Writing Rule 0: All writing advice is wrong, find what works for you.
It's also a lie that people use in order to do nothing. It completely ignores things like target audience. Writers use it as a coping mechanism against their low reader counts or failing novels. Art is in the eye of the beholder, and the beholders are choosing to ignore your (general you) art. Maybe there is a reason they do that? But it's so much easier to pretend you are writing for yourself and that you don't want/need readers. Yet you, (general you again) continue to seek out feedback because you want someone to read it.Writing Rule 0: All writing advice is wrong, find what works for you.
This is the #1 Excuse people use to Ignore instructions.
Also the #1 Reason why editors at publishing houses reject manuscripts.