Do you break rules in your writing?

anomalocaris · Post by **anomalocaris** » 26 Apr 2014, 13:42

Here's a little excerpt where I use sentence fragments for the sake of impact:

I used to think it was all black and white. War, peace, love, hate. “What if they held a war, and no one showed up?” But, standing face to face with the reality of violent oppression, it becomes eminently clear that these are the fantasies of a child, simplistic and untenable in the complexity of the real world. What if they held a war and no one showed up? It happens every day. Secret wars, claiming the lives of millions, dragging on for decades in darkness because it takes more than the faint glow of a candlelight vigil to shed light on them.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 26 Apr 2014, 16:10

WriterBLAlley wrote:I open my novels with a single italic line as a door opener, then begin the story. Either a setup, or a character speaking.

like "riverrun, past Eve and Adam's..." for example? (just kidding) -- but pls post the startup paragraph so we can see? thanks

and anom, excellent start! This could be a mainstream book, a mystery, a fantasy, it has considerable strength and spirit, and indicates the narrator is bright and observant and mature, a terrific platform on which to launch a story. Honest!

Incidentally, the dearth we see today in written English is why I despise emoticons and my newest bane, those soppy and mindless poster-photos that everyone posts on Facebook, with insipid quotes from second-rate philosophers stuck over some pretty flowers. I hate them almost as much as I hate Muppets, cartoon penguins, and insurance salesmen! Arrrgh! (rant concluded, children may now rejoin the audience...)

mathman101 · Post by **mathman101** » 26 Apr 2014, 16:44

sometimes

anomalocaris · Post by **anomalocaris** » 26 Apr 2014, 19:36

moderntimes wrote: and anom, excellent start! This could be a mainstream book, a mystery, a fantasy, it has considerable strength and spirit, and indicates the narrator is bright and observant and mature, a terrific platform on which to launch a story. Honest!

Thanks, Modern! It's actually the opening of a nonfiction piece called, "Inaction for Peace: The Great Myth," which takes exception to both the notion that anyone with a gun is an enemy of peace, and the idea that we can realistically expect to end violence and oppression in the world by holding candlelight vigils for peace, rather than standing up to oppressors. Somewhat of an unpopular view, I suspect, but it comes from my experience in dealing with the reality of such issues, while a lot of folks only deal with it as an abstract ideal, and never really have to look at it on a practical level.

I really appreciate your kind words about it!

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 26 Apr 2014, 19:45

anom, If the essay is finished, I'd like to read it. Can you PM me and give me a link maybe or email, I'll provide you my email, you could send the piece via PDF or whatever other format?

As has been said recently, "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."

Fightin' words for some, but hey...

anomalocaris · Post by **anomalocaris** » 26 Apr 2014, 20:10

And what was the movie where one character said, "Put the gun down and we'll talk," and the other character said, "If I put the gun down, you'll have no reason to talk."

I'm honored that you're interested. I'll PM you.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 26 Apr 2014, 22:53

Please not "honored" -- I'm interested however.

I suppose we may be thought to honor each other by reading one another's work, perhaps.

booklover30 · Post by **booklover30** » 29 Apr 2014, 18:10

When I'm writing if I want to add extra emphasis on something I use a fragment. For example, "The world felt darker for Sasha once she realized what she had lost. Her soul." Technically I should put in a semi-colon after lost, but I feel it works better this way. That's one of my big no no's of proper English that I break. Fragments.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 29 Apr 2014, 18:49

As I said earlier, booklover, sentence fragments are also what I use to create emphasis and to control the rhythm of the text. We're agreed on that.

tani90 · Post by **tani90** » 02 May 2014, 05:03

Yeah, I would say quite a number of time. I love breaking the rulezz in the way I pen my thoughts down (not possible in normal life), otherwise it would become monotonous and laid back. I like to be creative in the way I write my blog posts, articles or letters

My blog provides me an immensely realistic space where I can write whatever I want to, breaking free with my Readers is what I like to do.

But criticisms are always welcome, as clearly stated in my blog, I am writing what my heart says and I welcome diverse views from people who may or may not agree with me

WOuld just like to add, writing is a pure form of expression, never corrupt it; but at the same time never be petrified of reveling your true self. I have been restricted during the course of these 24 years but writings gives me the freedom to show the world what I really want and feel