Ask an Author: 5 Pieces of Bad Writing Advice I Ignore

 The internet is full of writing advice. Occasionally helpful but often contradictory, this advice can be difficult to navigate, especially as an emerging author. What works for one author may or may not work for another. Writing is an individual journey. 

As a result of my unique journey, here is the writing advice I choose to ignore.

1. Look at the kind of books that are selling in your genre and write that.

Ugh. I hate this advice. Nothing stoppers creativity like being told to be like everyone else. As a dystopian writer in 2023, I am fully aware that the age of dystopia (i.e. the Hunger Games and Divergent era) is long over. Perhaps I would have been better off writing a contemporary YA romance or a fairytale retelling--after all, that is what's lining the shelves at Barnes and Noble. 

But I couldn't.

I didn't have the burning desire to recreate Cinderella or write about a teenager's love triangle. But I did have a burning desire to tell Barin's story and share the creation of his dystopian world. Despite the perceived lack of popularity, I knew this was a story that had to be told. 

And, miracle of miracles, Future House Publishing read my dystopian novel and thought the world needed it too.

2. While querying, set aside your manuscript and work on a new project.

I understand the rationale behind this advice. The querying process often long and disappointing. It makes sense to have something else to work on in light of another rejection or weeks of radio silence. 

But this advice doesn't work for me. At least, it didn't work while I queried The ATLAS Project. I felt that moving on to something else would be abandoning my manuscript. I didn't want to focus my energy elsewhere.

Instead, I revised my story over and over again. I incorporated feedback from agents who declined my work. I polished my work and polished it again. Had I simply moved on to another project, I would have missed out on important revision time. These revisions eventually led to my publishing contract.

3. Have a designated time set aside each day to write.

This is another piece of advice that has solid rationale. It will work for many people, especially those who perform well with a designated schedule. My life is a bit more chaotic. I tried waking up early to join the #5amwritersclub only to discover that my children also wanted to wake up early. (Me stumbling around the house in a half-asleep stupor was enough to rouse them).

With a job and three children, my writing time has to be more flexible. I work asynchronously, so I'll write between commitments and after essential job tasks are complete. The majority of my writing is done after my children's bedtime, but every day is different, especially when my four year-old isn't sleeping well. 

Find the writing schedule that works for you, even if that is no schedule at all. 

4. Self-publishing is easier than traditional publishing. 

Writing is hard. Traditional publishing is hard. Self-publishing is hard. Some authors (like me) find that traditional publishing is the best option. Other authors will choose self-publishing. Both routes to publishing have pros and cons. If you're unsure about the path to take, complete your own unbiased research. Educate yourself and make the best decision for you and your book. 

5. Find your genre and stick to it. 

Okay, okay. I might be the only author on earth who discards this advice. After all, books are sold within genres. Why wouldn't I want to find the place where my book fits? Why wouldn't I want to take advantage of common tropes that are popular within a genre? It's ludicrous to ignore this very basic, very straightforward advice. 

And, to be honest, I received some rejections because I didn't stick to genre. 

The ATLAS Project is told using multiple points of view, including the perspectives of both adult and teenage characters. This deviates from most YA literature, where the story is told strictly through the view of the teenage protagonists. I was worried that a publisher wouldn't allow the adult perspectives, but my publisher liked the mixture of adult and YA characters because it allows them to market the book for both adult and older YA audiences. 

My book deviates in other ways, as well. It is technically dystopian, but it shows the creation of the dystopia over time instead of an established dystopia set in the distant future. As a result, the first two acts of The ATLAS Project read like realistic contemporary fiction. My novel also has science fiction elements, but the futuristic technology is not that much of a stretch--you don't have to be a Star-Trek fan to enjoy my book.

Instead of writing a story that fit neatly within a genre, I took my favorite elements of several genres and created something new within its pages. And I don't regret it. 

All writing advice is subjective (even mine!). Keep the advice that works for you and discard what doesn't. Do what is best for you and your craft, even if it breaks the rules.