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Writers write.  It’s a terribly bad habit we all have, which we don’t seem to be able to shake.  And most of us don’t even try to do so!  We write so much we write about writing.  We offer advice, hints or tips, or anecdotes about things we’ve gone through, in order to help others.  The problem is, we all blog with the conviction of our beliefs yet these beliefs often contradict that of other writers’.  This can be overwhelming when you’re trawling the Internet for inspiration and ideas, or reassurance that you’re doing the ‘right’ thing. 

For example, I blogged about why writing multiple protagonist novels is a great idea.  The very next day, I came across this blog on Twitter: Limit number of key characters in a story. 

This blog has a directly opposite opinion, and advice, to mine.   I propose that a multiple protagonist novel adds to the story, whereas this blog refutes all those suggestions, entirely.  So, who’s right?  Rob Bignell has valid points in his blog.  He has experience which supports his authority to comment.  And he’s not wrong in what he says in any way.

However, I was not wrong in what I said in my blog, either; that is the joy of literature.  Opposite opinions are totally valid; it just depends on what book you’re writing.  If you want to write something which avoids the formulaic approach so common in today’s literature, if you want to strive to write something unique with detail, metaphors, morals, and a critique of society, then perhaps following the advice which produces something so opposite to your goal isn’t for you to follow.  Don’t follow the advice and ‘rules’ of a romance novel if you want to write a political/social protest novel.  Whilst it’s not wrong, it’s not right for your work.

Only you know what’s right for your book; it’s then up to you to be able to write it well enough to justify your reader’s interest. 

But should you read advice only from ‘experts’?  Well, what is an expert?  Does someone need qualifications in English to be an expert?  To some extent, yes.  Achieving an English degree, or a Creative Writing degree will certainly help people develop their knowledge and skills and be in, perhaps, a better position to offer sound advice.  But qualifications, as much of a champion of them as I am, are not necessarily all there is to it.  Experience, too, can count for a lot; someone who has been there, and done that, can offer sound advice, also.  But a combination of both would surely be preferable?  Perhaps even, in some extreme circumstances, a lack of one, either, or both, can provide a fresh take and is worthy of consideration.

So, my advice, should you want, it is to read everything. 

Good novels can have aspects of several genres; after all, life stories don’t stick to one path, only – why should novels?  

Read the recommendations of romance novel writing.  Read the suggestions of structure for the political and social protest novels.  Read the guidance for gore for gothic or horror novels.  Read the criticisms of crime novels.  Read everything!

What you must then do, is manipulate your own work to create layers of subtext, touching on each of the relevant genres, using what advice you can in your work.  Your books will be better, and your readers happier.  Take the advice from everyone, embed it in your mind and utilise it in your literature when you can.

Or, if you want to try something completely different – take the advice and ignore it!  Stay away from the ‘rules’ which make books formulaic, or stereotypical; make your novel stand out!  Make it different.  Different is good.  Different is challenging.  Different looks the rules in the face and sneers, “Get lost!”

Perhaps, for your novel, you should take a leaf out of Different’s book and do the same.  After all, isn’t our collective goal in to, simply, write well?

Until next time,

Louise.