Everyone has advice about everything, it seems, but it’s extra annoying when it’s about writing. Writing is personal and anyone who has ever tried to complete something coherent and enjoyable knows what I’m talking about. Here’s my advice about accepting or ignoring advice:
- Consider the source. Everyone has value, of course, but their thoughts about your situation may or may not apply. How much does this person read? Write? Do they have any personal experience with the publishing business? (Even if they do, their ideas may not relate to what you’re doing.)
- Consider your gut reaction. Does the advice feel wrong, unrelatable, or just plain stupid? Then it is.
- Remember why you’re writing. If your primary goal is to please someone else with your work, you will always struggle with what someone else is thinking. You have no control of what someone else is thinking. It’s best to write something you want to read. (And that is my standing advice for anyone who wants to write. Take it or leave it.)
- Consider the tone. Not everyone wants you to succeed. If someone is attempting to belittle your work with their comments, ignore them.
Bottom line: You don’t need advice to create. You don’t need approval for the magnificent products of your brain. If you want to share your work, you may need guidance, but those are different goals. Too many times, people confuse them. Many authors have been taught to write for an audience. If I could change that bit of advice, I’d remind writers to only consider the audience when/if it’s time to publish and market the new creation.
This is just my opinion. If it doesn’t fit you, don’t take it.
