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Abstract

plethora of conflicting writing advice:<ul><li>Write <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-build-your-writing-muscles-7dbaa706fc34">every day </a>because it’s a muscle, but don’t write every day so you have some <a href="https://readmedium.com/creative-downtime-6e14b5c20d48">creative downtime</a></li><li>Target <a href="https://readmedium.com/if-you-are-looking-to-write-for-publications-start-here-22bd6305298b">publications</a> to leverage their networks, but don’t bother fussing about the big <a href="https://readmedium.com/there-is-really-no-need-to-submit-to-larger-publications-c188e7b1a15c">publications</a></li><li>Write from your <a href="https://readmedium.com/write-with-your-heart-not-your-wants-5e1b5377f47f">heart</a>, but write about things people want to <a href="https://readmedium.com/what-is-writing-to-trend-ab917bf1e885">read about</a></li><li>Share your <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-write-for-the-ascent-on-medium-cddb899ef924">personal experiences</a>, but don’t write about <a href="https://readmedium.com/stop-writing-about-yourself-108297a13fb9">yourself</a></li><li>Write about a <a href="https://readmedium.com/medium-writing-tips-7-lessons-from-my-first-year-writing-on-medium-bbfff4d686af">wide range of topics</a>, but find your <a href="https://www.thewriterfinder.com/post/niche-writer">niche</a> to write about</li><li>Use your <a href="https://writingcooperative.com/the-right-way-to-use-medium-stats-6fc273c4b707">stats</a> to improve, but don’t <a href="https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/why-you-must-stop-obsessing-over-your-stats-51d81cee0076">obsess</a> about your stats</li><li>Keep your par

Options

agraphs short and easily <a href="https://medium.com/the-mission/after-10-000-data-points-we-figured-out-how-to-">digestible</a>, but don’t abuse<a href="https://writingcooperative.com/the-writing-cooperative-submission-requirements-364b0fea36cd"> one to two sentence</a> paragraphs</li><li>Experiment and find your <a href="https://forge.medium.com/how-to-find-your-voice-as-a-writer-43b283b67a0c">voice</a>, but build your <a href="https://medium.com/s/how-to-build-a-brand/lets-talk-about-how-to-build-a-brand-543b2dfbc4f5">brand</a></li><li>Build your <a href="https://readmedium.com/learning-to-be-confident-as-a-writer-964f31d5f313">self-confidence</a>, but find those editors willing to <a href="https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-respond-to-criticism-like-a-pro-a-beginners-guide-to-working-with-an-editor-a416f343daf7">tear your work apart</a></li></ul>Well, if I try to follow every piece of writing advice out there, I’ll quickly be topsy-curvy with no clue which way is up, down, left, or right.Most folks are sharing advice out of the goodness of their heart. But they’re also sharing based on their own experiences, and their experiences may not be the same as yours.Wherever we are in our writing journeys — a fledging who’s struggling to adapt to their new persona as a writer or an experienced master of words who is offering mentoring — there is not one single path to success. There isn’t even a single destination called “success” that we’re all headed towards.My own piece of advice to add to this? Don’t take every piece of advice too seriously.</article></body>

WRITING

A Compilation of Common and Oftentimes Conflicting Writing Advice

Photo by D A V I D S O N L U N A on Unsplash

As someone new to the world of writing, I of course want to leverage the experiences and successes of those before. Why learn from my own mistakes when I can learn from others’ mistakes?

After reading approximately 43 articles on how to improve your writing (thank you Medium for your algorithms), I have definitely noticed some reoccurring themes. But I’ve also seen a fair bit of conflicting advice.

I’ve compiled them here below, both as a one-stop-shop for other writers, but also for a light-hearted chuckle.

The re-occurring writing advice:

Write a clear and exciting headline
Be original, insightful, and unique
Ensure your work is error-free
Adhere to publication guidelines
Use a captivating image

Let’s be honest. This is pretty boring. Nothing you haven’t read before and nothing that’s earth-shattering.

But sometimes, the simple basics are the hardest things to do spectacularly.

What’s more interesting is the plethora of conflicting writing advice:

Write every day because it’s a muscle, but don’t write every day so you have some creative downtime
Target publications to leverage their networks, but don’t bother fussing about the big publications
Write from your heart, but write about things people want to read about
Share your personal experiences, but don’t write about yourself
Write about a wide range of topics, but find your niche to write about
Use your stats to improve, but don’t obsess about your stats
Keep your paragraphs short and easily digestible, but don’t abuse one to two sentence paragraphs
Experiment and find your voice, but build your brand
Build your self-confidence, but find those editors willing to tear your work apart

Well, if I try to follow every piece of writing advice out there, I’ll quickly be topsy-curvy with no clue which way is up, down, left, or right.

Most folks are sharing advice out of the goodness of their heart. But they’re also sharing based on their own experiences, and their experiences may not be the same as yours.

Wherever we are in our writing journeys — a fledging who’s struggling to adapt to their new persona as a writer or an experienced master of words who is offering mentoring — there is not one single path to success. There isn’t even a single destination called “success” that we’re all headed towards.

My own piece of advice to add to this? Don’t take every piece of advice too seriously.