Sunday, May 27, 2018

Whisper Down the Lane: The Morphing of Writing Advice

You know whisper down the lane--it is the camp game that is also used in various kinds of training groups to illustrate how information changes as it is shared from person to person.

This phenomenon greatly impacts the quality of writing advice that young scholars receive. From suggestions about the benefits of and skills for facilitating daily writing, exploring how to choose a journal, or how to deal with "writers block"-- so much of what is passed from scholar to scholar now has been stripped of its initial intent, the actual message, and often the theory or research behind such advice.

I have frequently posted on why you need to  assess the advice you receive. Don't accept writing and publishing advice at face value. Try to understand the theory/logic behind it. Attempt to understand the implications of the advice, and if it really has worked for others, and why. Then, try it, over time, try to make it work for you.



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