Robert's Rules of Writing: 101 Unconventional Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know

by Robert Masello

Although there's no shortage of books on writing and publishing, there's none quite like Robert's Rules of Writing. Drawing on his many years of experience as an award-winning journalist, TV writer, and the author of over twenty books, Robert Masello addresses all the issues that confront, and all the problems that beset, writers of all stripes. Whether you're working on a novel or a script, a memoir or a blog, an epic poem or a newspaper piece, you're going to have to find the best way to express yourself clearly, persuasively, and entertainingly. You'll have to find your own personal voice (much harder than it sounds) and use that unique voice to convey your story, your thoughts, and your opinions, to the many readers out there that you're eager to reach; with complete candor and welcome irreverence, Robert's Rules of Writing offers the inside knowledge that will help you do just that. In well over a hundred short but pithy takes, Masello guides you over hurdles, around obstacles, and through the seemingly insurmountable barriers to completion and ultimately publication--hooray!--of your writing. It's a lively, thought-provoking, and often downright funny addition to any veteran, or fledgling, writer's shelf.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help, Business

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2005

About the author

Robert Masello is an award-winning journalist, TV writer, and the bestselling author of many novels and nonfiction books. In addition to his most recent book, THE HAUNTING OF H.G. WELLS, he has written the #1 Amazon Kindle bestseller, THE EINSTEIN PROPHECY, and many other popular thrillers, including THE JEKYLL REVELATION, THE NIGHT CROSSING, BLOOD AND ICE, THE MEDUSA AMULET, and THE ROMANOV CROSS.
He is also the author of two popular studies of the Occult -- FALLEN ANGELS AND SPIRITS OF THE DARK and RAISING HELL: A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE BLACK ARTS.
His books on writing include WRITER TELLS ALL, A FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS, and the classroom staple, ROBERT'S RULES OF WRITING.
His TV credits include such popular shows as "Charmed," "Sliders," Early Edition," and "Poltergeist: the Legacy."
A native of Evanston, Illinois, he studied writing at Princeton University under the noted authors Robert Stone and Geoffrey Wolff, and served for six years as the Visiting Lecturer in Literature at Claremont McKenna College.
He now lives and works in Santa Monica, CA.

Reviews

[Richard Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would probably be a better, more informative book if it was the 20 Rules of Writing rather than the 101. Most of this book feels like padding, and it is. But as the author says at rule 100, you need a title, and 101 sounds a lot better than 20. Makes for a longer book, too. Mostly unnecessary. Pass.

[Gregory · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was filled with padding, which is ironic; for an author trying to inject humor into a book on writing, he has forgotten that brevity is the soul of wit.

While reading the book, I couldn't help but feel as if I were reading something one of my students wrote; the attempt at "edginess" was sophomoric and trite. The writing style was simply not for me, which is an issue for a book about writing.

Stick with Strunk and White.

[Maria McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd highly recommend Roberts' Rules of Writing to anyone who's serious about writing. Robert Masello provides helpful rules to improve anything from fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, magazine/newspaper stories and more. It's worth reading and worth keeping!

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Robert, I was hoping to like this book, but I kept being taken out of the prose by (ironically) bad or unthoughtful writing. Couple of examples...

Using the cliched "sound and fury" in a positive sense, when the actual phrase from Macbeth is "a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing." Did you actually mean to call the reader an idiot, Robert?

At another point, where he talks about the importance of plot, he tells you to "keep the old workhorse of story in your sights." Unless that workhorse is too old and you're planning on putting it out of its misery, maybe don't keep it "in your sights."

Finally, the very first "rule" -- burning your journal -- is just silly. Given the number of times in the rest of the book he mentions staring off into space waiting for an idea, imagine how much more useful that time could have been spent with some introspective or exploratory journaling? Priming the pump, so to speak. I mean, I get that as a professional writer you should probably not waste your time on prose that isn't going to get you paid, but if the alternative is nothing? And who knows what that journaling might turn into now or later.

There are nuggets of wisdom scattered in the Rules, but maybe learn them from some other writer who took more care writing their wisdom down.

