Follow the Rules - Probably the Worst Writing Advice I've Gotten

In the Marketing for Romance Writers 52-week Blog Challenge, week eight is about the worst writing advice I've gotten. I started to think about all the submission rules romance writers got back when I first started writing in that genre. I followed them, others did not and met with great success.

We were told to never do multiple submissions to any of the houses. I knew people who did and were never harmed by it. Those writers said they didn't have time to wait around to get published.

Some writers didn't care that they had not finished a manuscript when they submitted their proposal. They didn't follow the rules of having it complete. Those writers often won.

Show, don't tell, the rule says. Some well-known authors tell a lot in their books and do just fine. Readers love them. They often hit the top of the best-seller lists.

Maybe the many rules are right for some people. Maybe they are good for special occasions. Maybe, but...

"On the Train, Brightly" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Here is my rule. Follow the rules that intuitively feel right for you. Use common sense. If age or illness places you near the end of your writing career, break all the rules in an effort to get your work out there. Do what works. Writing is hard. Go for the gold.
Create your own train and ride it to the top.