Rules or Tools

One problem that some writers face is whether to construct their work following the rules of grammar or just write freely. Actually, it may not be an either-or situation.

One of the stumbling blocks authors face is whether or not to edit as they write. Many “experts” say no, just write. There’s plenty of time for editing when the work is finished. And many writers don’t want to be constrained by rules. They remind too much of English class, where the teacher was often more interested in checking grammar than in the content. And who’s writing this book anyway, you or them?

On the other hand, many authors don’t take that editing step, and the hired editor or agent or the publisher gets a work that needs a sledgehammer rather than a small screwdriver. The result is the message that the writer hoped to communicate is lost in the jungle of grammar and punctuation errors. A somewhat famous example is: “Let’s eat Grandma” (horrible thought) or “Let’s eat, Grandma”. Without at least some rules, authors may soon lose their readers.

So, how to get to some happy middle ground? One way is to change the way you view this issue: just change rules to tools. Look at grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, flow, etc. as a set of tools to help you write better. And like shop tools, each writing tool has a purpose, though they may occasionally be clumsily interchanged. Just as you can pound in a nail with the back of a screwdriver, you can use the wrong word or punctuation mark—it’s usually a bad idea. But most importantly, remember that tools serve you, not the other way around. You choose when to use them and how.

As a carpenter, you’d probably take pride in having the right tool for each job. Similarly, as a writer, you need to be equipped with the right tools for your job. The better they are, the better you’re likely to be. But it’s not enough to just have a set of tools; you have to know how to use them. That can come by instruction, by experience, or both, with experience probably counting more. Having your work critiqued by someone who knows the rules, and showing you how to write more effectively will go a long way to making you a better writer.

Conclusion

Keep in mind that rules seem to be dis-empowering: Do this. Don’t do that. Tools, however, are empowering: the more tools you have, and more you know how to use them, the more power you have to write creatively and effectively.

Copyright 2017 by Affordable Editing Services