Vonnegut: Rules of Writing (video)

Moejoe · 11-24-2009, 01:48 PM

I've been re-reading Kurt Vonnegut's "Breakfast of Champions" and was reminded of a list I read some years back . This list consisted of 8 rules for writing fiction. So I've just done a search and found them again, along with a video of the rules. Enjoy.

8 Rules of Writing Fiction

"1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages."

neilmarr · 11-25-2009, 05:53 AM

***5. Start as close to the end as possible.***

Interesting advice from one of my all-time favourite authors. Not too sure that I agree with his #8, though. He breaks that rule himself ... still, I guess he has the right.

Thanks. Neil

Filark · 11-29-2009, 11:14 PM

Thanks, Moejoe! I enjoyed that.

Might have to post it near my desk . . .

11-24-2009, 01:48 PM	#1
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Vonnegut: Rules of Writing (video) I've been re-reading Kurt Vonnegut's "Breakfast of Champions" and was reminded of a list I read some years back . This list consisted of 8 rules for writing fiction. So I've just done a search and found them again, along with a video of the rules. Enjoy. 8 Rules of Writing Fiction "1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. 2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for. 3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water. 4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action. 5. Start as close to the end as possible. 6. Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of. 7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia. 8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages."

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11-25-2009, 05:53 AM	#2
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	*5. Start as close to the end as possible.* Interesting advice from one of my all-time favourite authors. Not too sure that I agree with his #8, though. He breaks that rule himself ... still, I guess he has the right. Thanks. Neil

11-29-2009, 11:14 PM	#3
Filark Armed with a smile :) Posts: 1,421 Karma: 2463560 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California, USA Device: enTourage eDGe & Pocket eDGe, Samsung Galaxy Note II	Thanks, Moejoe! I enjoyed that. Might have to post it near my desk . . .

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