Comments on: Good Advice about Bad Advice

By: bosley

bosley — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:09:05 +0000

@luke re: notebook, Totally — I’d never advocate *not* doing something that worked. Only that if it doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to not do it.

By: Wm. Luke Everest

Wm. Luke Everest — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:42:16 +0000

I’ve always felt advice is like red meat. It helps you grow strong (only if you exercise!) and is usually best taken with a pinch of salt.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I must submit, however, that if a writer benefits from having a notebook in his/her pocket, he/she should carry one. A big part of writing is figuring out what works for you CREATIVELY. A really great writer named Steve Erickson, whom I was fortunate enough to learn from, told me that his most important piece of advice was, “Never have an adversarial relationship with your creativity.” But again, if you find such a relationship to be creatively helpful, you should do it.

The trick with advice, surely, is to figure out what works for you. In light of that, here’s mine: consider any advice you hear without the hindrance of egoism, and compile enough experience and/or advice that you can decide for yourself.

By: dj barber

dj barber — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:47:17 +0000

I think Burns, there, got it right about the bottle v. demons. I’ve never gut-wrenched over writing–sometimes reading, but, umm, never writing.

–dj

By: bosley

bosley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:28:12 +0000

Thanks for reading guys.

By: Jonathan Pinnock

Jonathan Pinnock — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:38:12 +0000

Terrific post, Bosley!

By: Kathi430

Kathi430 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:39:17 +0000

Excellent advice, I’d say. And do listen to Bos – he actually knows of which he speaks.

By: Alexander Burns

Alexander Burns — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:29:13 +0000

Excellent article. I especially like the bit about “writing is gut-wrenching and soul searching.” I can’t stand that pretentious nonsense. I prefer to deal with my demons the old-fashioned way, with a bottle!

By: bosley

bosley — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:55:19 +0000

Thanks Gay!

By: Gay Degani

Gay Degani — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:37:04 +0000

Welcome back Bosley! I hope your piece will open up a dialogue about “advice” and all the different takes on how to deal with advice!! On Wednesday Rob is going to deal with “rules.”

These are genuine issues, especially for new writers, the perpetual question of how to deal with what “they say.”