Recently, someone shared a post with tips for writers in a writing group I follow. It was full of what I considered good tips, like culling your use of "filler words."
But this is the Internet, and within an hour, the comments section was full of people advocating for writing "stood up" instead of "stood" and using adverbs to your heart's content. I saw one commenter say there are no rules in writing, and anyone who tells you otherwise is a sham.
There's a happy medium between these two sides encapsulated in the phrase "tools, not rules." The Hemingway Editor highlights complicated sentences and adverbs and "grades" your writing's readability score (the lower, the better). This does not mean that your writing should never have complicated sentences or adverbs. Hemingway used adverbs. He used a variety of sentence compositions. It's a tool, not a rule. When you hear someone saying "don't use adverbs," what they really mean is "use strong verbs whenever possible."
Similarly, "show, don't tell" doesn't mean that you must never tell your reader anything. There are times when you must tell, not show. What it means is that you should look for opportunities to create an immersive experience for your readers. As Anton Chekhov wrote, “Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass."
When I write about cutting filler words, I'm not saying to never use these words. I'm saying that you should choose your words carefully (look, an adverb!).
And when I talk about the importance of an opening line, I'm not saying the opening line is the most important part of your story. I'm saying that your opening line should say something. It's not a throwaway line and it shouldn't be treated as such.
Take every piece of writing advice you receive with a grain of salt. These are tools that we use to enhance our craft, not rules meant to restrict us. What ultimately matters is your voice.
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