[Harry Roger Williams III · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this one five stars, "It was amazing," because it would have been so easy for this to be a disappointment. Instead, I looked forward to each new "lesson," each of which is its own "chapter." Masello is often tongue-in-cheek in how he conveys his lessons, but deadly serious in giving budding (and experienced) writers a wealth of options for making their work better. I found silly humor in the little slips of paper on the cover, with lesson numbers and bits of the lessons looking like a page of them had bit cut into strips. Humor because (does this count as a spoiler alert?) the lesson numbers on the strips on the cover do not correspond to their numbers in the books. (Who checks these things? I do but don't know if anyone else does, or cares.) For me, this works best when I read just one or a few lessons at a time, so my brain doesn't get overloaded. It only looks like "light" writing - it is actually dense with experience, information and perspectives. I recommend it highly.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

For over thirty years I have taught literature and composition with experience in high school, community college and the four year university. I have taught in the US and in Japan, and have taught in schools and hospitals. The more I teach, the more I realize how much there is yet to learn.

This little book of "rules" is light reading, yet within the 101 "rules" the author presents, are some helpful ideas for the writing teacher. This is the kind of book to read when time is short and when patience with academic writing is found lacking.

NOTE: The book is strongest in writing about fiction

[Darla Grieco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advice for writers, especially new writer's like myself. Everyone who saw me with this book would assume I was reading yet another dull book on grammar. Not so. Robert Masello shares many tips and insights to aid a writer's success.

[Cheryl Crotty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always find something in every book I read. So it was with this one. Some really good tips for all writers. Mostly though, I thought it was geared for those who are really trying to write a novel so most didn't apply for what I want to write. Moving on.

[Noemi Labarga · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this guy was full of s***

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not just for professional writers, it's for everybody who wants to write. I love it. It helped me understand writing and whatnots. Great read. The book has humour!

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good list of tips and lessons. I liked the short, 2-page chapters in this small book, which made each point easy to digest. I also liked his relaxed, friendly writing style.

The only rule I disagreed with was #3 "Throw Out Your Thesaurus." I get his point -- that a writer shouldn't look for fancy words to force into the piece. I agree with that. But a thesaurus also has plenty of easy, natural words that can fit into the writer's style, words the writer already knows but forgot. The trick is knowing what works and what does not.

An enjoyable, helpful book. Recommended to anyone engaged in creative writing or considering it.

[Scott Ollar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. Not sure how useful it will prove. Of the 101 "Rules" I tagged 5 for future reference, and am not exactly sure how I will remember them when I'm in the actual process of writing. Regardless, I hope some of the thoughts will help me. I did get rid of my journals!

[Brandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Short, entertaining chunks of information that you can put to use. I really enjoyed it.

[Kellean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and humorous. Great writing tips told in a refreshing manner.

[Benjamin Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Interesting Book full of great advice! I encourage every Writer to read this!

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rules that get straight to the point

Masello’s 101 unconventional rules are quite good, especially for people who haven't read any other writing books before. It was a greatly entertaining book, which had amusing examples of many of the rules that were given that I found myself flipping pages and soon finishing the book. I have some lines from almost every one of the rules highlighted to look back at. The following are some I found interesting:

- Rule 40: Cook Up a Story. Masello recounts a time when he went to a reading of unpublished writers, and noticed that everything was well-written, but nothing really happened in the story. “If there was any conflict, it was in a distinctly lower key; if there was any change in a character’s situation, it was so modest as to be almost imperceptible. If anything happened, it was off-screen, downplayed, or barely acknowledged.”
- Rule 46: Go for Broke. One of his writing students told him that they were saving their best work for their novel, instead of including it in their assignments. Masello says, “… you may think you’re saving it up for later use, but in fact you’re letting it get stale, you’re letting it lose some of its vitality. Material you think is unforgettable today, you will have forgotten by this time next year.”
- Rule 68: Kill the Passion. “…write out of all the passion you can manage–but just don’t expect it to be very good.” Why? Because, “Passion has a way of clouding the judgement…”
- Rule 69: Grumble and Fuss. “Only the bad writers are ever truly satisfied.”

