The No Rules Handbook for Writers (know the rules so you can break them)

All great writing is an act of rebellion against what exists, a need to say something unsaid, an impossible attempt to heal what is broken, to make a mark. The freedom to express yourself through fiction is beautiful and thrilling; to speak about truths of the world you experience, to bestow on others the power to change their world.

The Writing Game: Maxims of process and profession
Rule 37 Ignore the saboteurs in your writing life
Rule 38 Learn how to be alone
Rule 39 You can’t teach talent
Rule 40 Just Write
Rules of being a Rule Breaker

CONTENTS: 40 Rules to be Broken
Introduction: Rules or No Rules?
The Practice of Preparation
Rule 1 Write what you know
Rule 2 Find your authentic voice
Rule 3 Start with a strong premise and a compelling pitch
Rule 4 Read what you want to write
Rule 5 You can’t do too much research
Rule 6 Write an outline before you write
Rule 7 Write what the market wants
Principles or Prescriptions? Structure, Character, Dialogue
Rule 8 ‘Story is about principles not rules’ Robert McKee
Rule 9 ‘If you would have your play deserve success, Give it five acts complete; nor more, nor less;’ Horace (c.18 BCE)
Rule 10 Structure is what holds it all together
Rule 11 Hit the ground running
Rule 12 Know as much detail as possible about your characters
Rule 13 Make your main character likeable
Rule 14 The antagonist must be big and bad
Rule 15 Keep your main character active
Rule 16 Your characters must be distinct from one another
Rule 17 Put off writing dialogue for as long as possible
Rule 18 Create believable dialogue
Rule 19 ‘Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly’ Elmore Leonard
Rule 20 Keep ’em guessing
Rule 21 The ending must resolve
Conventions of Style, Economy and Consistency
Rule 22 Tone and style must be consistent
Rule 23 Keep your language fresh, original and vivid
Rule 24 The writer is the invisible hand
Rule 25 Less is more
Rule 26 Show don’t tell
Principles of Freedom: Written and Unwritten Laws of Taste and Taboos
Rule 27 Obey the arbiters of taste
Rule 28 Be balanced
Rule 29 Do not offend
Rule 30 Stay within the law
Rule 31 ‘The purpose of art is not to change but to delight’ David Mamet
The Rules of Rewriting
Rule 32 Writing is rewriting
Rule 33 Have your family or friends read, before submitting professionally
Rule 34 Murder your darlings
Rule 35 Never argue with feedback
Rule 36 The rejection of your work isn’t personal