Well, I am certain that some of the advice that I have given has not been great for each and every one of you. Writing is, at its core, a creative process in which we each need to find what works for us, yet be willing to try new methods and ideas.
However, I do think there some pieces of advice that are really just not good. For instance, I recently read an article on academic writing in which the author suggests that we should not send out an article until it has been read by at least ten people.
There are several problems with this feedback. First, ten different people are going to provide t en different types of feedback- how in the world is someone ever going to reconcile all of those disparate ideas?!
Second, at some point, this is what the review process if for! Do a good job, get some feedback, and get it out there!
Lastly, can you imagine the amount of times it would take to actually contend with that much coordination and communication? I think I would never have published anything had I learned, and felt the need to follow, this piece of advice earlier in my career.
So, the point is, be open, but be critical of what you learn about writing. Even (or perhaps especially) from me!
No comments:
Post a Comment