- Rule 1: Burn Your Journal. You won't get you any closer to being a writer by keeping a journal.
- Rule 4: Zip the Lip. Just like Stephen King, Masello believes that any part of your story should not me made public. He says, “Professional writers know that the more you talk about something you’re planning to write, the less likely it is that you’ll ever write it.”
- Rule 5: Call Out the Though Police. The best ideas are all in your head, you just have to pay attention to them.
- Rule 9: Lose the Muse. He says, “… you cannot build your writing life around her.” But, “She is irresistibly drawn to the aroma of hard work.” - Rule 15: Wave Good-bye. Anything that is popular in fiction right now will likely be unpopular by the time you are done writing about it.
- Rule 22: Pick Your Poison. Instead of giving up writing, which will result in disappointment for the rest of your life, keep writing. Your fear “evaporates with every word you write.”
- Rule 25: Wing It. Make a plan for your story to save you from getting stuck and from weeks of revision. And keep revising your plan because your story will keep changing.

He also mentioned that you should give your work a title, which you can change later on, just to know what direction you’re heading in, and not to look back at the words that you have written. You should leave the editing for when you’re supposed to be editing, which is after your first draft.

I have been using this approach for a long time now, and was able to make some progress when I stopped looking back. Also, with making a plan to refer to, I no longer had to edit or try to put in extra words here and there. Masello also does not like to read stories in present tense, because when you’re reading a story, it’s already in the past. I thought I was the only one who felt bothered by reading in the present tense.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, I was expecting more of a Harbrace-type set of rules. Instead, these "rules" are, more or less, guidelines about how to get your words onto the page, or how to break out of writer's block. They read like Ruistic quotes, or ideas, instead of rules to actually help your phraseology or grammar.

Secondly, Mr Masello contradicts himself in a few places, for instance:

Rule 3: Throw Out Your Thesaurus. Then later we read, in Rule 23: Bring Out da Noise, "Nobody writes without her critical apparatus up and functioning. You do need that voice that occasionally whispers in your ear, “Let’s find a better word for that,” or, “Wouldn’t it be nice to insert an authoritative quote right here?” It’s called thinking. But you can’t let that voice overwhelm you, slow you down or, as can happen, bring you to a grinding halt."

I don't know about everyone else but I use a thesaurus to, "find a better word". So which is it? Do we throw it out, or use it?

Lastly, I'm not sure adhering to a bunch of Confucian sayings is the best way to write, or to do anything for that matter. Sure, there are certain things you typically do if you want to achieve a certain literary goal, but I've never been much of a conformist.

[Joni Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert's Rules of Writing by Robert Masello lists and illuminates 101 (actually 102 because rules are meant to be broken) lessons writers, and readers for that matter, need to know. While the book is easy enough to be approachable for any writer/reader, it does contain numerous kernels of truth that I can see myself applying to my own writing, as well as sharing with my students. I love how his lessons could be applied to close and critical reading just as easily as they can be applied to writing. And in my book the two go hand in hand because without writing, how can you know what you think about what you are reading. This is a book that I will have to buy myself a copy of at some point because the lessons fit so nicely into what I want my own students to know about reading and writing. This is the kind of book that you read and then when you finish reread again and again until the lessons that resonate become embedded in your own writing process. And the lessons that don't resonate, well those of course you ignore, because even Robert will tell you in Rule of Writing, rules are meant to broken.

[Ira Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masello had clearly stated what the reader should expect and not to expect at the first pages of the book. He assumed that the reader already knew the basic rules, logic and habits in writing and just needed a breather to remove himself from the orthodox pre-writing and publishing rituals. As an amateurish writer, I really found the book really useful and found some witty advice. Sure, it gave me a few chuckles while people at the train looked at me, distracted from whatsoever. It was written in a sort of writing one can only achieve in years and years of experiences composed of rejections, frustrations, retardation, learning, and occasional triumphs.

Why a five star? Because there's nothing similar to it among all the books on the shelves of bookstores and in the stacks of second-hand-book bazaars. It's light, brief, 101, unconventional.

