Is it Okay to Break the Rules When Writing Short Stories?

Some writing related rules are really just suggestions.

On the day I decided I was finally going to take a short story writing course, I cautioned myself with the following words:

At least learn all the rules first, before you start breaking them.

I said it because I know myself, and my tendency to sometimes ignore the rules. I’ve never been the type of person who sticks to coloring inside the lines. But if I want to become the best short story writer that I can be, I know I need to have a little more discipline and stop going rogue.

When I made the above agreement with myself, little did I know that I’d be going back on my promise just a few days later. I didn’t mean to, it just happened that way.

I did exactly what I had recently learned not to do. I basically ignored the good writing advice that I paid good money to get. As you keep reading, you’ll see how I did it.

Ignoring Lesson #3

I read Lesson #3 of my short story writing course. l watched and listened to the same information in video format, and I completely understood the point of the lesson.

I even took the exam at the end of the lesson and aced all the answers to the…