Sunday, August 14, 2011

yes

Who you listen to makes a difference.
How to figure out who to listen to is tricky.
Start here.

The rule of thumb here is: give the most weight to the advice given by people actually DOING the work you want to do or making the decisions about your work.

In other words:
for queries listen to agents.
for writing listen to editors.
for job applications listen to the people doing the hiring.


10 comments:

lynneconnolly said...

But will they tell the truth?

Jennifer Welborn said...

Lynne,

A good way to find out if your source of information is trustworthy is to check them out on Preditors (that's how they spell it) & Editors: http://pred-ed.com/.

Best,

Jennifer

laughingwolf said...

amen!

inklings Anon said...

who do you listen to when people are saying "you shouldn't be writing about that, it could effect your career". I've gotten some pretty good reviews (albeit from people close to me) but they say "should a person studying to be a pastor write about this?" Last time I checked the Bible is full of good drama from killers to adulterers but it all pointed towards a redemptive ending. Do I listen to writers and readers, ie peers in the literary business, or to my seminary peers? I almost gave up writing this week.

ryan field said...

@Caleb "I almost gave up writing this week."

If you're passionate about what you're writing and you love doing it, sometimes you have to listen to that little voice inside you and dismiss all the others.

Mike said...

is anyone hiring?? lol

AimeeLSalter said...

Caleb - Listen to God. If He doesn't care and your conscience is clear, it doesn't matter what other people think.

Debra Lazar Schubert said...

If you're a writer, write. It doesn't matter what anyone else says. The oldest advice is often the best: follow your heart, trust yourself, do what your soul is calling you to do. Live the life you are meant to live. (Not the one defined by "others.")

Simon Hay said...

It's rare for professionals online to really tell it like it is. We're too precious with everyone's feelings and trying to hard to be polished, unbiased and marketable. We're turning into politicians. As far as finding the right people to listen to, be observant and patient. What's happened to good old fashioned common sense?

Unknown said...

So, now I wonder, is there ever a time to listen to the author?