Be Careful What Advice You Take

Regular readers of this blog will know that we don't often give advice to new authors. There are so many bloggers out there dispensing advice on how you should or shouldn't write. And new writers are eager to gobble up said advice and try to fit what they are working on to those instructions.
   I recently read a blog that was trying to tell new writers how to start their books, or more importantly how NOT to. There are some obvious things to avoid, but some of the advice given in said blog was...well let's say subjective.
   Much of writing is subjective. This blog said don't start with descriptions and gave an example of something that was supposed to be bad and off-putting to the reader. Actually I liked it, I wanted to read more, if I had come across the piece as a sample I would have bought the book. Subjective.
   Many great writers start their books with descriptions of action or places. The key is writing in such a way as to engage your reader. How do you do that? Again, subjective. The best you can do is write what you want to read.
   Know who you are aiming for, not always easy. But someone who likes murder mysteries won't want to read pages of literary ramblings that fill the pages of Cider with Rosie or Catcher in the Rye. As my husband says, nothing happens. On the other hand some people like reading for the joy of the words, the feel of the sensations the words provoke.
   The best advice for new writers is, read good writing and try to emulate it. Don't copy it precisely, but take the feel of what you like and find your own style to suit.