For writers: Does reading "how to write" books make you self-conscious of your own writing?

I think you should take advice from them, I mean it would help you writing become much better. But don't take so much that it starts to effect your writing ability and if your good enough. Kinda like the saying a little goes a long way.

I'm always surprised when I read statements like this. I've seen on agent blogs where they give out those dreaded statistics of how many people they rejected for the month/week/day and how aspiring authors will comment about how it's depressing and demoralizing it is. When I read those stats I tell myself that my manuscript is going to be good enough to be that 1% that gets read by the agent. If you don't have faith in your own work then who will. My writing is perfect write now, and I'm working on my first novel. There's probably a snowballs chance in hell that it'll be published, but I'm writing for the experience, and when I'm finished I'll start on a sequel. If I feel it's good enough to be queried then I'll query. If not, then I'll move on and continue to improve my writing. You just have to have faith that you can put out the type of work that they want.

I'm having fun writing my novel, which is why I'm not worried about whether or not it gets published. I almost cried when I made it to the 50% point of my novel. I'll be happy just completing it, because that's a major feat in itself, especially if its your first novel. I have read writing articles over the Internet and I've bought a writing book or two. The next book I'll buy will be Stephen King's On Writing, because I've heard it's really good. To be honest, I'm taking this very seriously, because I am an aspiring author, so all the advice I've read I've taken it to heart and have incorporated it into my novel, and it has greatly improved it. I haven't done any editing yet, but when I'm finished with the first draft then I'll go back and remove all those adjective and adverbs I know I have and rewrite those sentences. I'll also go through the process of copying a chapter or two from my favorite novels because this will also help with my writing.

But, I'm having too much fun to care about whether or not my novel is good enough right now. I'll edit it to death, but even with the data agents and publishers give regarding manuscripts isn't going to deter me, because I have faith in my writing and I know I can meet whatever demands they're asking. But, that's just me and where my confidence stand.

I madly love writing and have been creatively doing it for almost a year now. I can tell you I have never set eyes on one of those books and never will. There are no rules to writing, no matter what anyone says. it's your story, your creativity...last time I checked there was no rules on imagination. (which in all is directly related to creativity) Now grammar is a different story. It bothers me when grammar is wrong although I know I can do it bad sometimes too hehe. But that's just basic rules of any writing in general. I think, and any respectable and real author would most likely agree, that all writers have different views and opinions and those should be solely based to their own stories...as in how to write. (not meaning if the story/book was good and compelling, that's a different topic.)

Anyways the point is that you should write how you please to. Let your hand guide you and only stop to think once it's finished. Hope that helped in any way and you can write many great novels! [:

I find that this books have some useful tips, but I do not take all of their advice. What works for one writer may not necessarily work for another.

Also, I read a post on B&A the other day where someone said it is important to know what the rules of writing are, so that you can break them. I wholeheartedly agree with their advice.

I certainly don't apply everything I read in these books (well, I say "these books", I've read Stephen King's and a bunch of internet sites). But I do try to be aware of them.

You also have to take note of what they actually say. Why are you cringing at the use of _an_ adverb, when the advice is not to overuse them? I don't think I've ever seen _one_ described as "overuse".

And "was" isn't always passive. "I was running down the road when my shoes split" isn't passive, it's imperfect.

But rules were meant to be broken, my friend. When the rules are broken, style is born.

I have been reading more and more books on characterization, editing, creating plot and setting up scenes. I find the books informative and helpful as well.

As for rules when writing I believe that they are more like guidelines to keep you from going over the deep end when you write. I find it much more enjoyable to write when I am not constantly worried about rules. My characters are able to communicate better with me when I am focused on them and not a book of guidelines.

I tend to stay way from those kinds of books for that reason. I know the basic rules of writing, and I'll get some advice from them, but I won't take every single thing they say to heart. I'll show excerpts of what I'm writing to a critique group, and I'll listen to their suggestions. I'd rather hear suggestions from fellow writers after, not before, I write.

It's good to know about the 'rules'. But it's good to forget about them when writing. Then again to remember then when rewriting the 2nd draft.

Learning the rules is a left brain activity. Writing is a right brain activity. So you can't mix the two. Whe you write, you have to allow yourself freedom to create and you can't do that when you're always stopping to ask yourself if you're following the rules.

On the contrary, it inspires me to write. Try reading "Seize the Story." After reading it, I couldn't wait to start writing.

if anything, I get excited for more knowledge and help for my book=]