The Rule I Wish I'd Never Heard #IWSG #amwriting

Hi friends! Welcome to the first Insecure Writers Support Group meeting of the new year.

What has me insecure this month is that I wasn't able to return any blog visits last month. Every day I expected to find time to do it, and every day ended in failure. You see the problem, right? I expected to "find" time - when does extra time ever just jump out and shout howdy? Never. I need to make time. And that's what I vow to do this year, starting...NOW.

I'm also in anxiety mode this month over my upcoming release. The It Series will be complete on January 25! I'd love some support on this Thunderclap if you're willing & able. Thank you! And now on to this month's question...

 What writing rule do you wish you’d never heard?

Hmm...I've thought and thought about this, and I can't come up with one that I'm not glad to have learned. Maybe I just haven't learned enough of them yet to have found one I wish I didn't know. But sometimes, when I'm reading for fun and a book is driving me bananas because of excessive adverbs or passive writing or using waaay too many words to get the frigging point across, I wish I could unlearn all the rules and just enjoy the dang book. How about you - do you ever find that knowledge of the "rules" detracts from your reading enjoyment?


This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as Insecure Writer's Support Group, founded by the one and clonely Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click below to join the group!

Comments

Madeline Mora-Summonte said…
This totally cracked me up - ..."when does extra time ever just jump out and shout howdy?" Fun image! :)
1/04/2017 8:02 AM
Pat Garcia said…
Happy New Year!
Wishing you an awesome 2017 and much success with your book launch.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
1/04/2017 8:55 AM
Jennifer Lane said…
I totally wish I could turn off my editing brain (and I'm not even an editor) to enjoy reading better. Good one! Cheers to the AASG hehe.
1/04/2017 9:21 AM
Alex J. Cavanaugh said…
Unlearn the rules and enjoy the book - know the feeling.
You're right. There is not finding time. Only making time.
1/04/2017 9:47 AM
Chrys Fey said…
I supported your Thunderclap. :)

In the end, I'm glad to have learned the rules I mention in my post, but at the time I certainly wasn't happy about it. LOL
1/04/2017 9:47 AM
Jennifer Hawes said…
Congrats on your upcoming book launch! I know too many adverbs or adjectives can derail me from enjoying a good book. Hope your new year is awesome!
1/04/2017 10:18 AM
L. Diane Wolfe said…
Good luck with the release.

While knowing the rules hinders casual reading, it helps when reading submissions. When I hit a story that is both good and written well, it really shines.
1/04/2017 11:58 AM
Patsy said…
You're right about having to make, rather than find time. I find it's really easy to be 'busy' yet not actually getting much done - and I'm gradually getting out of that, but it takes concentration.
1/04/2017 12:10 PM
Carrie-Anne said…
It's definitely hard to read as just a reader! So many times I want to break out the red pen, particularly when revisiting books I loved when I was younger. I actually blame some of my past writing shortcomings on these things which were indeed the normal style at the time those books were published. When you've read so many older books your entire life, it's natural to absorb and start parroting things like too many superfluous adverbs, rushing scenes along without enough dialogue or descriptions, and opening with several paragraphs setting the scene and establishing characters.
1/04/2017 1:57 PM
Cherie Colyer said…
I've always been a picky reader, but now that I'm a writer I'm even worse. Sometimes I have to force myself to turn off my writer-mind so I can just enjoy the story.
Happy 2017!
1/04/2017 3:54 PM
Leigh Caron said…
I wrestle with "time" every day. I love to write so why is it so hard some days? And yes, my editing mode is always on when reading. I bought a book this last visit to the States for the holidays. I bought it at the airport because it's difficult to find English books where I live. I was excited. The author was a NYTimes best selling author and so I snuggled into my seat for the 3 1/2 hour flight, but by page 50 I was disgusted. The author used the same word phrase for all of her characters. Who didn't catch that? The plot was so thin I just jumped to the last chapter and went, "I knew it!" *sigh*
1/04/2017 7:07 PM
Sarah Foster said…
I think writing rules tend not to bother me when I'm reading. As long as it works within the story, it doesn't bother me.
Good luck with the upcoming release!
1/04/2017 7:49 PM
Michael Di Gesu said…
Hi, Nicki,

Happy New Year!!

