I am so sick and tired of seeing writing advice given out as if it were an absolute--something that has to be followed.
Advice is something that should be taken with a grain of salt, no matter what the topic is. Advice can be opinions dressed up neatly in a way to change the minds of others.
I’m not saying that people can’t learn from others or even see a better way of doing something. Because everything is evolving and changing, writing is one of those things. It’s healthy to look at your own mindset and find different ways of improving. Advice is one method of achieving that. I get that.
But it’s not the only way.
There is no set rule when it comes to writing, no surefire way that it has to get done. Conformity doesn’t belong in creativity. The way someone else handles their writing does not mean that you have to follow their steps.
What one person chooses to do or not do in their own method of writing is their method. Just because you do it differently doesn’t mean that it’s wrong.
Some people will tell you not to use certain words, or to never use epithets, or to watch how you say something, nitpick the length of your paragraphs, avoid pet names, tell you to omit certain adverbs, and to also avoid similes.
I don’t care if you use every single example in one story. That’s up to you. Just because someone else dislikes that, doesn’t mean you have to abide by their preferences. Because that’s what it is, their preference.
You are allowed to write however you want to. You are allowed to let your creativity come out in any way you want. It’s your writing. Embrace it.
When someone offers advice, it’s just their opinion and preference. You do not have to listen to it or to feel obligated to change your own style to match someone else’s ideas.
That is the beauty of writing, that everyone has their own style. You should be allowed to come to your own conclusions.
I’m not telling you to not listen to advice or to ignore help when it’s offered, because that’s not my place. When given in the right circumstances, and in a productive and healthy atmosphere, advice can be extremely helpful. Take this with a grain of salt, because this is how I feel.
I wish those writing posts that shame people who write certain ways would be upfront about the fact that they are only giving a simple opinion.
Every time I see a post or person telling someone else what they shouldn’t do, makes spite rise so violently that I feel like doing the opposite.
Be mindful of what you tell others, and take into consideration that everyone is different, that we all have different ways of doing something.
There is no wrong way to express yourself. Write however you want to. Be the author you choose, and let that be enough.
