Three Pieces of Bad Advice for Writers by Pat Rullo
Always Write in Chronological Order
The More Characters, the Better
Write Every Day, No Matter What
1. Always Write in Chronological Order
When it comes to writing, one of the most common approaches is to write in chronological order. This means that the events are arranged in the order in which they occurred. While this approach seems logical and straightforward, there may be more effective ways to communicate with your readers.
Loss of tension and suspense
One of the most vital elements in any written piece is tension and suspense. When you write chronologically, you present each event as it unfolds without anticipation or buildup. As a result, your readers may lose interest in your writing. This is especially true if the events in your narrative are predictable or lack any emotional impact. Avoiding chronological order can create a sense of anticipation and keep your readers engaged.
Difficult to construct a cohesive narrative
Writing a narrative that goes from point A to point B can be tricky, as there are many possible paths your story can take. When you stick to chronological order, you may be limiting your options and might need help developing a cohesive narrative that makes sense. For example, plot holes, conflicting timelines, or contradictory character motivations may occur. You can gain the flexibility necessary to create a more engaging and coherent narrative by deviating from chronological order.
Limitations in character development
One of the most vital aspects of any great story is the development of its characters. When you write in chronological order, you may need to think about how to develop your characters fully. This is because the narrative’s timeline may constrain their development. Characters can grow and evolve in different ways, regardless of the order of events they experience. Breaking away from the linear timeline allows you to focus on character growth and create more well-rounded personalities.
Restricts creativity
Writing in chronological order can easily cause you to fall into predictable patterns and narrative structures, and this can lead to writing that could be more exciting or enticing. So by breaking from chronological order, you can explore different formats and experiment with approaches that better fit your creative vision.
2. The More Characters, the Better
Every writer wants their story to be unique and memorable. It’s mainly why an author would add more characters to their book. However, too many characters can confuse the readers and weaken the story’s plot.
Character Development
The character development of each person in a story is a significant aspect of a book. The readers seek connection and depth with the protagonists, which is easier to achieve if you have fewer characters. Often, too many characters may not allow you the time to develop each of them uniquely. As a result, the reader may not form an emotional bond or an investment in the story.
Story Clarity
Keeping track of each character becomes a challenge when too many exist. The reader may lose interest if the plot is unclear – it is challenging to follow when the story is convoluted with numerous minor characters. It may leave the readers with questions or unsatisfied with the plot, thus rendering the story unmemorable.
Confusion in Plot
Several characters tend to result in depth in the plot; however, it’s a sword that cuts both ways. At some point, too many characters make it challenging to keep track of the story. As a result, the storyline may lose its coherence, resulting in plot holes and details that need to be revised.
Unnecessary Intricacies
Sometimes, authors toss in extra characters to make a story intricate. Unfortunately, this unnecessary complexity can rob the story’s essence and drag down the plot. In addition, the supporting characters that add nothing to the plot might dilute the story’s significance by diverting the reader’s attention, thus disrupting their reading enjoyment.
3. Write Every Day, No Matter What
As a writer, it’s often drilled into you to write daily, no matter what. You’re told it’s the only way to improve, hone your craft, and develop good habits. However, that may not always be the best idea.
Burnout
When you push yourself to write daily, you might start to dread writing or be unable to think of anything to write about. The pressure to produce something, anything, can become overwhelming and suck all the joy out of the writing process. This can be particularly harmful if you’re working on a long-term project, like a novel, where burnout can make it hard to finish what you’ve started. You can return to the page feeling refreshed and re-energized by taking a break.
Quality Over Quantity
When you write something every day, you might need more time to develop your ideas fully. As a result, you may end with pages of half-formed thoughts, sentences that don’t flow, and characters that feel inconsistent or unresolved. So while there’s something to be said for getting words down on paper, it’s also essential to carefully craft your writing.
Creativity Can Suffer
Writing every day makes it easy to fall into patterns and habits that can limit your imagination. For example, you might start to rely on cliches or formulas or find that your writing could be more varied. By allowing yourself time to take a break from writing, you can explore your creativity and find new ways to express your ideas.
Life Can Get in the Way
There will be days when you don’t have the time or the energy to write, and that’s okay—forcing yourself to write every day can lead to guilt and shame when you can’t meet that expectation. Instead, permit yourself to take breaks when needed so you can return to writing with a fresh perspective.
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