Propaganda I'm Not Falling For (As a Writer)

Being a writer is hard. It’s even harder when you’re constantly met with criticism, “hot takes,” and conflicting ideas of what a writer is. One of the downsides to social media being such a prevalent tool for writers to promote their work and connect with other writers is that you’re constantly seeing what to do or what not to do - solely based on people’s personal opinions.

I’ve been sharing my writing online for just over seven years. I majored in creative writing, self-published a poetry collection, and have had my work published in various literary journals. I’m no expert, but I’ve seen the discourse between writers online: do this, don’t do that, never say this, always achieve this. It’s a lot to keep up with, and everyone has an opinion.

Am I an expert? Not at all. However, with the experience I do have, there are a few myths about being a successful/good/[insert adjective here] writer that I’d like to debunk.

You have to write every day.

Anyone who says this needs to immediately share their tips for gaining unlimited time!

Writing isn’t just a hobby, but for many writers, it doesn’t pay the bills. Most of us have full-time jobs that don’t involve writing, so most of the day is taken up by work. Then there’s chores, cooking, appointments. You have to make time for family and friends—and, maybe most importantly, you have to make time for yourself.

Write when you can, but don’t forget about the rest of your life, too. It deserves just as much priority as your writing.

You can’t write in more than one genre.

This is one of my biggest pet peeves about the writing community. There are benefits to only writing one genre. It allows you to find your niche, making it easier to promote your work and find readers. You’ll also likely become an expert at your craft—if all you write is romance, for example, then you’re going to know more about different tropes and writing styles used in romance books. Some people just like to write in the same genre!

However, if you enjoy writing different genres, there’s nothing wrong with that. Write what you want to write and publish it! I write poetry, creative nonfiction, short fiction, and articles/guides like this. I lean more towards poetry, which is about 70% of what I write, but I enjoy writing other things. Around Halloween, I like to write short horror; I also usually write a reflective creative nonfiction piece once or twice a year. It keeps things interesting.

Writing is all about creating, so don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot create.

You should only work on one project at a time.

There’s no “correct” way to write, and everyone is different. Some writers may need to focus on one project at a time, because working on multiple projects at once might be too overwhelming, or lead to nothing getting done. Other writers can work on several projects at a time—I’m one of those writers.

For example: at the time of writing this, I am editing the first draft of a manuscript, outlining a second manuscript, researching for a third manuscript, and writing several single pieces to both submit to literary magazines and publish online. If I have a deadline (i.e. a lit mag submission deadline), I’ll prioritize that project. Otherwise, I focus on whatever is calling my attention at the time. Today is writing for Substack, but tomorrow will be either research or outlining because I’m busier. The day after that will be editing my manuscript.

If you can handle working on multiple projects at once, do it! You can use your time writing however you choose to.

You need an MFA (or even just a Bachelors degree) to write professionally.

I’ll be honest here—I think studying craft is invaluable. Learning techniques for writing and editing really does help elevate your work, and I think anyone who is serious about writing should put in the effort to learn as much as they can. Anyone can write, but not everyone can write well. Taking the time to learn about different poetic devices, ways to write a character outline, or tips for revision can really help take your work to the next level. However, you do not need a degree in order to write professionally and be published.I graduated with a Bachelors degree in creative writing from Western Washington University. I also have experience that would look really good on a resumé: I’ve had poetry published in various literary magazines, both online and in print; I’ve self-published poetry and short fiction online using different platforms; I’ve been invited to read my poems at readings; I self-published a micro-chapbook of poems; I was editor-in-chief of a lit mag for about a year.

How do I pay my bills? I work in tech.

You really don’t need a degree in order to write and publish your work. Again, I do think it’s important to learn different techniques and study the craft, but you can do that on your own. You can read books, watch YouTube videos, subscribe to Substack or Medium sites that share tips. If you have the time and the money to do so, you can enroll in classes or seminars. Local bookstores may host free workshops or informational events for writers. There are so many ways to learn about writing without getting a degree, so don’t worry that getting a degree is the key to success.

