I’ve noticed that writers and editors run out of things to talk about so they invent ridiculous rules that don’t exist outside their own heads, or they apply them like a toddler with a hammer. “Don’t use adverbs!” they say. You know, adverbs can be terrific.
Writing is never about 1 + 1 = 2. It’s about understanding how story works, and how the language works, and seeing how you can make the two fit together.