Prediction: The Last of us 2 to sell 5 million first week.

[GribbleGrunger]

AlfredoTurkey said:

GribbleGrunger said:

Of course there were many examples that go against the grain. These are just basic rules for writers. If someone can write a successful story with simple characters and cliques while on their soap box, then all power to them, but it's highly unlikely they'll ever get published. 

It depends. Are we talking popular fiction or are we talking literature? If it's pop fiction, sure, you probably want to think in a more narrow, preconceived, structured and time-tested way. But if someone aspires for something more, and is great at it, then rules need to go out the window because they'll just clog up any and all creative pathways. 

If someone is brilliant enough, they'll get their work published. It might not net them a mansion or movie rights, but it'll get published.

These are basic rules, followed by 99% of all writers, including the greats. How long have you been writing, how many writers have you met, how many writers have you spoken too, how many books on writing have you read and how many writing courses have you been on?