Don't Feel Guilty About Non-Traditional Writing

It's November, which is a big month for writers everywhere. Even if NaNoWriMo is too daunting for you, it is likely that you have set some kind of goal for yourself. For me, this goal was publishing my first ever book and balancing promoting it while starting on my next project. I have never finished a novel before, so I'm using this month of writing to force myself to get a significant amount of a novella finished so that I can feel like I have accomplished something.

I mainly wanted to make this blog post because it was something that I have been thinking about recently since a lot of the poetry in my new book is more experimental than following a certain style. I worry that writers who are working on projects this month may be trying to force themselves to mold their writing around the "rules" that many think exist for writing such as the three act structure. To be honest, there are no rules for writing. You may argue that grammar is basically a list of rules one must follow when writing, but Lewis Carroll has proved that entire sections of books can completely ignore grammar rules and still be very successful. As an editor, I prefer to follow grammatical rules, but following a certain structure or plot that is already laid out for you just seems like it takes the fun out of writing.

Those who say that you need to follow a certain formula or style of writing are wrong. Poetry is writing what you feel, and no one can tell you how to feel. It can be beautiful without rhyming. It can be beautiful without iambic pentameter. The main questions you should ask yourself are "does it say what I need it to say?" and "will it connect with my readers?" It is the same with stories, whether short or long. Stories do not have to follow a three act structure as long as they are engaging. Some micro-fiction do not have acts, and they are still enjoyable to read. Even blog posts like this are written mostly without any structure and are only stream of consciousness.

My main point is that you, as a writer, do not have to force yourself to write a certain way simply because that is how you are told it is done. Some of the most iconic writers of all time have broken boundaries of rules in their literature. Write what you want to convey to the reader, and if you convey it well, the reader will enjoy it. And if you like following the rules, that's fine too. Everyone should write in whatever way makes them feel the most inspired. Happy National Novel Writing Month!