The Rules: Rule 3

Everybody knows better than you.

This is one of my favorite. No matter how good you eventually get writing about entertainment there is someone who knows a little more. Actually, everybody knows a little more. The people in the industry, half the time, want to rewrite your work. You missed something. People, they swear, want to hear more about the album or the tour or how the bass player is donating his urine to save the seals or some stupid shit like that.

The average fan will go through a 400 word article and if they think about it, will want to know why you didn't ask about something, like, what about that heroin habit or those needling rumors they're sleeping with their cousin or half a million other things that probably don't mean much and only the clinically insane would answer. People still want to know and presume that because you're talking to someone, they're going to tell you whatever you know.

This, by the way, is never ever the case. Some people sound more open, but only crazy people and bloggers tell you everything about who they are.

What you should remember is, despite whatever homework you do, the fans always know more, but the thing is, they like to hear what they already know repeated or rephrased. They're not looking for information. They're often just looking for confirmation of their special knowledge.

Anyway, there's a lot of people out there who would do it differently and do it better --perhaps, with a nicer photo.

There is no beating this. So, you just shrug, take the criticism, use it if you can, and discard it if you can't.