So, here's the thing:

Writing has rules.

I always thought this was a sort of straight up, "duh, obviously" concept, but after screwing around on this site for a while, I've learned that there are a lot of people who are under the impression that not only can the rules be ignored, but that they're actually pointless and inhibit the writer's creativity.

Spelling things wrong? Pssh--it's style

Lacking punctuation (or putting too much in)? Who cares--it all depends on what you think works.

Oh, wait, except that it doesn't.

And these are just two of the most basic rules out there. When it comes to some of the more complicated ones--whether they deal with grammar or plot development or characterization or whatever--you'll find that even more people balk against them.

There's a common saying, "Rules are meant to be broken." It's tossed around in all types of situations, and I've heard more than one wannabe writer make this claim.

Now, get this: Rules CAN be broken. Don't ever let someone tell you that it's impossible to break certain rules within writing and have a great story or poem or essay. Because you can. However, breaking the rules shouldn't be your goal, and you should never, ever break the rules before understanding them first. And by understanding, I mean you better be capable of writing a damn good story within the "constraints" of the rules before you even attempt to experiment without them.

The reason for this is that unless you can understand and apply the rules, breaking them is going to end up being the result of laziness and uncertainty and it's going to make your writing suck. And, you, my friend, will come across as an amateur.

Once you understand the rules, though, know them inside and out, this is when you can look at them and see where they can bend and break and be molded into something new. Because once you understand the rules and the reasons behind them, you can understand how breaking a rule here and there may add something to your work, whatever that little bit of something extra may be.

But breaking the rules because, in your mind, writing doesn't have them? That's the mark of an amateur, I'm afraid, because only someone who has no clue whatsoever as to what he or she is talking about can ever make such a claim.

Okay. Rant over. I've just been told by one to many people lately that "writing has no rules" and that it's an "individualistic art" and "how dare you attack someone's heart and soul," and I'm kind of sick of it. I think I have every write to criticize someone for churning out crap when just a little bit of research on the internet will let them know what they're doing wrong.

Yes, I am a heartless b***h.