KURT VONNEGUT was an American author known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels. His published work includes fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays, and five nonfiction works over fifty-plus years; further works have been published since his death. (Wikipedia)
He was creating in the postmodernist spirit. His most famous works include Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat's Cradle.
In his book "Bagombo Snuff Box", Kurt decided to share his writing advice which he summarized in eight rules of writing. Sentences below written in cursive are Kurt's quotes.
1. Use the time of a total strange in such a way that they won't feel the time was wasted
2. Give the reader at least one character they can root for. "It is this genuine caring, and not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style".
3. Every character should want something
4. Every sentence must either reveal character or advance the action. "If a sentence, no matter how excellent, does not illuminate your subject in some new and useful way, scratch it out."
5. Start as close to the end as possible
6. Be a sadist; make awful things happen to the characters
7. Write to please just one person
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. "To hell with suspense. Readers should have complete understanding of what is going on, where and why"
Kurt also highlighted how important it is to sound natural, to "sound just like you". This way the writing will be most genuine and quality.
Of course, don't stress too much over the rules, they are mainly inspirational. Many writers had given their writing advice to the world, and sometimes breaking the rules brings us into a whole new and fascinating world.
"The greatest American short story writer of my generation was Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964). She broke practically every one of my rules but the first. Great writers tend to do that." - Bagombo Snuff Box
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