Creating in Flow

Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. is a social psychologist, writer, and writing consultant. Among her books are Writing in Flow: Keys to Enhanced Creativity. See full bio

June 27, 2009, Anxiety

Comments on "11 Types of Bad Writing Advice"

11 Types of Bad Writing Advice

By Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. on June 27, 2009 in Creating in Flow

All advice is suspect. I'm not suggesting you break all the so-called rules of creativity you've collected. Only that every tip can be counteracted with its opposite. And some advice is just plain bad for you. Here, then, are 11 types of advice to avoid: Read More

Bad Writing Advice

Submitted by Liz Ryan on July 6, 2009 - 8:51am.

Thanks for posting this, Susan. I have come across them all. Indeed, this type of advice could equally apply to many roles, and is often used to hold people back.

Be skeptical, not gullible

Submitted by Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. on July 6, 2009 - 9:01am.

You're right: you could think in these terms about almost all kinds of advice regarding any subject.

Hear hear!

Submitted by Naomi on July 6, 2009 - 4:07pm.

This article makes some very good points. I spent many years hemmed in by writing rules before I realised a key point - if the rules were repressing me so badly that I couldn't write, I might as well chuck them and at least write something.

Here's to selectively stomping on the rules... :-D

Selectivity

Submitted by Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. on July 6, 2009 - 4:11pm.

Absolutely, Naomi, let's stomp away (selectively).

Thanks

Submitted by Locust on November 5, 2009 - 8:48pm.

Great advice. Glad to see someone questioning the rigid- and sometimes, harmful- advice that is going around out there! Many aspiring writers buy into all of these things fully and pass the advice on to others. It's time to break the cycle. I am thankful that people are offering advice, but we need to question for ourselves if it's good advice, and more specifically, we need to be asking ourselves, "Is it good advice for ME?"

Prime directive: know thyself

Submitted by Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. on November 5, 2009 - 8:52pm.

If only we all knew much more about how we operate, then it wouldn't be such a problem to hear personally useless or bad advice, but until we do figure ourselves out, let the hearer of advice beware.