The Rules - Tumblr Posts

Writing Tips Pt. 16 - Breaking the Rules

The most important writing tip of all:

Once you know the rules, you can break the rules.

I've seen arguments before asking why someone should even bother learning how to write grammatically "correctly," because "language is constantly evolving and changing." To that, first of all, I would point out that the whole reason we have standardized spelling and grammar to begin with is to make communication easier. It's far easier to understand what someone has written if they follow standard rules of writing so that you don't have to puzzle out what this creative spelling or that jumbled sentence structure is trying to say.

The same goes for standard writing rules, including the tips I've been posting for the past two weeks. Standardized writing styles make things clearer. This is very important with academic works, but is also helpful in literature.

But the thing with literature is that once you know the rules, you can break them for effect. I read a book when I was younger (much younger, not telling you how much, thanks) titled Sink or Swim, about a kid from the city who spent a summer out in a rural area. This book was written somewhat in the style of the kid's journal, and he was an inner-city kid with a distinct writing style based on that. It was...difficult to read at best. The whole thing was written in this kid's dialect, just like I said not to do regarding accents. But the author conveyed the character's voice well, and was consistent, and it really did lend a sense of life to the story, even if I hated it on an entertainment level. On a technical level, it was very well done and deserves credit for that alone.

You need to know the rules first before you can break them. That is why it's important to learn. Once you've learned? Have at it.

I'm just going to add this link to a Reddit post that gives more insight.

The Rules

GENERAL RULES/FUN FACTS

When you are talking out of RP text, please indicate as such in whichever way you see fit.

Any speech MUST be indicated with quotation marks.

No God-modding or controlling any character besides your own. I’m always watching you.

If you have trigger issues, talk to me! I’m always open to it.

Both myself and the muse are 18+, but I am likely not going to be open to RPing explicitly sexual situations. I’m really sorry.

I’m open to any RP type, and asks are always welcome.

Even if our characters have never interacted, you’re welcome to tag me in open starts or come chat via ask.

I will do ask RP.

Sometimes my ask eats things. If you think I’m ignoring you, I promise, I’m not.

I track the tag instantkarmabalancing.

DO NOT DO WITHOUT ASKING

Skip between different RP storylines.

Skip between different time frames.

Declare your character(s) to know Bruce.

Declare your character(s) to share history or a background with Bruce.

Start an AU. I love AUs, too, so just talk to me if you want to do one.

SOCIAL RULES 

You cannot control the conversation or be the center of attention. 

You cannot relate to Bruce’s background or history without my consent.

BATTLE RULES 

You cannot kill Bruce without my permission.

You must allow me to choose to accept or avoid an attack.

You cannot say where Bruce got hit, nor how he took damage.

You may only make one attack at a time.

You may not make any moves without giving me a chance to do something.

You must take damage at some point 

These are all of my basic rules. If you have any questions, my ask is always open!

Art projects like at least barely go against what art is all about