D.G. Laderoute
Dreamer
^ I disagree about 'should' use said. There are no 'shoulds' when it comes to creative writing, which is an artform and expression of the soul. Adhering to strict rules puts out products that lack personality and depth. If a writer isn't using all the tools available then they are doing themselves and their audience a huge disservice.
While you're right that there are no "laws" or "rules" regarding writing, there certainly are general conventions regarding things like creative writing...especially if your objective is to make it sale-able. Now, if you don't care about that, and are just writing for yourself and perhaps some of those close to you, then you're right...a writer should do whatever he or she feels is right for them. BUT, if you're writing with a view to publishing something--for money or not--that you intend to be read by a wide audience, then yes, there are "shoulds"...and a lot of them. Minimal use of dialogue tags other than "said", not changing POV in the middle of a scene, relatively short paragraphs, minimal use of adverbs...all of these are those sorts of conventions (or, at least, current conventions. Like many other things, the conventions change over time; the type of writing Charles Dickens did, for example, was popular in his time, but is unlikely to be popular with current editors and publishers). Like it or not, there's a legion of expectations among readers, other writers, editors, publishers, agents, etc. and if you don't conform to them, you make it less likely your work is going to be accepted for publication or broadly appreciated by readers.