sometimes i see folks reblogging writing advice and i just have this reflex 'oh god no, don't internalise that please.'
and obviously everyone should do what they want! but there's this idea that if someone writes something out on tumblr in an original post it must somehow be legitimised writing advice, and like, no. not always.
the most recent one was 'make sure every scene moves the story forward, even quiet scenes.' that's good writing in some ways, but it also contradicts a lot of writing from cultures that aren't ours, as well as writing that reflects on concepts of ma (found in a lot of Studio Ghibli movies that arguably led to some of the most still and beautiful moments), and in general just getting away from the idea that we need to 'go go go' even when things are still or quiet or peaceful.
every scene can matter without every scene needing to 'push the story forward.' granted, not every writer can write that successfully, but that's the point of practicing writing. of course you could be a pedant too and say every scene is functioning and pushing the story forward somehow.
but there are scenes that evoke ma that you could remove that wouldn't really change the message of the story or the characters in the story. there are scenes that evoke gentleness that you could remove and keep narrative, character arcs, and plot in the story.
i don't know, i think the best writing advice i've ever been given is to never follow writing advice that says there's only one way of doing things, especially if the cost is other ways of doing things that are also perfectly valid and even really important in certain cultures. if someone says 'don't ever do this thing in writing' they're probably wrong and still learning a lot themselves.
proscriptive writing advice kind of sucks. even stuff i think writers shouldn't do, they can still do it. and if i'm going to say why i think they shouldn't do it, i'll at least have a damned good reason why, so that when they decide to ignore me, they know what they're potentially risking and/or simply know their target audience isn't mine.
