Editor’s Picks — Top 10: How to Break Writing Rules With Grace

Let’s read our top 10 writers who had the courage to break the rule of mediocrity

We all know the rules. “Write what you know best,” “Show, don’t tell,” etc. Not following the rules results in someone telling us: “You’ll never make a living at it!”

But what if we didn’t wish to follow all the rules? I think writers have a right to break some rules every now and then:

1. If you are writing only about your niche — because you know it best — it’s time to break this rule. Write what you love and care about. Write the way you argue, without grace if you have to. Write out of passion, contempt, or irritation. Let it come out. You can learn about anything. You already know a lot. But you don’t feel everything you know. You can read a book to know about something but your words show emotion only if you have experienced something. We don’t believe what we read until we feel it. As Laurence Gonzales said, “We think we believe what we know, but we only truly believe what we feel.”
2. Everywhere you look, the writing guides are shouting at you, “Show, don’t tell.” But if you have tried short-form writing, you’d know it’s difficult to show when readers skip if they think you are wasting their time. Editors and publishers would make you cut anything that is not essential for the reader to know. Sometimes, every minor detail doesn’t need to be shown. Movies that start with a narrator — telling us about the time, place, and nature of the conflict — save our time by focusing on the main story.
3. Writing trends change. The seniors of every generation think writing is losing its soul. The language evolves — depending on how the people use it. With changes in language and culture, writing rules also change. Somerset Maugham noted that there were only Three Main Rules of Writing; unfortunately, no one knows what they are. Ursula K. Le Guin, in her book, The Language of the Night, offered equally cunning writing advice: “No matter how any story begins, it ends typed in good, clear, black text on one side of white paper, with name and address on each page.” Style can change — without affecting the message. For example, Cormac McCarthy left quotation marks out of his dialogues; his style is imitated by many other modern writers.

As a writer, use any style that helps you say what you want to say. If you can save your reader’s time — or keep them engaged — by breaking a rule, do it.

Use micromessages, if you have to. Look at the next line. Doesn’t it pretty much say everything I have so laboriously described:

Old. Styles. Dying.

Somerset Maugham noted that there were only Three Main Rules of Writing; unfortunately, no one knows what they are.

Terry Pratchett’s character Granny Weatherwax explains this principle using these words: “When you break the rules, break ’em good and hard.”

These are the top 10 writer’s, we want you to read and enjoy today:

10. Why Peter Dinklage Will Be the Ultimate Toxic Avenger

Tim Ebl is an author, adventurer, and mindfulness mentor. His style is simple, direct, and engaging. You’ll love it. If you read this story, you’d definitely like to check his other work.

The 1984 film The Toxic Avenger is getting a reboot. It was announced in late November that Peter Dinklage will be the protagonist of the film. It’s a cult classic remake that has a lot of us waiting on the edge of our seats for release day.

Peter Dinklage is best known for his role as Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones. He also appeared in Elf (2003), Lassie (2005), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Avengers: Infinity War (2018)and many other movies.

What makes him a great choice for this role? Let’s break it down. But first, who is the Toxic Avenger?

9. Our Love for MyLibooks

Melissa Bee is an excellent writer who believes in the power of love. Her style is charmingly engaging. She is sharing Kaylee’s first reading experiences. I still remember the joy I felt on the day when I read my first story. Don’t miss this one.

As more parents have been homeschooling amid the pandemic, we search for resources that can make learning fun, easy, and enjoyable. MyLibooks has been able to deliver on it all, positively impacting my 4-year-old, Kaylee.

MyLibooks are a series of personalized books created for early emergent readers. These books have made Kaylee excited to read!

8. For the Love of Audiobooks

Yolanda Fleming has authored a novel. She is a superb writer who loves to write short stories. She shares her joy of exploring audiobooks. Written word — in spoken form. Don’t miss this one.

I enjoy shopping for my next audiobook to listen to on Audible or Libby on my daily commute almost as much as I enjoy indulging in the act of listening itself. Why audiobooks? Simple. Reading while driving is illegal. Not only that, but I’m a writer with a reading to-do list five miles long and a full-time job that put me in reading glasses two years ago.

Since I started commuting an hour each way to work nearly three years ago, I decided I didn’t want to think of driving as time I’ll never get back. The only way that ever happens now is when the book I’m listening to isn’t making me love sitting in traffic. Don’t get me wrong, I love music, but I’ve never felt hungrier for stories than I do now.

7. Do You Know What A Nurse Actually Does?

Julie Nyhus MSN, FNP-BC is a nurse practitioner and an excellent write who likes to focus on health and medicine. You cannot — should not — ignore her work. Follow her. Read her story to know more about what a nurse actually does.

The majority of people don’t know what it is that nurses do. It’s not the public’s fault. Nurses have been quiet about it for too long.

I’ve been a nurse for over 20 years and none of us expect non-nurses to understand the scope of nursing practice from which we unwind our magic every day.

