IWSG: Writing Rules

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

SEPTEMBER Question - Since it's back to school time, let's talk English class. What's a writing rule you learned in school that messed you up as a writer?

MY ANSWER - "Write what you know". While I don't necessarily see this as bad advice, so many people tout this as if it were really "You can ONLY write what you know." Because of this, I steered away from a lot of topics I was previously excited about when I was young. However, as I grew older, I realized if this were true, we would never have authors create whole universes such as Star Trek and Lord of the Rings. 

What about you? What's a writing rule you learned in school that messed you up as a writer?

IWSG: Break the Writing Rule

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive.Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

JANUARY QUESTION: What writing rule do you wish you’d never heard?

MY ANSWER: I hate when people say "write what you know". Some of the most interesting articles I've written have been about subjects I knew nothing about before my assignment. I enjoyed researching those topics and meeting those people. I learned a lot, and probably enjoyed writing the articles more because of it!

Also, I had never written science fiction before last year, but I ended up winning the IWSG contest and being published with nine other amazing authors! Instead of "write what you know," I say "Write what interests you."

Congratulations to this years IWSG contest winners. I didn't enter this time, but I look forward to reading your stories!