Examples of not-so-savory advice.

[Tecdavid]

I was wondering: we share advice here all the time, and to the best of our knowledge, our advice is sage and sound. So are there any pieces of advice we've received (not necessarily from here) that we just knew was poor, or put us in bad stead? Advice we could advise people to avoid?
Are there any stories we could share of bad teachings, lessons and whatnot that the rest of us would do well to learn from, is what I'm asking.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I visited a major writing forum recently, just out of interest, and the advice there was terrible. I can't remember much, excepting that some people will insist on applying general advice to everything. And that it's important to research your market to see through these generalisations, as genres can have their own rules.

Worst advice EVER was to myself, many years ago - i) I don't need to read "how to write" books, and ii) I don't need to read other books in the genre I was reading. Following those blunders put years on my development.

 

[Mouse]

Thing is, people will say things like 'DON'T USE ADVERBS' they are BAD. And 'DON'T USE PASSIVE' it's BAD. When really they mean 'be careful' using adverbs and the passive voice. Sometimes these things work.

Re. How To books. This is another thing, you get people saying you MUST read them, and then, like Brian says, others saying DON'T read them. I don't read them because I know they wouldn't help me, but I wouldn't say to someone not to read one if they thought it might help.

I don't think I've had any bad advice, really. I tend to know when someone's just parroting something they've heard. Or if someone says to DEFINITELY not do something, then to ignore that and realise that I should replace 'definitely' with 'be careful.'

 

[Perpetual Man]

"Your book is brilliant, I think it is something we can work with and has huge potential. With us as your agents you will go far.

Now slip us a hundred quid and we'll be under way."

Never trust agents who ask for money. Ever.

And that advice came from many different sources, a lot of which are on this very site, and one of which has posted already in this thread.

Just realised what it sounds like when you look at the thread title - the bad advice was from the agents not those who helped me out afterwards (those here)

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I got in a tizz on a major writing site recently where i was told an excerpt was all telling. Thankfully, the writing group here looked at it and mended the damage!

 

[Tecdavid]

Yes, the contradictory instructions that we should never do this but always do that, just to later be told the opposite is something I dread.

 

[Boneman]

Never sign up to an option deal on scripts with an independent producer or film company unless the payment for the first year is equal to, or greater than the second. Three times I have been offered options this way - £100 each time for the first year and £500, £750 and £1,000 for the second years respectively. I never received the second payment on any of them. Basically, it's a nasty way to get a cheap option on a script for a year, with no intention of honouring the second year - yes, there'll be a contract saying you get 2% of the film's budget and DVD deals etc, but if they have confidence in you and your writing they should offer an option that reflects that. Basically, in the event they did get a deal in the first year, they've had you for even cheaper. Oh yes - the option will invariably come out of your fee, hidden in the small print...

 

[Tecdavid]

I'd have thought film deals would be far off on the horizon for most of us, Boneman, but that's actually rather shocking to hear!
If I'm ever lucky enough to be offered such a contract, I'd better not let my giddiness blind to little scams like that.

 

[Warren_Paul]

Even agents and editors are human, just like writers. We all get things wrong from time to time, give bad advice, let our own opinions influence what we consider right and wrong.

Bad advice happens. I've received it from editors and critiques before. That's why you get multiple sources of advice to compare them.

 

[Bowler1]

"Your book is brilliant, I think it is something we can work with and has huge potential. With us as your agents you will go far.

Now slip us a hundred quid and we'll be under way."

Never trust agents who ask for money. Ever.

Ditto, and more than one on this thread put me straight.
That's a ton in my bin, and it's the only bin I have that never fills to the brim!

 

[Brian G Turner]

Re. How To books. This is another thing, you get people saying you MUST read them, and then, like Brian says, others saying DON'T read them.

I used to have a very snotty attitude to "how to write" books. The first time I opened one and saw a W diagram I felt utter revulsion. The idea that art can be reduced to scientific principles! It's all part of the formulated dumbing down from true art!

But it's not these things at all - writing uses a variety of tools. Good "how to write" books will teach you something about different tools and how they are used to effect.

That's why I recommend "Save the cat" because it is not about how to write words, but how to use the tools behind the words - it's also very concise, short, and easy to read.

The biggest thing I have learned from that book is use of conflict. I realised that this is an absolutely key tool, and if I learn to wield it properly, I will be able to turn a good story into an exceptional one.

It's takes practice with writing to learn how to use the tool better, though!