But when television and media — (cough) the new medical drama Nurses — portray my incredible profession as unfriendly, incompetent, and poorly trained, it’s time to spread the word: that is not who we are!

6. Five Tips You Need to Know Before Starting a Side-Hustle

Vera Laurent is travel obsessed International Affairs undergraduate. She is passionate about personal finance, books, honey-sweetened tea, and plane ticket prices.

She is an exceptional writer. Her style is charming, frank, and direct. If you missed it, here is your chance to undo that.

I have a side hustle — well actually I have a few. All of them are profitable. Now they didn’t all start that way, and yes some are still more profitable than others, but to me, they are all worth it. Over time I’ve realized there are steps that can help make your hustle more successful.

Before we get any further let me say this — these tips aren’t going to make you rich and famous overnight. They are just tips, but if followed and executed correctly they can help you towards a more financially lucrative future.

5. Beating the Startup Grind

Clint Perez is a marketing and technology enthusiast. He is an outstanding writer. His writing style is logically consistent, formal, and engaging. You’ll love this story. Don’t miss it.

Contrary to popular folklore of the overnight successful American entrepreneur, starting a business is hard, often lonely work. You may have a great idea, a vision for a better future. And you are highly motivated to see that vision through to reality. But the path to success is fraught with uncertainty and hardship. You work long hours with seemingly minimal progress. Products fail to gain traction, marketing campaigns bomb, competitors enter the market and funding is hard to come by. It may even seem like the company is entirely dependent on you for success. That’s a lot of stress for one person. Where does an entrepreneur turn for answers and support?

4. These Are Uncertain Times, Find Whatever Sources of Income You Can

Henner Townlove likes to write about science and loves his Toyota. He captures your attention right from the start and doesn’t let you click away easily. If you are a citizen of our world — and your name is not on the Forbes’ richest people list — read this story. Don’t miss it.

Is the Economy going to get worse before it gets better? Most financial institutions will tell you that your money is gonna be okay, but they’re only saying that because that’s what the general public wants to hear, and these billion-dollar institutions are way above that to even care. Most will even tell you about how “normal” this cycle is — that when economies crash, they always end up recovering. We’ll, there is a bit of truth in that, but these time frames are set in years, and some can even go for a decade. The truth is — nobody knows what’s gonna happen.

3. How To Improve Your Relationship With Money

Matt Reicher is a writer and researcher. His style is interactive, thought-provoking, and highly engaging. If you hate money — or don’t love it like most of us — read this unique relationship expert who can make you and money live together for life. Don’t miss this one.

“Many folks think they aren’t good at earning money, when what they don’t know is how to use it.” ~ Frank A. Clark

Let’s you and I play the word association game.

When I say the word ‘money,’ what is the first word that pops into your mind? I immediately think of words like ‘bills,’ ‘spend,’ and ‘not enough’ (I know that’s actually two words — but stay with me here).

Who among us thought of the word ‘tool.’

2. What It Means to ‘Do Your Own Research’

Ana Mamic is a fine writer. Her writing style is engaging and her voice is calm and logical. She can teach you to be more careful next time you are scrolling through endless social media content — if you allow her. Do check her other work.

Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic. (Frank Herbert, “Dune”)

The most efficient fiction of Nazi propaganda was the story of a Jewish world conspiracy. (Hannah Arendt, “The Origins of Totalitarianism”)

I see it more and more in the comments sections on social media: the exhortation to “do your own research.” The call to question not just authority, but everything that‘s presented to you as fact. To wake up. To refuse the blue pill of complacence and ignorance and follow the White Rabbit instead, like Neo in The Matrix. To start preparing.

1. In this Season of Giving, Follow Your Heart

At number one today, meet Tracy Stengel. She is an exceptional writer and a freelance editor. Her style is gentle, charming, engaging, and heartwarming. If you read this story, you’ll become a better human being. If everybody reads it, it would be a better world when we wake up tomorrow. Don’t miss this one.

It started when I was young. My mother was The Volunteer of All Volunteers. For our schools. For our church. For our community. She set an example of helping people who needed it. Simple as that.

She repaired clothes for a local home for boys who were mentally handicapped and three or four times a year, we’d go there and hang out. Cleaning. Talking. Giving a hug when needed. As a little girl, the residents frightened me. It didn’t matter. They needed us.

Final Thoughts

If your story was selected as one of the Top 10, please share another one of your stories in the comments with a brief introduction and a short review that can convince a reader to read your piece. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. Dr Mehmet Yildiz, the Chief Editor and Founder of Illumination and Illumination-Curated, read, highlighted, and applauded every good story when he started his publications. He still reads almost all of the good ones. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the masterpieces.

So, help me. Help me to find and rank the best work of the writers of Illumination and Illumination-Curated.

Happy reading.

To improve your chances of success as a writer, read these highly recommended curation guidelines:

You can read my curated stories here.

Note: Inspired by Breaking the Rules, By Alison Sinclair