Writing 101: Breaking The Rules

Proper grammar is vital to all writers. This doesn't mean writers must always use proper grammar. Confused? Well, in some respects writing is no different than anything else, the rules we learn in school can be broken. These rules weren't made to be broken, as one old saying would have many people believe. The reality is that writers commonly break the rules of grammar.

Now this isn't true for all types of writing. In secretarial work, writing reports, or technical writing of any sort, proper grammar is a must. Fictional writing is different. We can break the rules in fiction. But why are there rules if they can be broken?"

These rules aren't easy to break. In fact, not every grammatical error is an acceptably broken rule. Rules can only be acceptably broken to achieve a certain effect in fiction. It must be the appropriate effect so the natural flow of the story is not interrupted, and readers do not loose interest. When done correctly this effect can surprise readers, and achieve a more exciting moment that is often very satisfying.

Also, the effect will be cheapened if we try to break rule after rule with every new scene, or chapter. Rules are broken in many books of fiction, but good writers know to break them sparingly.

Now that we've established why rules can be broken, it is important to examine how writers go about doing this. Look at examples such as Mark Twain. Many of his characters spoke slang style dialects. This was entirely appropriate for the setting in which Twain's characters were placed. People were drawn into that time and place largely because of his decision to use slang terms so prevalently.

It is a matter of opinion regarding whether or not Mark Twain used slang terms too often. Many readers may find his writing a hassle to read, but he was not breaking so many different rules in one book. Whether a billion readers decide not to read Mark Twain, his name is etched in history largely because of his writing.

At a moment of excitement it may be acceptable, if not proper, to forgo the use of commas in some instances. To break such a rule, a writer must know exactly why that rule is in place. Just because there is a moment of excitement, does not mean a writer should break it. When breaking a rule, a writer needs to know exactly where to break it. It's like hitting a stress point when chopping a tree. If you want the tree to fall a certain way, you must strike at the correct spot.

Writing is no different. Unless utilized correctly, incorrect grammar will reek of unprofessional writing. Of course writers often miss their own mistakes, and hire editors to fix things for them. Making a typo, and purposely attempting to break a rule are two different things.

Of course, it would be good to remember that fiction does not survive on the breaking of rules. Readers will likely never notice if no rules have been broken in your writing.