Bad Writing Advice?

[pls]

http://www.flavorwire.com/364797/bad-wr ... us-authors

Discuss!

[DrG2]

I think the author of that narrowed the intent of the original author to silliness.

[Elibet1]

Seems to me some of those Writers were being facetious. Don't have children! Don't read! Don't write long sentences, and write when you are drunk. Really? Let me add my writing advice: Weigh all writing advice on the scales of common-sense.

[rosebud]

Well, I don't understand why the author doesn't want us to take his advice either. I almost stopped reading there, but I enjoy reading famous writer's quotes. Can't wait until I'm a famous writer, then someone can counter my quotes as well.

[shadowwalker]

Yeah, nobody's advice is always golden. Some writers tend to get an overblown ego. In the end, the process isn't nearly as important as the result (if it were, everyone would use the same process). We're not manufacturing widgets, after all.

[James A. Ritchie]

Now I know why I've never heard of Emily Temple. Snide remarks to what is almost universally wonderful advice, most of which she doesn't seem smart enough to understand, do not make a writer good.

[James A. Ritchie]

Seems to me some of those Writers were being facetious. Don't have children! Don't read! Don't write long sentences, and write when you are drunk. Really? Let me add my writing advice: Weigh all writing advice on the scales of common-sense.

No, they were serious, and if taken the right way, it's all good advice. And he didn't say don't read, he said stop reading if you've already been reading for a lifetime. That is silly and unnecessary, but the way he meant it is not. No advice is written in stone, except for Bradbury's, but when taken the way it's intended, all this advice is golden.

[updog]

I think the author of that narrowed the intent of the original author to silliness.

Yeah, definitely.

Harper Lee only had one novel published, but that certainly wasn't the only thing she ever wrote!
Avoid "detailed" descriptions doesn't mean never describe anything.
Leonard said: "WHEN a small word WILL DO."
And even the write drunk advice makes sense if you think of 'drunk' writing as just 'uninhibited' writing. Worrying about what grandma or your high school English teacher will think of your story is a sure way to stifle your creativity.

I could go on...
All advice needs to be taken in context and applied with common sense. Is it really so hard to figure that out?

[wdarcy]

All advice needs to be taken in context and applied with common sense. Is it really so hard to figure that out?

Apparently it is, at least for some . . .

--Warren

[nhope]

I'm going to assume that these responses are from them being asked the question "what advice would you give to aspiring writers?" for the 30,000,000,000 time. And Richard Ford's comment on not having kids? He probably had a bundle of them and made that statement on a day when he wondered what the heck was he thinking.

Yes, we should take it if it appeals to us but remember we don't know the context so we should give them a little leeway.

Let's play Rosebud's game! What would your line be?