Many tools are probably already being used by the subconscious, but once you learn to recognise and use them consciously ...

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Just as you can always (ha) tell a true/false question's answer if it says "always" or "never", you can always (ha) tell bad writing advice if it does the same.

Anything that tells you "never use" these words, this type of words, or this type of punctuation is probably wrong. Those words and types of words, and that type of punctuation, exist for a reason, and they are good for something. Possibly not what you're using them for, but something. Never is a very long time.

 

[Kissmequick]

Ah yes, 'The Rules' that newish writers often clutch to themselves like they were a talisman of success. They crop up on all writers' sites from time to time, though usually one or more of the more experienced will come along and gently point out:

They aren't rules, but guidelines. (Yarrr!) The only real rules are 'If it works, it works, so do it', and 'Don't bore the reader'.

I can't recall any really bad advice. Only advice that didn't work for me, but may for someone else (like - You Should Outline! It's the only way to make your plot work! Works great for some writers. Completely kills a piece for me, and the plots seem to work out ok) Like all advice, you have to weigh whether it works for you.

 

[alternatesanity]

Rules, I've heard of rules and even come across sites/people who insist there are rules and on reading the rules I came to the conclusion that following them had an equal effect on creativity as strait jackets do on swimmers.

 

[Fishbowl Helmet]

Unless you know everything there is to know about the craft and art of writing, many a How To book will be helpful. Being a snot about avoiding reading these added years to my progress as well.

Write what you know. It's not quite right. We all know human emotions, so write about those. In space or in a medieval forest, people are people. Hell, even aliens and robots are people.

 

[Kissmequick]

Rules, I've heard of rules and even come across sites/people who insist there are rules and on reading the rules I came to the conclusion that following them had an equal effect on creativity as strait jackets do on swimmers.

Yes and no

The 'rules' do have a basis - they pertain to things that MAY weaken your writing or MAY be very difficult to do. They are things to keep in mind. You can flaunt them -- but you need to know why they are guidelines first.

 

[Susan Boulton]

Yes and no

The 'rules' do have a basis - they pertain to things that MAY weaken your writing or MAY be very difficult to do. They are things to keep in mind. You can flaunt them -- but you need to know why they are guidelines first.

Agree with this 100%.

When you have put something out for critique, never allow others to bully you into re-writing a story or parts of a story to fit, 'their' idea of what a character is or should be doing.

Never re-write anything right away after a critique. A critique will contain good points, but it might totally mess up your storyline and ideas.Think on each change and remember it is your story.

And when you receive editorial input, give it a couple of days and if you feel you need to fight your corner on a section then don't be afraid to do it.

 

[Hex]

When you have put something out for critique, never allow others to bully you into re-writing a story or parts of a story to fit, 'their' idea of what a character is or should be doing.

This. Sounds unlikely but it's important.

It's damaging to think others always know better than you, just as it's damaging to think you always know best.

I've had a range of dodgy advice and -- crucially -- some excellent advice that I was too inexperienced to understand. I've been very lucky that people on here were patient enough to listen to my squalling and confusion and help me.

 

[alternatesanity]

Astonishing, someone not only read my post further up but passed comment on it. Must say I agree with the response.
Rules are a framework in which we work, they give guidelines that can keep you out of trouble but they are not something to adhere to fanatically. Unfortunately, I have no idea what the rules are, they tend to be understood rather than clearly stated.
In essence I think we tend to operate within this framework of 'rules' or conventions instinctively and push them how we will as our writing skills improve.
I do have a couple of rules I go by, rules of my own devising as a guide to my writing.
Characters must be individuals and believable.
Everything in the story must be plausible, even if it is an impossibility or highly unlikely (thus I will never write anything on werewolves, vampires or zombies, well, maybe zombies, there seems to be more of them around these days).

I've heard of grammar, I think its somewhere in France.

I've been told that commas should not be applied by shotgun. I'm worried that this may be good advice.

 

[Juliana]

The only real rules are 'If it works, it works, so do it', and 'Don't bore the reader'.

Love this!

Obviously you have to know the guidelines to good writing in the first place, as KMQ herself points out, along with lots of other people on this thread. But I'm usually very good at sifting through things and picking out the advice that works for me.

One bit of "dodgy" advice that comes to mind: you keep hearing about how you need to write every day, even if its just a few words. Which is very daunting, as not everyone has either the time or inclination for that. I read a great blog post by Anne Lyle, basically throwing that bit of advice out of the window...