Worst Writing Advice

What's the worst writing advice you've ever been given?

Mine is "you have to write every day." Totally impractical for so many of us, but you hear this all the time! I have a writing schedule, but it is *not* daily.

(Full disclosure: I'm writing an article about this on spec and would like to mention some of your "worst advice," so please let me know if you're willing to share. If not, would still be curious to hear your worst advice!)

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Shawn Lamb on October 8, 2011 at 7:09am

Honestly, mine is show don't tell. That phrase is so overused and parroted by many who don't understand what it really means. Just because some high guru of an editor said it, doesn't mean it's a hard and fast rule. When I find someone who is parroting the status quo, I advise them to study literature to see the different styles throughout history. Show Don't Tell is relatively new to writing - 1990s to be exact, while literature is thousands of years old, including the Greek playwrights and poets. So don't pigeonhole all fiction by trying to make it conform to the current,pushed style - writing styles and voices change.

Permalink Reply by Kathy Leonard Czepiel on October 8, 2011 at 7:49am

Agreed! I've often thought that could translate into all scene and no summary. Imagine how that would read! Though I have often seen less experienced writers using too much summary and not enough scene.

Permalink Reply by Dana Alexander on October 8, 2011 at 7:57am

I agree completely, Kathy and Shawn. I've encountered a few critters who stand by the rule hard and fast, without knowing the importance and proper use of tell. There is such a "no, no" attitude about it. Still, I understand there are many who overuse tell and that is probably where the rule stemmed(?) There has got to be a balance between the two. I wonder if that piece got lost in translation when the "high guru" editor said it. :)

Permalink Reply by Shawn Lamb on October 8, 2011 at 8:58am

Indeed, it did get lost, Dana. Granted, I admire Sol Stein's career and the books he edited, but just because he coined the "show don't tell" in his book "Stein on Writing" (2000), doesn't mean it's craved in stone. Of course, when Donald Maass jumped on board a few years later (2002) and reinforced Stein's method, the 'dye' was cast and every editor since then been indoctrinated to the dictum.

If you look at the dates of these books - we're only talking 11 years! Short compared to writing history.

Permalink Reply by Dana Alexander on October 8, 2011 at 10:33am

So true! I do respect Donald Maass's (that spelling just looks weird) advice, too. That said, I believe everything should be taken in the proper perspective, regardless of guru status. :) Thanks for making the point about show and tell.

Permalink Reply by Susan Helene Gottfried on October 14, 2011 at 10:22am

Actually, I was taught "Show, don't tell" back when I was working on my BA. Which I earned in 1991.

It has a specific use, however, that is being twisted out of context here.

Permalink Reply by Shawn Lamb on October 14, 2011 at 10:31am

No, it is not twisted. I also studied writing for years. Since Stein's book went public in 2000,and other have joined his bandwagon, the industry is forcing authors to conform to one style.

Permalink Reply by Susan Helene Gottfried on October 14, 2011 at 10:49am

Well, let's agree to see things in a different light, then. I am sharing Dana's views that something has been lost in translation after the so-called gurus spoke.

Remember, a few years back, the gurus also said to remove every instance of "that" in your manuscript. You'll note THAT has now changed.

However, there is never an excuse for "He looked angry" to be present. That is the exact sort of telling that needs to be shown.

Permalink Reply by Kathy Leonard Czepiel on October 14, 2011 at 11:11am

Funny you should mention "that." I had stopped using it except when absolutely necessary, and my copy editor just added it back in, over and over, to my manuscript.

Permalink Reply by Dana Alexander on October 14, 2011 at 11:13am

I agree with your example, Susan, of the improper use of tell. For me, show don't tell doesn't mean NEVER tell, it means knowing when to tell and when to show. I think the gurus have confused it for many, especially since it seems as though the "rule" (despise that term) has been taken out of context over time .

And really, the gurus said to remove every instance of "that"? I can't imagine! :)

Permalink Reply by Susan Helene Gottfried on October 14, 2011 at 11:21am

For awhile there, yep, that was the golden rule. Really messed with Trevor's voice, too, which is probably why I took the road I did...

Permalink Reply by Shawn Lamb on October 14, 2011 at 11:30am

Susan, you misunderstand. I'm not against editing to strengthen a ms. What I'm arguing is, the cramming Show Don't Tell as a style down the throat of every author by way of degrading comments and arguments.

I've been writing professionally since the mid 1980s and there has been a major style shift to Show Don't Tell along the way. I take exception to being called an amateur, unprofessional and hack by those embracing SDT because I don't adhere to every single dictum. Many name authors prior to SDT coming into favor used "ly" to enhance speech and other words than said or asked. Some of whom I pattern my writing style after. How does that make me less professional than they? It doesn't.

As you rightly point out, even SDT changes. So there needs to be tolerance and acceptance of those who don't strictly adhere to the style.