I've got this cool little book called Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing. I thought I'd come up with 10 myself to add to my wonderful tips on writing. These are rules I try to go by with each novel I write.
#1: Don't repeat yourself!
The only people that love having authors repeat themselves are publishers. Especially if that author's book is successful.
I think it's unimaginative when an author takes the same formula and applies it to some different characters in a different setting. Yes, that might be called a brand, but I call it boring.
Today I read a comment to a review of mine that said the following: "I will definitely pick up any new Thrasher novel. I like not knowing what to expect and he excels at that."
I never wanted to write The Promise Remains Parts 2, 3, 4 & 5. I never even wanted to write all love stories. Thankfully, I've been able to do a variety of stories that all have my voice and worldview throughout them.
Staying in a brand and a box doing the same old thing is easy. But it's also colorless and lifeless. Even when I'm staying in the same genre, I try to tell different stories in different ways.
Labels: tips, TT's Ten Rules of Writing, writing
