Becca,

Yeah, you're right, they're tools or suggestions, but sometimes they don't sound like they're meant to be such and some writers don't take them as such. Maybe it's a matter of confidence/experience on the part of the writer. There still seems to be more tools/suggestions with regards to short stories, though. I wonder why that is?

Godfather, any book that suggests 473 things a writer needs to remember deserves a burning ceremony!

Catherine

Skip,

That would be sadistic of them wouldn't it. I was overwhelmingly saracastic when I mentioned the book. Suggestions or not, they still feel like rules. The good thing about rules is I love breaking them whenever possible, as long the story still works.

TheGodfather

Cath, It's because of the space involved, there's hardly any of it!
Becca.