The worst advice to listen to?

We all look for new ways to hone our skills.  Googling this or that, light (or heavy) reading, asking advice in Facebook groups or Reddit etc.  What about when you get some bad advice?

 Here is a list of advice that I've been given over the last few months about writing that's proven itself to be, well, just wrong.

 1st piece of Bad Advice: 
You don't need an editor as long as you have spell check and Grammarly.  Just read it, if it makes sense to you it should be fine.
 
My Intuition:
NO!  Someone besides yourself MUST read your work!  Period.  Don't short change yourself in the end.  You are not a perfect reader or writer, you make mistakes.  Plus 4 eyes (at least) are better than just two.  Think about this carefully!  You've been writing for months, then reading and re-reading the same material for MONTHS...  Of course it will make sense TO YOU.  Get some help from someone... anyone. (Preferably someone without deep feelings for you that may lie and say your work is "so great" because they don't want to "hurt your feelings") 
 
2nd piece of Bad Advice: 
You can't publish yourself and make any money.  You need a publisher.  If you can't get a publisher you're no good and should consider another profession.

My Intuition:
 There are so many self published writers out there that are doing so very well!  In fact, a few of my favorites are my favorites because they found fame through self publishing.  It wasn't until after they self published that publishing houses picked them up.  Believing this falsehood will get you a whole lot of nothing.  You can submit your work to publishing houses while your book is published on Amazon, Smashwords, Scribd, Kobo, Nook, iBooks and a host of other places.

Just look at some of these amazing writers, who were turned down by every publisher they ever come in contact with.  They took matters into their own hands and BOOM, are self published legends right now!

Jean Joachim - International Self Publishing Included
Diamond Johnson - this child is killing African American Fiction!  Killing it at 22 years old.  

So when I look at this piece of bad advice, I think of the stories of these self published authors and remember, if they can do it, SO CAN I!  

Hope this little blog post gives you big motivation and inspiration today!

Stay Writing!  
It's Story Time!!!
 
Butta
Aka Myka L Frazier
Aka M.L. Frazier
 
 
 



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