One of the best things about being a speculative fiction writer, as opposed to a writer in some other genres, is that most of the established folks welcome new writers with open arms. They are helpful and want to pay forward.
I’ve recently been involved in a discussion where one younger writer hangs on every word a more experienced writer says, and it isn’t the first time I have seen this.  While it’s great treasure to be on the receiving end of writing lessons and writing career advice from those ahead of us, it’s also a big mistake to follow any advice blindly.
The details of the discussion in question really aren’t important. What is important is what to do with that kind of advice. It’s the same as anything in life, really. You take what works for you and discard the rest. You give serious consideration to what many people say in common. That’s one reason I read so many different writing books before I started publishing regularly.
Particularly when reading or listening to career advice from established pros, it pays to consider that things have changed since they broke in. Things change every year. Editors change, what the public is buying changes, and technology changes. In today’s world, a writer is faced with a publishing industry in flux. With ebooks becoming a contentious issue, the path to success may not lie through traditional publishers at all for some people. For others, it may be entirely with traditional publishers, for others still, it may be a combination of both.
Bottom line is, don’t end up with a case of tunnel vision just because you greatly respect the person delivering the advice. Every person who has taught me something about writing has also been wrong about something. It’s the nature of the business. Even if course A worked for writer B, it doesn’t mean that course A will work for everyone else. Stand your ground and be an individual. Trust your instincts. Only you can find what works for you.
