On the subject of writing gurus

[scarlettina]

On social media, a friend has been pointing to many of the essays by one particular writing and publishing guru. He points to this guru's work exclusively and is apparently following said guru's advice pretty much to the letter. To each his own, surely. But my position on gurus is as follows

Comments

[kradical]

Yes. This.

If you ask any ten writers about the process, you get twelve different answers. And the answer to virtually every question about writing and/or publising is "it depends." There is no "one true way" -- hell, I've used thirty or forty "ways" since I started.....

Re: Guru's

[scarlettina]

You're very welcome. :-)

[aberwyn]

"What works for you" is the key. I'd never recommend the way I write to anyone, but I do know how to write one of -my- books. :-)

Good post!

[scarlettina]

Exactly, Kit. In this particular instance, the friend in question is following the guru's advice with regard to self-publishing and the need for an agent. My positions on these subjects differ from the guru's, but I'm not here to be a guru so I won't get into it. Point is, what works for some doesn't work for others, and anyone who tells you that there's only One True Way is full of it.

...not to mention...

[the_same_andrew]

...that we're never sure if one's artwork is commercially successful because of one's approach to the art, or in spite of said approach.

[singingnettle]

YES.