The importance of being earnest...

When I started this blog, for reasons unknown even to me,  I was not sure what exactly I will be writing about. However, I was - at least at a time - certain that it shall not be a place to upload my emotions and rant about things that make me unhappy.
I am only on my fourth post and I'm breaking that rule.  I want to scream my frustration into the crowded emptiness of the internet.

Here is the thing. I love when people talk about writing. I admire (and often envy, though in a good way) those who decide to  share their experience and knowledge with aspiring writers. It's great! It's  motivating! Even if it does not make mediocre people like me into bestselling novelists, it still helps us become better, even if marginally.
A great example - Nathan Bransford - who tirelessly provides much needed guidance to all those in dire need. When I read his posts, even if I find myself making the mistakes he talks about, it's still a very positive experience. It pushes me into action,  drives me to revise and correct and write.

So, to the heart of the matter. Today a good friend of mine told me about another blog, supposedly very helpful, that talks about numerous mistakes newbie writers make and I rushed to read it.

Only few sentences into the post, I could tell it wasn't  going to be a "feel good" read. The  self-proclaimed teacher was sarcastic and condescending to the point of rudeness. Some points that he made were  undoubtedly valid but mostly he was showing off  his well-learned "rules of writing that  every decent author should be aware of",  like :
Don't use character name in dialogue.
Don't write OK instead of okay, 6 instead of six etc.etc.
Don't use passive voice (because someone decided that it makes for a better style and God forbid you like otherwise)
Don't you dare to use British rules for punctuation and/or spelling, because the highest reviewer is from US and does not know English could be a language with punctuation that makes sense.
And so on.

So, for several pages this Mr. Prick makes fun of an inexperienced and unknown to me writer.  For all I know, that poor soul might only exist in Mr. Prick's imagination. Still, I felt really bad for this publicly crucified guy whose biggest mistake in life was attracting the attention of the Highest-and-Mighty-All-Knowing Editor.  Mind you, Mr. Prick does not give good advice - he just  changes the writing to fit his style. "You can't put thoughts in quotations," tells us Mr. Prick. His solution? Change writing so there are no inner monologues or thoughts. Simple, isn't it?
It's two in the morning and my brain is on a backup power, so I'm probably not making much sense here. I'll have to turn in and be ready to reboot in four hours (just thought of writing 4 hours, simply in spite of Mr. Prick-rules). What I really wanted to say is this:

Dear Professional Writers, Editors and Those Who Know The RULES,
Please, don't be condescending when you pretend to help. We know our shortcomings, we are aware that we are far (and some, like me, VERY far) from perfect. We want to improve, to become worthy of the title "writer". However, if you want to help, please, recall your own beginnings, remember, how nice and patient your teachers were and be gentle.
Most of all, remember, that  some of the best books don't follow The Rules. They go against them, they  splash and turn over the  monotony of accepted style and structure, they provoke and thus inspire. And sometimes, make new rules.

The best story I've ever read has never been published (well, at least not yet). It has the weirdest punctuation and the most confusing plot. It's very unconventional and may not speak to everyone. But if you read it the way author intended, if you pause at each dash and comma, you'll love it, you'll see that it's brilliant. If you just let go of your preconceptions and enjoy the music of words even if it's not your mainstream classic. .. Scratch that. Enjoy it, because it's not classic, because it's so unique. Because it's unlike anything you've learned in your MFA.
 Because, as one Olivia Joules said,
"Language <is> a beautiful free-flowing, evolving thing which should not be fettered by artificial rules, regulations and strange markings imposed from without rather than within"

P.S. and if my punctuation in this post does not appear correct, it has nothing to do with me being half asleep. It's the way I write. Sorry to offend delicate sensibilities of those who feel strongly against passive voice and dashes and ellipses and misused commas.