The post heading is just one quote from a line of taken from an insightful blog post at Daniel & Daniel Publishers.
For a guideline of "rules" for writing fiction (short or long) summed up in an easy to read and understand (as well as humorous) form, go to http://www.danielpublishing.com/resourcesback.htm.
As the publisher states at the beginning of the article: "You may not wish to follow these rules as you write your own stories, but you should at least be aware of them, and know that if you're not following them, you are not following them by choice. If you do find yourself following them, it won't be by choice. It will be because you are writing well".
Rules simultaneously have a place in fiction writing and have no place in fiction writing. In other words, rules in writing are better used as common sense guidelines. They may be broken if breaking them will not confuse the reader in any way.
A quick look at the above mentioned article/blog will at the least be an entertaining read, and at the most, enlightening and informative. I find that reading or hearing a reiteration of what I already know (as a fiction writer) further cements my knowledge. Yes, I know that already becomes Oh, yeah. Good reminder.
I hope someone (or a lot of someones) find this post helpful in even the smallest of ways.
Happy writing!
