Rules to Write By

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Carolyn's Rules

  1. Fiction writing must be active and immediate.
  2. Don't tell readers stuff they don't need to know.
  3. Allow your readers to figure things out.
  4. Never remind readers they're reading.
  5. You must re-write.
  6. Know the rules of the language and follow them.
  7. Understand your time period. Details do matter.
  8. Make it pretty. Format correctly!
  9. Favor the specific over the generic.
  10. Every element of your story must possess both set-up and motivation.

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