Bad advice. At least once, we’ve all listened to it, then kicked ourselves for being stupid.
As serious writers, we are forever looking for ways to improve our skill and change more lives with our words. We read books, attend conferences, go on as many fellow writers’ blogs as we can, to get the best advice possible. But sometimes we come across a bit of bad advice. If we know it’s bad, good. We can spit it out like a cow spits out the worthless stubble, and only swallow the nourishing grain. If we are unaware that it’s bad, that's not good. We can go down a wrong path in our career, or at the very least, waste precious time.
A frustrated writer once told me not to read craft books, that my writing was good enough, and those books would only confuse me. Had I listened to this bad advice, I would be a much poorer writer than I am today. Notice I didn’t say I wouldn’t be as great a writer as I am--- I am not a great writer. Yet. I hope to be one someday, with the help of all the craft books I am reading, in spite of that person’s bad advice.
Now it's your turn. Have you ever read or heard some bad advice concerning your writing, or writing in general? Did you know it was bad, or did you listen to it, later realizing it wasn’t sound? Perhaps we can learn from each others’ mistakes, and avoid taking bad advice in the future. Blessings on you as you write for your Audience of ONE...
