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« People want a clear story, to be taken along. »

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〖  Bad writing advice  〗

Bad writing advice

Bad writing advice

Writing advice is everywhere. Some of it might even be good! But we were interested in the bad. We asked seven writers for the worst writing advice they were ever given. Bad in general, or bad for them in particular. Bad advice about writing discipline, bad advice about self-expression and bad advice about the audience. For the authors we spoke to, the worst bad advice was given by established writers & rich people, while the best bad advice backfired into good advice.

☞ Mansoura Ez-Eldin: « You should always think of your readers while writing. »

 Ralph Tharayil: « Never listen to people’s opinions on your ongoing work »

☞ Ido Nahari: « Just tell her how you feel, she’ll understand. »

 Rebecca Rukeyser: « Humanity lies only in the details. »

 Sytske van Koeveringe: « People want a clear story, to be taken along. »

 Khaled Alesmael: « Write only in Swedish.»

 Samar Yazbek: « Let yourself be carried away by the madness of inspiration.»

We asked seven writers for the worst writing advice they were ever given. Bad in general, or bad for them in particular. Bad advice about writing discipline, bad advice about self-expression and bad advice about the audience.


This advice came from an established writer, who read my manuscript-in-progress and claimed it couldn’t be a novel, because it « jumps around too much ». Utter nonsense. I know that I, as well as my work, are jumpy. I also know that I always arrive at the core of the story eventually, and that this jumpiness suits my work.

Receiving criticism, feedback, comments – whether you’ve explicitly asked for it or not – is the whole essence of (at least my own) artistry. Sometimes I take it on board, because it will elevate the work to a higher level. But sometimes, when the advice goes against my intentions, I will resist it. Because I resist it, a new perspective actually emerges.


Sytske van Koeveringe is a writer, painter, and screen printer. Her Vrouw doet dit, dat was published in 2021 and her latest novel, Meeloper, is set to be released in January 2024.

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