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 Kathy Leonard Czepiel on July 22, 2012 at 8:23pm

I continue to be amazed at the volume of response to this question. Obviously, a lot of us have received writing advice that hit a nerve! This whole conversation is also a great reminder to those of us who teach writing to think again and again about how our comments may be received. (As for that British writer Carol just mentioned, he's in another league altogether!)

Permalink Reply by PrincessFitzgerald on July 23, 2012 at 8:52pm

I've never heard this advice, but I can't fathom it. I love a book that starts with dialogue: it's doesn't have the context, so it forces the reader directly into it, and creates a greater sense of immediacy and relevance. It's not a book, but I think a great narrative example is the opening of The Social Network where you just get a couple minutes of fast-talking witty conversation. It tells you what the characters and tone will be like, and engages your brain from the get-go.