Yes, I believe there are good rules for writers but they’re maps, not the landscape. Run-on sentences are bad unless you’re Faulkner or anyone who’s inspired to let sentences be wild ponies that love the newfound power of their legs. I show my students V.S. Naipaul’s rules for beginning writers and they’re very good. But also not much fun. The next week I show them Neil Gaiman’s rules. Very good and much fun. I’m convinced that any rules that keep us writing are great. And any writer who’s a little too wild for the rules is worth reading. Once again, thank you Shannan. As usual, we can feel the engine humming behind your writing. That makes people want to write more.
"If a sentence feels too long, let it keep going..." my mantra also.
I once had a classmate reviewing my work who said my sentences were too long.
I know it's because she couldn't read that much in one breath. She was addicted to bits and pieces thrown at her from social media. Or wherever.
My newspaper editor and I used to have a contest about who could write the longest sentence without losing the core of the "story" in it. I always won :-)
This piece just got so many wheels turning that I hardly know where to start, but I guess I already have so I 'll keep going. All these are provocative, but the ignore "write what you know" is the best IMO, Shannan. I'm pretty even tempered, but the advice to stay in my lane makes me mad. If we only wrote what we know, there would be zero creativity. Besides, any time someone shares what they know, someone tells them they are pontificating. Besides, besides, I'd have precious little to say (maybe some would applaud) because I know almost nothing for absolutely certain. Far less than I used to. Kudos to you as well, for not keeping Karan to yourself.
Whenever I'm stuck with writing, I find it easiest to just let go of my expectations that my writing has to be good and remind myself why I'm writing in the first place - myself! And once I get over the hurdle, letting myself write the run-ons and weirdness, I find out that maybe it wasn't so bad after all. You've got it totally right!!
👏🏼👏🏼❤️❤️❤️🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks Shannan, I’ve got that saved.
Algorithm is in my favour today, keep sharing!
#3 was my fav- Let that one strange thing stay. Done, strange things are staying from here on
Awesome! I especially love the thought racing down the stairs half dressed and not ready image! lol! Well done!
Number 5 🫣
Yes, I believe there are good rules for writers but they’re maps, not the landscape. Run-on sentences are bad unless you’re Faulkner or anyone who’s inspired to let sentences be wild ponies that love the newfound power of their legs. I show my students V.S. Naipaul’s rules for beginning writers and they’re very good. But also not much fun. The next week I show them Neil Gaiman’s rules. Very good and much fun. I’m convinced that any rules that keep us writing are great. And any writer who’s a little too wild for the rules is worth reading. Once again, thank you Shannan. As usual, we can feel the engine humming behind your writing. That makes people want to write more.
Big supporter of #4!! Why should we have to figure it out before sitting down to write? Nothing would ever get written that way.
Love this (it’s just what I needed today) and love the way you said it, thank you!
YES to number 3! Obsessed with this list!
There will always be someone reading your stuff!
"If a sentence feels too long, let it keep going..." my mantra also.
I once had a classmate reviewing my work who said my sentences were too long.
I know it's because she couldn't read that much in one breath. She was addicted to bits and pieces thrown at her from social media. Or wherever.
My newspaper editor and I used to have a contest about who could write the longest sentence without losing the core of the "story" in it. I always won :-)
Keep on writing, I'll keep on reading you.
This piece just got so many wheels turning that I hardly know where to start, but I guess I already have so I 'll keep going. All these are provocative, but the ignore "write what you know" is the best IMO, Shannan. I'm pretty even tempered, but the advice to stay in my lane makes me mad. If we only wrote what we know, there would be zero creativity. Besides, any time someone shares what they know, someone tells them they are pontificating. Besides, besides, I'd have precious little to say (maybe some would applaud) because I know almost nothing for absolutely certain. Far less than I used to. Kudos to you as well, for not keeping Karan to yourself.
yep yep heck yeah
i already tend to follow all of these, but have trouble remembering #5. appreciate these reminders!
Whenever I'm stuck with writing, I find it easiest to just let go of my expectations that my writing has to be good and remind myself why I'm writing in the first place - myself! And once I get over the hurdle, letting myself write the run-ons and weirdness, I find out that maybe it wasn't so bad after all. You've got it totally right!!
Thanks for overwriting our collective internalized voices, for all of us who come in our own way.