Don’t start your novel with a prologue.

Why it’s hated: It’s often seen as a “false start” and many readers choose to skip the prologue to get right to the story—so why have a prologue in the first place if readers are just going to skip them? 

Who breaks it: So many writers still use prologues. But let’s look at Maggie Stiefvater in particular with The Raven Boys. It’s a short look into the main character Blue’s history and family, and introduces a major concept that will be crucial to the story and the characterization of the next four books. 

Why it works: The reader can skip it all they like, but they’re going to have to go back to it eventually. It’s a good way to start a story without quite starting the story—the literary equivalent of pouring yourself a cup of hot chocolate before cracking open a new book.

Don’t describe your character in a mirror.

Why it’s hated: It’s overdone to the point of being unimaginative, and often leads to a laundry list of features. 

Who breaks it: V.E. Schwab in A Darker Shade of Magic. The main character Kell washes his hands in a basin and then briefly looks into a mirror and notes his hair falling over one eye and his shoulders slouching. 

Why it works: It’s just a quick glance and completely plausible. Who doesn’t check themselves out a little in the mirror after washing their hands? Why not throw in a touch of description? Not to mention that the short description itself sets up the more revealing description later on. 

Don’t make your characters enemies just to make them lovers. 

Why it’s hated: It’s overdone and sometimes unrealistic. 

Who breaks it: There are spoilers regarding this all over the internet, but if you intend on reading A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas and want to avoid all spoilers, maybe move on to the next one. 

Ready? Okay. 

Feyre and Tamlin count for this, but more importantly Feyre and Rhysand. 

Why it works: Both cases follow classic stories (Tamlin for Beauty and the Beast, Rhysand for Hades and Persephone). Plus Rhysand took a very long time with Feyre and spent a lot of that time trying to redeem himself in her eyes.

Don’t use love triangles. 

Why it’s hated: Overdone, often predictable. 

Who breaks it: Cassandra Clare in the Infernal Devices trilogy, between main characters Tessa, Will, and Jem. 

Why it works: The way it resolves is new and rather satisfying for all parties. This is one I won’t spoil at all because it involves some major plot points in Clockwork Princess. If you’re curious, you can read the books or check out the Wikia pages. 

Don’t subscribe to the absent/dysfunctional family trope. 

Why it’s hated: This one definitely isn’t the most hated because it still sells, but many people argue that it’s overdone, unrealistic, and creates unnecessary drama. 

Who breaks it: Every. Single. YA. Fantasy. Author. Including me. Plus a wide variety of authors in other genres. 

Why it works: A tragic backstory like a dead or absent or terrible family member opens the fast track to drama, plus a wide variety of resulting character flaws. The young adult genre in particular also tends to focus on the young adults, leaving authors looking for excuses to get the adults out of the way. 

However, there’s nothing wrong with a full, functioning family every once in a while, if your story chooses to go that way.

Don’t set your story in an alternate Medieval Europe. 

Why it’s hated: You guessed it, it’s overdone. Also, it very often leads to whitewashing. 

Who breaks it: Please forgive me for overlooking Game of Thrones and skipping right to Samantha Shannon’s Priory of the Orange Tree. 

Why it works: Its setting is not solely focused on that Medieval Europe. There is acknowledgement of other areas, as well as diversity in the cast of characters. Just those two changes make all the difference to the trope. 

That being said, also remember that there are other time periods to explore, as well as many other countries with great-looking environments to base your worlds on. There are a ton of recent books that break this mold that are worth a look if you want inspiration. 

Don’t infodump (in other words, “show, don’t tell”).

Why it’s hated: It’s usually boring, plain and simple. And when information is coming at you all at once, are you going to remember it all even two pages later?

Who breaks it: Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett in Good Omens. There are a few places with pages of information, but I’m looking at the beginning in particular that detail the origins of the universe. 

Why it works: Not everything needs to be action. I promise. As a reader, I promise. There are other ways to draw in a reader. Good Omens uses humor, and it uses it well. 

Don’t write in present tense.

Why it’s hated: I guess this is one that’s used so little that it’s disconcerting when used at all. 

Who breaks it: Mackenzi Lee in A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

Why it works: We’re experiencing the narrator’s life in real time. There’s really no reason why it shouldn’t work, so if your story wants to be in the present tense, let it (as long as it’s consistent).

Go ahead and do what you want. One little detail like a prologue or a love triangle is not going to break your story or keep you from finding an agent/publisher. Maybe a few opinions aren’t going to line up with yours (it’s inescapable), but someone’s going to love what you create. 

Before I go, here are four more writing rules that pretty much every author breaks these days:

Don’t write sentence fragments. 

Do it. Start with “and.” Use one word sentences. Mix up your sentence lengths and how they start, and see how that livens up your writing voice. 

Don’t use passive voice. 

Sometimes the action is more important than the subject. Sometimes you want to keep the subject unknown. As long as it’s not used excessively, passive voice is perfectly fine. 

Don’t use words that are too complicated.

Again, as long as it’s not excessive, this is fine. Your readers aren’t stupid. There are context clues and dictionaries to help them understand that “innocuous” is a better word than “flat” in that sentence.

Don’t use adverbs or adjectives. 

Be careful with this one. Yes, “sprinted” is a better word than “ran very quickly,” but “whispered” has a very different meaning than “said quietly.” The difference here is that “ran” is already fast. So, if the adverb or adjective enhances or changes the meaning of the word slightly, go ahead and use it. But if you’re using “very” a lot, take a second look at some of them. 

What’s your opinion? Comment below some writing rules that you disagree with.