From Edie: Bad writing advice can quietly sabotage your growth, platform, and publishing goals. Discover common writing lies—and the truth Christian writers need to build excellence, confidence, and a ministry-focused career.
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Bad Writing Advice Writers Should Ignore (Lies vs Truth for Christian Writers)
by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Writers look and listen for writing advice, especially from those who are successful. We want five-star reviews and bestselling status. Our goal is to discern any writing, publishing, or marketing and promotion recommendations that doesn’t work for us.
The following list of well-intended advice might not fit your career. None of us want to sabotage our writing, and the items below have the capacity to destroy our publishing hopes and dreams.
Pay attention to L (lies) and T (truth).
L. Never consult God about what He purposes for you and your writing. You either have the gift, or you don’t. Instead of praying, spend time studying the craft.
T. Writers plan, study, and prepare by seeking out the best means to move our careers forward, but God chooses the level of success. Writing is a ministry.
L. Don’t waste time editing and revising a first draft. It will never be any better. Submit it.
T. Writers are often blind to their errors and typos. Various passes through a manuscript reveal ways to raise the excellence. Text to voice applications are a huge help.
L. If you have the gift of writing, an editor is a waste of money. They change things that challenge the writer’s voice.
T. A professional editor not only suggests ways to improve the strength and clarity of a manuscript but also points out mistakes. A solid editor also praises the writer’s strengths.
L. Follow all the writing rules, or you will never be published.
T. Always learn the writing rules and guidelines. The Chicago Manual of Style is the writer’s source unless a publisher has its own guidelines. BUT once a writer understands the craft, grammar, and structure, those rules can be bent to suit the fiction or nonfiction piece. Steven James writes, “Story trumps structure.”
L. Backstory isn’t needed. Just write what’s in your mind about the character.
T. Whoa, that bit of advice is so wrong. I want to tug on my boxing gloves. Backstory provides a rich history of life experiences providing the why of thoughts and behavior, strengths and flaws, wants and needs, dreams and goals, fears and confidence, and so much more for the writer to create a three-dimensional character who comes alive to the reader.
L. Forget about acquiring an agent; they take your money and do nothing.
T. A professional agent earns their commission and often negotiates for a better contract than the writer can do alone. A good agent understands the value of career counseling, guidance, and relationships.
L. Publishers ignore your platform. Not important.
T. Today’s readers are on social media. They read online reviews, search information about the writer, and share their thoughts. A writer who fails to actively participate in social media and communicate with readers and potential readers in a sincere relationship often limits book sales. Social media is a ministry.
L. Traditional publishers do everything. The writer is free to move on to another project after turning in the manuscript.
T. Today’s writers pursue relationships, promotional, and marketing venues that show the writer cares about others, their book, and the passion behind the piece. This is true whether a writer is traditionally or self-published. We were given a talent to share.
L. Poor sales? Just post more on social media about your book.
T. Readers respect a writer because of engagement. It’s not about inundating others with post after post but the quality of the content.
Writer, I could triple this list, but the point is when we receive advice and critiques, weigh what is being said. Not all suggestions are good ones.
What poor writing advice have you received?
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She is the former director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson. Connect here: DIANNMILLS.COM
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