Susan, very true. You DON'T need a degree to be a writer. You need to practice your craft and know the basic rules of sentence structure.

It's not about telling people to only write what they know right now so much as finding what interests you and take the time to get to know the subject matter well enough to specialize. Some specialize not in subject matter, but in format (writing magazine features, writing press releases, writing white papers, etc.). Either way, it's about taking what you know and learning how to apply it to worthwhile gig opportunities. That's just the way I look at it at least.

I've been looking for a tag line for my imminent website update & new business cards, & I think I've just found the perfect one.

Hugh C. McBride: Reliable & Moderately Talented Since 1967

PS: Yeah, I kind figured there was a house involved in yer cornfield situation — but my initial misreading provided a much-needed smile, so I decided to go with it 🙂

The "talent trumps all" one is so bogus. I remember a freelancer our magazine worked with who was double-dipped in talent. But he was impossible. He insulted clients, turned things in late, and was a royal pain in the arse. Give me reliable and moderately talented any day!

Now, onto your question. Here are three sets of "words of wisdom" that have not served me very well over the years:

* Don't rock the boat
(Sometimes the boat needs a good rockin' — I'm not one to challenge every decision that comes down the pike, but a philosophy of silent submission can create as many problems as it endeavors to avoid.)

* Talent trumps all
(Work hard, market, revise, re-plan, re-focus, work harder, market more, plug away, keep plugging away, market some more, work smarter — do all this, sprinkle some talent on top, & *then* you're moving in the right direction.)

* Now is not the time
(There is always a reason why now is not the time — but following that logic, now will *never* be the time. Acknowledge the challenges, prepare for setbacks, plot an intelligent course, then work like crazy to get there. Suddenly, now may be just the time after all.)

Finally, I *love* B's admonition to run from "Never" and "Always" like they're chainsaw-wielding maniacs. Absolutism is rarely the answer (and yes, I reallyreallyreally wanted to write that "Absolutism is never the answer.")

Devon, from your lips to Congress's ears.

Joseph, the "Show, Don't Tell" one doesn't bother me so much, but maybe it should read "Don't give us 'He was mad and wearing a red shirt', but 'The blood rushed to his face, matching the blood-red of his shirt.'"

Good one, Katharine! It's the only exception (besides family).

See? Kim, you've proven the point. Go for it – what's the worst that could happen?

Lillie, SUPER advice! Know what you write – I love it!

Paula, totally agree. If you've done your homework, the queries would all be different. I don't buy the "don't send simultaneous submissions" anymore because editors just don't bother to respond. Etiquette has to change on our side too in order to compensate that. Otherwise, we'd be sitting on ideas for months.

Another wrong way: Never send out simultaneous submissions.

Right way: Send as many submissions on the same topic out as you like, just (like Lori's third Right Way says) tailor each query to a specific market. Even if you're pitching two women's weeklies with identical audiences, you can tweak the pitches to fit with each magazine's preferred format.

I say if you don't write what you know, know what you write. Just be sure you learn what you need to know about the subject of your writing and don't try to bluff your way through.