Every writing journey is unique, just as every writer is unique. Though we would all love to discover a silver bullet piece of writing advice that propels us towards exactly where we want to be, the fact of the matter is there’s no such thing. What works for you won’t work for someone else, and vice-versa—even if what doesn’t work is something every author is “supposed” to do.
Recently, we asked the members of The Write Gym to tell us what common advice just doesn’t work for them, and we got some very interesting answers.
“‘You have to write every day.’ I write MOST days, but sometimes life gets in the way and I certainly don’t beat myself up when that happens.”
— Kristin Durfee, author of MASS
“‘Focus on one project at a time, and ignore the new ideas until you’ve finished one draft.’ Writing is such a creative outlet for me and ideas for new stories are constantly swimming around in my brain. I typically work on one main project, but I also allow myself to think about and work on new ideas if that’s where my creativity is drawn. Ignoring those new ideas curbs my creativity and ends up crippling my ability to write. For me, it’s about balance between the current project and the new ideas to create a writing schedule that is most productive.”
— Aria Bliss, author of Stuck Together
“‘Know your numbers.’ Daily data and expense tracking suck the fun and creativity out of me. It’s discouraging and draining, so I do it only when I have to.”
— Kerry Evelyn, author of A Second Shot at Love
We at Writer’s Atelier hope this collection of responses prompts you to examine your own writing habits, successes, and pitfalls. This kind of self-reflection is a crucial step in constructing a writing routine that neither drains nor under-stimulates you, but brings you joy and facilitates the output of your best work yet.
That’s what we’re all after in the end, isn’t it?
What common piece of writing advice doesn’t work for you? Sound off in the comments below!
