There’s a writing axiom that states everyone should learn the rules before they break them. I happen to agree with this rule. But I also believe in breaking rules. It’s a tenuous position for a blogger who focuses on how to write. Today’s blog is about what I truly believe.
Trust your instincts.
Instinct is a higher form of knowledge than fact or intelligence. It resides deep within our primitive brain and knows things our conscious brain does not and cannot. It is the part of us that makes us screech to a halt and wonder if we left the iron on before we leave the house. It’s that bit that sounds an internal alarm when danger is present.
Our instincts know more than our brains. These jolts from our instincts are valuable. They are genetically hard-wired behaviors that protect us and can take the form of a reflex or a complex process of reactions.
In a creative sense, intincts let us know when something is working right or off.
When it comes to writing, trusting your instincts is like building muscle memory for grammar. If you learn the rules and practice them, you will learn when it feels right and when it does not. Or when it sounds right or wrong.
Experts talk about muscle memory a lot in athletics. It’s a function of motor learning where a task is completed over time and stored in the subconscious. It’s a way for your body to remember how to work the right way. In martial arts, it is a simple as fight as you train. If you train well and are attacked, you will respond correctly, without need for conscious thought, because the movements and techniques will be embedded in your muscles and subconscious. Your body will know how to protect you because you trained and practiced how to react.
The same thing can happen in writing. You can learn the techniques, grammar, style, tone, pacing, and other mechanics over time. Then as you write, you will feel when they are working and when they are not. Essentially, you will write as you practice or learn.
It all boils down to this: learn everything you can about grammar and writing. Learn it until it is part of you. Then put all of it aside and write. Let your instincts guide you. They will alert you when your writing is off. They will make you tilt your head and scrunch up your face when you read a clunky line or an awkward description.
Sure, you can use helper programs to check grammar, but accept that they might subvert your instincts. It’s better to write as well as you can before you check your work with any spellchecker or grammar assistance. I’m not saying these programs are bad. They are not. They help a lot of people and can be invaluable in self-editing. But recognize that these programs also make suggestions based on their programming and, if you blindly accept their recommendations or changes, you could end up sounding like everyone else using that same program. This might not be such a bad thing if you are writing a work email, but it’s not so great if you are trying to find your voice for a fictional project. Use these tools wisely and later in the process, after you’ve solidified your voice, story, character and style.
Learn how to trigger other instincts by changing your approach. Reading your work aloud will tap into a different part of your brain. So will putting your work aside and revisiting it after a period of time (how much time will vary per person, project and length). Setting work your work aside clears your mind and invites new reactions. It also lets your inner editor start fresh without your pesky, obsessive writer side taking over. That’s the main reason people suggest putting your first draft aside before you attempt any revisions. You need to let your mind reset so you can see it fresh and more objectively.
Like all things. Learn the foundational elements—grammar, style, plot, point of view, etc. Then move beyond them. Trust your voice and style. Don’t break the rules unless you know why you are doing it and that you are doing it. There is a huge difference between not knowing and knowing but choosing to do it differently. Be sure you are on the right side of that scenario.
Take in advice, but trust yourself to know if it will work for you. Not everything will. Some of us are plotters. Some are pantsers. Some fall in between. We all write differently. Honor your way, as long as it’s working for you. Continue to learn and seek advice, then decide which path and advice to take for your writing.
There is one caveat to this: Breaking the rules for an effect is different than breaking them because you are too lazy to do it right. I am not advocating weak writing or creating bad habits. Quite the opposite. Learn and write, but listen to and honor your inner voice too. It will guide you better than you might think.