You aren’t a “real” writer if you self-publish.

Do you write? If you answered, “yes,” then you’re a writer.

It’s okay to use GenAI in your writing because it’s “just a tool.”

Wrong—and I will immediately block/unfollow/unsubscribe from anyone who uses Generative AI to write.

First, let’s consider the environmental impact of using AI. AI servers produce electronic waste that often contain hazardous materials (like mercury and lead), and consume large quantities of water to cool electrical components. The amount of energy that AI uses is astronomical—the International Energy Agency found that a single request to ChatGPT uses ten times the electricity of a Google Search. If you don’t believe me, a quick Google search of “AI environmental impact” pulls up tons of articles about just how dangerous AI use is (like this article from the UN Environment Programme, or this study focusing on the water footprint of AI models).

Using GenAI isn’t just harmful to the environment, but to creatives. GenAI is a specific type of artificial intelligence that generates content (i.e. writing, music, art) based on the content it was trained on. In order to train GenAI engines to create that type of content, it was fed real art—books, poems, songs, paintings, graphics—by real artists.

When you use GenAI, you aren’t creating anything. You’re feeding a prompt to artificial intelligence, which then uses stolen work to churn out a story or a poem. I’ve seen people argue that it takes skill to learn how to use AI effectively, so that’s why they should be allowed to use GenAI in creative spaces; even if there is skill involved, this isn’t comparable to the actual skill it takes to create art. Plus, how hard is it really to type in a prompt? I mean, come on!

Creating art is a labor of love. Whether you’re a writer, painter, sculptor, illustrator, or graphic designer, you put time and effort into what you’re creating. You learn techniques, practice the craft, and work to create the best piece of art possible. Maybe you read books or took classes on the medium. Maybe you’re self-taught. It doesn’t matter. When someone reads your book or buys your painting, they’re getting a piece of your skill and talent.

It’s insulting to real artists, who may have even had their art stolen to train GenAI, to promote the use of GenAI in creative spaces. If you want to be an artist, learn how to actually create the art on your own, rather than piggybacking off of those who did take the time to learn and improve their skill.

Poetry is dead / No one reads poetry.

As a poet, I can confirm that this is false. I write and read poetry, and I know many people who also write and read poetry. My whole Instagram feed is poetry! If you’re a poet and you’re reading this, please don’t think of poetry as a dying art. It’s very much alive.

You shouldn’t self-publish if you can’t afford to hire an editor.

Self-publishing requires a large amount of resources. First, you have to take the time to write a book. It takes more time to learn how to self-publish and compare different publishing methods before you even start the process itself. It then takes more time—and money—to actually go through the self-publishing process: you need to buy an ISBN and a barcode, format your book, upload your book to whatever platform you’re using, order author copies (if publishing a physical book), send out ARC books, create materials to promote your book…

It’s a lot of work to self-publish. Adding on the cost of an editor, especially for a larger book, isn’t feasible for everyone.

However, I’m not saying you should publish without editing your work. If you’re going to self-publish your work and you can’t afford an editor, you should still put effort into making sure you’re publishing a polished final draft. You can reach out to other writers and offer a free copy of your book in exchange for their help. You can reach out to friends to get feedback on your writing. You can even self-edit—though you should be careful, as one of the benefits of having an editor is that they catch things you miss.

Do you write? If you answered, “yes,” then you’re a writer.

If I were to sum up everything written above into a concise statement on writing, it would be this: everyone has different experience and habits when it comes to their writing, and as long as you are actually creating, there is no “correct” way to write.

Write as much or as little as you want. Explore different genres, create beautiful things on your own, learn whatever you can, and don’t let anyone else tell you that you’re doing it “wrong.” We all have our own journeys as writers, and you need to follow your own story.

Just keep writing.