Things not to do in fiction

Most of the good books of advice on writing include few outright proscriptions because the authors are sufficiently wise to avoid being overly prescriptive. I consider this wisdom because pretty much any proposed rule can be violated successfully by an author who understands why the rule exists and how to work within or around the rule's constraints. Nonetheless, every author or collaboration of authors has a few things (Thistlebottomian hobgoblins) they feel obliged to inveigh against.

The Science Fiction Writers of America "Turkey City Lexicon – A Primer for SF Workshops" provides an interesting example for those of us who enjoy science fiction and fantasy. (Also some good advice on how to run a writer's group or workshop.) The items in this list don't quite become blanket proscriptions (see, for example, the good advice about violating the "show, don't tell" false rule when appropriate), but taken as a whole, they provide a pretty strong checklist for turkey-proofing a story. You really have to know what you're doing -- and be able to do it well -- if you want to violate these rules.

As an intellectual exercise, it would be interesting to try writing a story that violates every single one of the almost-proscriptions in this list, whether seriously or tongue firmly planted in cheek. Add that to my "someday" idea file.