Most writers don’t start with rules. We start with stories. With voices in our heads, images in our minds, and a desire to capture something alive on the page.
But somewhere along the way—maybe after a few writing courses, critique groups, or too many “top 10 tips” articles—we start collecting rules like souvenirs:
- Show, don’t tell.
- Avoid adverbs.
- Stick to one point of view.
- Write every day.
- Never start with dialogue.
- Start with the action.
- Don’t use passive voice.
Individually, these rules aren’t evil. Many are rooted in good craft principles. But taken too literally—or too early in your development—they can suck the joy out of writing and replace it with anxiety and self-censorship.
Here’s the truth: Rules are tools, not laws. And sometimes, the best way to get your creativity back is to break a few of them on purpose.
The Silent Danger of Rule-Worship
When writing rules become rigid dogma, they can paralyze you before you even start.
You sit down to write, and the inner critic chimes in immediately:
“Is this showing or telling?”
“Too many adverbs—delete them.”
“Don’t change POV! Stop! STOP!”
“This isn’t publishable. What’s the point?”
You freeze. You doubt yourself. You edit your sentences before you’ve even finished them.
That isn’t creativity. That’s fear. And it kills flow, experimentation, and joy—the very things that make your writing yours.
What Happens When You Break the Rules
When you intentionally break writing rules, a few magical things can happen:
- You rediscover your voice. Stripped of judgment, your natural rhythm and preferences start to shine through.
- You experiment freely. You try new styles, genres, structures—without worrying about whether it’s “correct.”
- You get messy. And in the mess, you find originality and energy that rigid outlines and rules often suppress.
- You stop waiting for permission. Because you realize you never needed it in the first place.
7 Writing Rules Worth Breaking (Just to See What Happens)
If your writing has been feeling stiff, stale, or safe, try breaking one—or all—of these rules on purpose:
1. Use Adverbs Liberally
Yes, she walked quickly instead of she dashed. It’s fine. Sometimes “quickly” is the exact word your rhythm needs.
2. Tell Instead of Show
Write a scene that tells everything: “He was furious. She didn’t care. The world was ending.” It can be vivid in its bluntness.
3. Head-Hop Between Characters
Write a scene that jumps from one character’s thoughts to another’s. Explore what you gain when you don’t limit your lens.
4. Ignore Grammar
Break it. On purpose. Write sentence fragments. Use weird punctuation. Write a paragraph that spirals like a thought.
5. Start With Dialogue
No setup. Just two characters mid-conversation. Drop the reader into the deep end and let the scene unfold from there.
6. Mix Genres
Write a sci-fi love letter. A horror story in rhyme. A Western with time travel. Genre mashups spark unexpected creativity.
7. Over-Describe the Mundane
Write an entire paragraph about a bowl of oatmeal. Make it art. See how far you can push detail and still hold interest.
When to Break the Rules (and When to Use Them)
Breaking rules doesn’t mean abandoning craft. It means making conscious, intentional choices. You break the rules to see what happens—and sometimes you find gold.
Later, in revision, you can bring the structure back in. That’s what editing is for. But creativity? It needs freedom.
As Picasso said:
“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Reclaim Your Joy
If you’ve been feeling weighed down by writing advice, give yourself permission to write something wild today. Something rebellious. Something that no writing coach, book editor, or algorithm would approve of.
Because writing isn’t a test. It’s a form of play. And this game doesn't have to follow the rules. Break free and make your own.