Welcome to the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast. I'm K.M. Weilland, and I am here to take you

deep with story theory, writing techniques, and the incredible wisdom of story. I believe story is the

greatest power on this earth, and that as writers, we carry the torch of wielding that power with responsibility, passion,

and skill. There is no such thing as just a story. Today, it is my honor and my purpose to help you

write your best story, astound the world, and maybe change your life.

Hello and welcome.

You are listening to demystifying the rules of fiction.

Do you really have to follow them?

Writers tend to have a lot of questions about the rules of fiction,

those elusive guidelines that shape our narratives and mold our creative endeavors.

Are these rules rigid dictates that threaten creative autonomy?

Or do they serve as an underlying structure, providing frameworks that nurture and enhance

storytelling prowess?

The answers are found in digging down to the true essence of fiction rules, exploring what they

are, what they decidedly are not, and to what degree we should adhere to them in crafting stories

that work. So even just a cursory search into the rules of fiction brings up a dizzying array of opinions.

Although many studious articles promised to share the rules of fiction, many other titles are dismissive.

And as I scrolled through the results, I found a post I had written many years ago, the title of which fit right in.

It was writing rules. We don't need no rules. But is this

really true? Most articles with titles like these will tell you why art cannot be contained by

rules and then tell you why you should follow the rules after all. And this reflects the mixed

relationship most writers, particularly those just starting out, have with the rules. And this reflects the mixed relationship most writers, particularly those just starting out,

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