian Style Manual.<br /><br />Oh noes! we can't waste a good red! lolLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-19429992902932235652011-04-21T09:29:53.613+10:002011-04-21T09:29:53.613+10:00I'm terrible with dialogue tags. It's very...I'm terrible with dialogue tags. It's very hard for me to get rid of them because I always feel they are "needed." I need someone to point it out to me before I ever actually get rid of them!J E Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03372746219262163566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-40895382280848880682011-04-21T09:16:15.188+10:002011-04-21T09:16:15.188+10:00Definitely the ones about sentence fragments. Some...Definitely the ones about sentence fragments. Sometimes you've just gotta get that sense of urgency, you know? And so you use choppier sentences; sentences with only one word. "Pale. Frosty. Like winter's kiss in mid-December."<br /><br />Strunk & White's Elements of Style is a handy little tool, too, and completely pocket size. Well. Purse-size, at least. It comes in great handy when you're stumped on a specific grammatical right or wrong.<br /><br />By the by... I totally snorted a perfectly good sip of red wine when I read: "If the thought of all that grammatical gobbledegook makes your brain leak out of your ears, get over it and learn it anyway."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16514163880053470414noreply@blogger.com