[Mick Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Every writer, or prospective writer, should take a glance at it. Mr. Masello puts a lot of emphasis on dispelling writing myths and taboos in favor of clear and precise advice that will allow you to move past most of the issues modern fiction writers face at some time or another. The book reads easily and is laid out in a very simple format: each rule is its own chapter. You don't have to follow it in any particular order. Just open it up at any given page and read that rule. They're all written with clarity and injected with amusing anecdotes, so you'll have a hard time finding anything boring in there. I borrowed this copy from the library, but I'm thinking of purchasing my own just to have one to browse over when the mood strikes me or when I feel stuck during a writing project.

[A.L. Sowards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. 102 rules/chapters, and they all read pretty quickly—yet get their point across. I’ve heard most of the rules before, but not all of them. And he did a few awesome things, like said it’s OK to use adverbs if the right verb just doesn’t exists. Another favorite: tell, don’t show (as opposed to show, don’t tell). That sounds crazy, but his point is this: don’t show the boring stuff, just show the good stuff. He talks about different formats: novels, screenplays, magazine articles, fiction, so I’d recommend it to most writers. Oh, and the kindle version (with a few minor formatting issues) is on sale this month. Well worth $2.

[Katherine Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm teaching a writing workshop on Sunday, and while I have a lot of great writing books, I thought I would check out a bunch more from the library. This is one of the books I stumbled across. Each "rule" is about 2-3 short pages long. Nearly everything this guy told me was a rule I either knew or agreed with and realized I had experienced exactly what he said. Oddly enough, I found this book despite not really discovering anything new, to be invigorating and rewarding. I felt as though I were reading a friend who was telling me I was on the right path. Perfect timing for me. It is a fast and fun read.

[Amanda McReynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Robert Masello has such a conversational style of writing I felt like he was speaking directly to the reader. It's part humorous and mostly helpful advice from his experience.

Not every single rule is a golden nugget and many are tailored directly for writers of novels rather than a generalized audience of writers, but even as someone who hasn't written a novel my copy is still packed with highlights and tabs for later review and reminders. I would recommend this book to any writer, believing that no matter your genre, you'll still walk away knowing more than when you cracked the cover.

[Rainboe Sims-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masello lists over one hundred “rules” guiding writers to experiment with different forms and strategies. He offers solemn advice from why talking about your work is a bad idea, to quirky advice suggesting burning freedom found in burning journals. The rules are presented in a fun, haphazard style making the rules, easy to understand and fun to follow. Robert's Rules is an easy one stop shop to help improve writing without getting caught up in the endless lectures typical of other instructional writing books.

[Kristy G. Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to have a book where the author isn't trying to teach you how to write: he's trying to show you how he writes. Admittedly, he writes it in a "you need to do this" sort of style, but hey! It's funny and useful, and for any of you who have had me talk about using the word "said," you've already had a small sample of the book. His rules are short and sweet, and he gives you a lot of things to keep in mind while you're writing.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't call it "unorthodox," nor would I call it "unconventional." Many of his rules were old advice written in his voice, explained in his way, just like any creative writing teacher would have done. Some moments dragged, others were entertaining. If you're serious about writing, this book probably won't get you published. But, it might be just the read you need to help see old suggestions in a new way.

[T'leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone who fancies themselves a writer! Masello uses his wit to lay down "the law." With every insightful thought comes something that will bring a smirk, a smile, a chuckle, and sometimes even a rolled eye. Regardless of which, they all signify that he is drilling into your brain. It is not only helpful, but enjoyable to read. I would rate this six stars if I had the option!

[Maple · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book about how to write without driving yourself bananas in the process. I really enjoyed the witty words Robert used to lure the reader to keep reading, and the advice was solid. I would recommend it to anybody who needs a push in the right direction or anybody who just got a little lsot along the way and needs to get back on track.

Give it a try, you won't be sorry!

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book presents practical, real-life writing tips in an entertaining and informative way. It is geared toward the professional writer, but I found it enjoyable and helpful as an amateur. I recommend it to college students who are studying English or Creative Writing or otherwise want to write, whether academic papers, fiction, or otherwise.

[Kathrese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this off and on over a few months. For me, it was more about keeping my head in the game than learning anything new. For that, it was very useful. The chapters are short like blog posts. Take what you can and leave the rest. As one reader discussed, Chapter 102 makes it clear that for every writer, there's a different set of rules.