Just Because Someone Else Did Doesn't Mean You Should

We've all seen it and heard it. I see it every now and then show up on social media. I see it at conferences. I see it when people are advertising for their up-and-coming workshop. "Do this and it works 100% of the time!" We've probably had critique partners tell us this too! "I did this in my book" or "I saw [X Author] use this in their book. You should too!"

WAIT!!!!

Sure, those techniques may have worked for that person, but like everything in the world, every situation is different. Your story. Your writing career. Your voice dictates what you should do with your writing. 

The problem with so many authors is they simply don't think! Simple word but for so many, it is the hardest thing to do. In today's technology driven society, it is even worse. We have this belief that there will be a single webpage out there that tells us the secret to exactly what we are looking for. 

Wrong!

Let me explain it this way. I have seen English curriculum in junior high, high school and college that have assignments such as "Write a compare and contrast paper" and then, students struggle to find the right topic. This is backwards. When true writers approach an assignment, the topic and thesis drives the structure of the paper. Consider:

• Laertes is a stronger character than Hamlet - Cause and Effect.
• Ophelia dies not because of Hamlet, but because of Laertes and Polonius - Argumentative AND Cause and Effect.

If someone suggest something for your story, it is OK to listen. It is OK to consider it, but THINK! Is this the best approach for you? Maybe you can use a snippet of the idea. Maybe you can use this approach later but right now, use it as a stepping stone to a better solution.

Quit just putting things in your story because someone else told you to do so.l