Chuck Wendig, author of the brilliant apocalyptic novels Wanderers and Wayward, has mixed feelings about writing advice. On the one hand, he’s already written books on writing entitled, The Kick-Ass Writer and Damn Fine Story. He shares his opinions freely on his blog, Terrible Minds. In this book, he equivocates.

Are there really any rules when it comes to writing? Or at least, any rules without exceptions? Probably not.

[A]gain and again I attempt to remind you through this book that writing advice is useful, yes, but it is never, ever meant to be gospel. (223)

The burden of Gentle Writing Advice is the call to be kind to yourself. Don’t hold your writing practice up to other people’s rules. You do you and write what you want, publishers be damned.

I should mention that Wendig’s book is laced with profanity all used in the service of humour. And he is a very funny man, using footnotes for maximum comedic effect. If you want to laugh as you reflect on your writing practice, Wendig has you covered.

Wendig, Chuck. Gentle Writing Advice. Writer’s Digest Books, 2023.