There aren’t any hard rules for writing, outside of grammar, but there are guidelines that help. In this series, I outline the most common axioms of writing. If you missed the first part of this article, you can read it here.
Here is the second set of guidelines for good writing:
Be authentic.
There’s no way around this one. Authenticity is immediate and cannot be forced. It’s like acting. When you hold a casting call, you want to see auditions that reflect people, not actors. You don’t want people “acting” for you. You want them to be the character, which is vastly different from acting like a character.
This is true on the page too. Readers can tell when they are being pandered to or when characters are forced, insincere or unrealistic. They can also tell when blogs or articles are forced or condescending. It’s best to throw your ideas on the page in the most conversational and authentic way you can. The whole point is, after all, to connect with your reader. You can’t do that if you are lying to them or trying to con them or talking about something you don’t really understand. Readers are smart. They can tell and will stop reading. I know I do.
Match your style to the subject.
This is a big one, especially in nonfiction writing. You can’t write for a technical audience the same way you would to children. Every audience has its own style, as does every subject. Some require a more somber tone, while others invite a bit of comedy. Think of it a bit like fashion. You wouldn’t show up to a rodeo wearing the same outfit you would wear to a country club dinner. Personally, I prefer the jeans and boots, but if I’m writing for a high brow client, I pull out the hose and heels and polish my jewelry. I polish my words too.
Show don’t tell.
This is the closest writers get to a hard and fast rule. But even then, there are times when this rule is best broken. Still…it is nearly always best to show instead of tell. Show emotion. Tell facts. Most good writers know when to use each one. Showing moves the pace along and allows the reader to go in deeper into character. Telling slows the pace and distances the reader. The key is to show those elements that will enhance the story and draw the reader in. Tell those facts that are necessary to the plot, but not necessarily to character.
Verify sources.
Lately it seems this one may have been forgotten, but it is essential. Never use Wikipedia or other crowd-supplied sources. Always have at least 2 credible sources and cite them or keep them as backup in case of a libel claim. If you write nonfiction, your sources and information is everything. Your research has to be impeccable. If you write fiction, your facts need to be solid too. There’s nothing worse than reading a great story only to stumble upon a “fact” that is complete and utter nonsense. I remember reading a mystery once that talked about the planes landing on Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC (now Joint Base Bolling-Anacostia). I lived on Bolling as a teen and it didn’t have a flight line. It hadn’t since 1962. The book was set in the 1980s. The character also ran from Bolling over the Wilson Bridge to the Pentagon, unfortunately the bridge with pedestrian lanes wasn’t completed until this century. As a local, this killed the story for me. Think I’m weird and overly sensitive? Maybe, but just ask a Don’t believe me? Ask any native Los Angelenos how they feel when a writer gets the highways or commute wrong in a story about LA. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more rabid bunch when it comes to mistakes.
Document. Document. Document
Okay, this should be part of the point above, but I had to reiterate it because it is so important. You have to be able to prove your facts or find your source again. Editors will ask for your sources. Good publications still have fact checkers to verify details. You have to keep good records or they could (and should) kill your story. This is your reputation. Learn to document your work. (This will be the subject of a future blog.)
To be continued….The final axioms will appear in next week’s blog.