“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”
― W. Somerset Maugham
I am reminded of the feeling I get when I go to art exhibitions and see someone studying a blue line across a white canvas, just to express the deeper philosophies of life itself found in the art work.
Every piece of art is an individual experience to the beholder, just like a novel or a song may be.
But writing a novel ...who really knows what the rules are?
Each author has his or her way of working, there is no right or wrong on how to develop a story. If I look up the key words "rules for writing" on the Internet, there are many who have written their ten rules, their 14 rules, their 15 rules, so obviously there are those who believe they have cracked the code.
George Orwell had some good advice for aspiring authors in his essay called: “Politics and the English Language”:
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
I can gain many pointers from reading what other's have tried and failed and succeeded! But after reading many rules I am basically back to W. Somerset Maugham wise words. Writing encourages creativity and wide open spaces. That's what we love about it!
