Rules for your writing (not a mechanics post)

[EricWard]

I read a while back that the animators and writers of the Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner shorts had a set of rules they had to follow. Things like "the Coyote's worst enemy should be gravity" or "The Roadrunner always has to win" or "The audience's sympathy must always be with the Coyote."

That got me to thinking about rules when I write. To name a few:

• Names like "Sector X" or "Object SR135" should only be used if the intent is to show coldness or detachment. Use reasonable slang and jargon by default.
• The chances of an alien looking even remotely humanoid are astronomical. Aliens should be weird.
• Nothing is perfect. Even in a utopia, some stuff just won't work all the time. Be it a lightswitch, doorknob, or nuclear fusion drive.
• Always stand by your (pseudo)scientific explanations. Any cracks will only get bigger if you change the rules halfway.
• Strange names and costumes alone do not make science fiction.

Obviously, these are not hard and fast rules for anyone other than me, but I do think it's important to keep at least a few things consistent.

What about you guys? Are there rules you have for your works that you will not, cannot break?

 

[Hex]

I have to like the bad guy.

 

[Kylara]

I always tend to pick a style of naming. Be it translating words into a language that has the right sound for my creations or just inventing them, it should always be consistent. Nothing bothers me more than having Xanthos, Zorg, Keelarious and then Bob. If you go to the extent of making up awesome names, it just seems lazy to name one Bob (unless of course you have different species but still, internal consistency)...

I agree, blagging is the way forward...

Also, science wise I find sometimes, even if your science has been destroyed by Einstein, beauty sometimes trumps it (luminiferous aether for example sounds so much better than its replacement - space/time fabric (relativity theory))...

All placeholder names should be Geoff, Gerald or Greg, because those are the greatest names ever...(they can be changed according to rule one, once a good deal of consistent name ideas have been created) (also one day I plan to have a novel published named Geoff, with no reference to the title anywhere in the novel. Just in tribute to all the Geoffs that have been killed off in favour of more thought through names)

 

[Grimbear]

Try not to write when extremely tired and/or slightly drunk? There's never a good result from this.

Never give a character the same name as anyone you know well.

Never explain anything if you can get away with not explaining it.

 

[chrispenycate]

Break other people's rules only when necessary.

Demonstrate to potential buyers that you can follow their submission instructions.

Don't ever bore the reader.

Obviously, as with any rigid rules there will be exceptions, but not very often.

 

[Kylara]

If in doubt purplerise :wink: and don't bother with full stops, or anything except for commas...proper punctation can always be added later hehehe (often badly and with horrific results)

Also always use poetry as an outlet when feeling too melancholy, otherwise your prose will be depressing, which, whilst an atribute in poetry is oft frowned upon when your scene should be happy...

 

[hopewrites]

Always, to the best of one's abilities, speak in the language of person to whom one is speaking.

If I can't say something kindly, say nothing. Better to be believed to be *derogatory something* than to open my mouth and remove some/any/all doubt.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Try to avoid anything that's going to turn me in circles sciency-wise

Don't use the word thought unless in an emergency

get it down, however i do it, and then revise, revise, revise.

 

[Kylara]

Always carry a notebook and pencil...and always write an idea down, no matter how silly it seems or how much you think you will remember it...better to have lots of ideas with a couple of gems, than no gems at all...

 

[allmywires]

Agree with Hex that I have to like the bad guy (9 out of 10 times I like them more than the good guys...)

Every character has a dark side, and its your job to show it.

Know their psychology and what makes them tick like the back of your hand.

For god's sake don't let your baddies be 2-bit menaces! Give them a life story and motives.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Research.

pH

 

[Mouse]

I don't think I have any rules and it's going to bug me now until I can think of some.

 

[The Judge]

Question everything.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

@TJ; we know, oh we know. *mutters away, remembering painful crits*

 

[alchemist]

If it takes more than one paragraph to describe something, stop.

 

[EricWard]

Question everything.

Ooooh, I like that one.

 

[Ursa major]

Why?

​

 

[Venusian Broon]

Epimenides the Cretan says:

"Rule 1: Always break rules"

 

[Jammill Khursheed]

Never use standardised dialogue (it's a crazy plan but it just might work' type of malarkey)

Never have a comedy relief character, just bad-ass serious one who THINKS they're funny sometimes

NO ONE LINERS - you aren't Michael Bay, and you should be thankful of that every day of your life

If you don't think it's original, STOP, and come up with something that is

Jammill

 

[CyBeR]

Never use standardised dialogue (it's a crazy plan but it just might work' type of malarkey)

Never have a comedy relief character, just bad-ass serious one who THINKS they're funny sometimes

NO ONE LINERS - you aren't Michael Bay, and you should be thankful of that every day of your life

If you don't think it's original, STOP, and come up with something that is

Jammill

Oh yes, I learned that one right here on the forum.
No matter how you justify it, just stop and drop it like it's hot.