Growing up, the rules of proper syntax were engrained into me. Some of which I even still remember. For example: a sentence must contain a subject and a verb, typically in that order. While these rules are essential, like most rules, they are also meant to be broken. (Queue the bad ass music.)

Writers of any kind are born to be rule breakers. It’s in our genes. We are the children of poets who have said, “Screw you, I’ll do what I want.” I’m looking at you, Emily Dickenson! Look what you’ve wrought!

Seriously, though, as writers, we’re given the creative license to really mess things up. Don’t get me wrong, if you’re going to bend and break the rules, I believe you must have a rhyme and reason.

Last week, I mentioned I was reading Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas. As I continue to make my way through its pages, I’m noticing some interesting rule breaking by Cañas. And it makes the story all the more interesting.

Screwing Syntax with Isabel Cañas

There are two instances that really stood out to me when reading Vampires of El Norte. Two scenes that were elevated by tossing the rules of syntax to the curb.

After being apart for nine years, Nena and Nestor see each other for the first time. And the moment is captured simply.

“His sweep of the courtyard slowed. Stopped. On her. Their eyes locked.”

Obviously “Stopped.“ and “On her.“ aren’t proper sentences. But the structuring of these “sentences” in this way highlights the severity of the moment. Nena and Nestor haven’t seen each other in years–one even thinking the other dead. It’s simple and it’s stylistic. I love it.

Cañas does something similar a little later on as she describes an army camp in Palo Alto.

“A taste of brine rode the breeze from the gulf; it carried with it the smells of an army gathering. Smoke. Gunpowder. Sweat.”

Here, the stylistic writing, rather than depicting the severity of a moment, adds to the blunt sensory experience of the army camp. Again, this is simple, yet effective. Powerful.

Break the Rules Wisely

I’ve tried to do this in my own writing. Sometimes it doesn’t work out so well, other times I really like what it adds. While breaking the rules and defying your 10th grade English teacher can be fun. I recommend doing so sparingly. The rules of syntax are there for a reason–to help others understand what we’re saying. Breaking them can help emphasize a point, but over doing it can cause confusion and can cheapen the experience. Do so wisely.

Now go forth and break the rules!