In the book The Art of Nonfiction, Ayn Rand establishes rules on how to craft a title, outline, apply grammar, etc. The book is filled with absolutes, deep convictions, and the occasional roast of Americans:

“Americans do not know English grammar. It is all the more ridiculous coming from someone like me with a Russian accent.”

But amidst all of that, Rand lays excellent groundwork, explaining the why behind her “rules.”

She ultimately rounds out with a note of encouragement to the reader to understand the principles behind the rules and to apply them when and how they best see fit. After all, you know your weaknesses and what ends up being an effective method to get the desired outcome for your work better than mute rules can advise.

“But I looked for the abstract format and knew that I had to fit that abstraction to my own story.

…why there were certain technical indications at specific points.

The essential error here is concrete-bound conformity, based on the premise that someone else understands why a script or play is written a certain way, and therefore the writer does not have to understand. It is the reliance on other people that is responsible for this error.

The psycho-epistemological point to remember is that you must think on your own. In some situations, you may find no particular guidance, philosophical or otherwise, and yet you need to learn something new. To be innovative when you are up against a new problem, you have to approach it abstractly. That is why I stress principles.”