You, bet! ALL the time. I very rarely enjoy reading as much as I used to before becoming a writer....
1/05/2017 8:26 AM
Juneta key said…
Love the look of your site. Looks like you are making good use of your time.
Happy New Year
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
1/05/2017 8:34 AM
Julie Flanders said…
Wow, love the new look!! Very cool. And I just signed up for the Thunderclap - good luck with it. Happy New Year!
1/06/2017 9:32 AM
Crystal Collier said…
LOL! Sometimes when I'm reading, I have to shut off my brain. =) Actually, it happens more often than I'd like to admit. Still, I'm like you. I don't regret having learned any of the rules because they can only make you better. Or at least, then you know when you're coloring outside the lines.
1/06/2017 12:06 PM
Susan Gourley/Kelley said…
Congrats on finishing your series. Writing rule violations do pop out at me when I'm reading.
1/09/2017 1:21 PM
erica and christy said…
Um...yes. Same. I am just now visiting blogs for this month's IWSG posts and am at just the fifth one... Make time. Make it. Okay. Also, I didn't list a rule that I'd wished I hadn't learned but do get annoyed by excessive adverb usage. I tweeted and Facebooked for Thunderclap. Best of luck! I will be checking out your books this year! Spring break or summer. :) Christy
1/10/2017 11:23 AM
Tara Tyler said…
yeah, the bigger names drive me nuts too - we have to remember it's not about the rules, those are just the basics. it's about the story and making readers want to read it! and how can i help with your release?? send me an email!

also wanted to thank you for supporting cradle rock =)
happy 2017
Tara Tyler Talks
1/15/2017 8:01 AM
cepot tea said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
6/15/2017 12:23 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In which I get rated R...eh, maybe NC 17...

Image
Before I start talking dirty, guess what happened---I hit 200 followers!   My 200th follower is Tony VanHelsing (who I'm going to assume is a descendent of you-know-who, and if anyone knows differently do not tell me).  To celebrate this milestone, how about I put Three Daves on sale for only 99 cents in Nook , eBook, ePub , and even Kindle until September 30th. ;) For today's feature post, visit Irish beauty Carol Oates .  This talented author and I discuss Adult versus Young Adult and where the line gets crossed.
Read more

Lexa & Julie's Dream Destinations Blog Hop & #Giveaway

Image
We're celebrating the release of Julie Flanders' The Ghosts of Aquinnah   and Lexa Cain's  Soul Cutter   with a Dreams Destinations blog hop. Aaand Lexa & Julie are hosting a great GIVEAWAY.  Visit either Lexa's blog or Julie's blog to enter and also to find the Linky list so you can travel to more dream destinations. It was unbelievably difficult for me to settle on just one place. I decided to make it somewhere I'd never been before...and then I decided to stop over thinking and just pick a place already...and I landed at Piazza San Marco in Venezia, or as we call it for some reason, Venice. (Does anyone know why we don't all call it Venezia?) I would stroll the square, sidestepping pigeons and saying buongiorno to people whose eyes met mine, not worrying about my sorry accent. I would have tickets for that evening's opera in my pocket and a caffe-flavored gelato in my hand. I'd be wearing a darling scarf I'd just purchased, arr...
Read more

Top 10 Movie Countdown Blogfest

Image
Yay, today's the day for another of Alex. J. Cavannaugh's famous blogfests. I'd like to thank him not only for hosting, but for keeping it simple & fun---coming up with this list and looking at posters of my most favorite movies turned out to be quite a cathartic exercise. I hope you found it to be the same (assuming you were in need of catharting). Thanks, Big Al. These are in the order of my affection for them: 1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl 2. Raiders of the Lost Ark 3. Star Wars: A New Hope 4. When Harry Met Sally 5. Return of the Jedi 6. The Empire Strikes Back 7. Toy Story 8. Mystic Pizza 9. Goodfellas 10. Jaws  I'm allowing myself two more because I think it was really good of me to count the original Star Wars Trilogy as three separate entries: 11. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring 12. Pirates of the Caribbean: D...
Read more