I don't like reading, but yet I have the dream of being a writer.

xYinxx said:

Yeah, but if I'm not enjoying the book, why force myself through it?

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Then find another one you like and read that one.

Gi into a bookshop

Read as many first chapters as it needs for you to go OOOH!

I cannot get on with Sanderson. No idea why, I just..can't. Maybe you;re like me, so try something else

Because if you don't read, how do you know who books work? How all teh scenes add up?


If you don't read, maybe you'll write this book about a short dude who has to throw this ring into a fiery mountain and...

And yeah. You might reinvent the wheel and who cares about that?

You need to read. It will take time to find stuff you like and/or is good (I always recc Pratchett at this point because he is masterful at many aspects of writing, plus he's very readable, and also if he takes the piss out of it? It's been overdone.)

EMaree said:

Sounds to me like you're giving yourself grief for a problem that doesn't actually exist. If you read YA novels then guess what? You read books. Just keep up the good work!

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I'm wondering if some adult told him that reading YA and Manga books isn't real writing so go read something else kid?

I had some very well intentioned but very misinformed adults tell me what I should and should not be doing when I was a teenager, guess what they are still stuck in their lives and I stuck to my guns and am following my dreams now!

xYinxx said:

Would you guys recommend going to a writing club? What about having someone act as a mentor, one that could help me improve?

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Yes and if there isn't one for teens in your area then start one. Oh and some adults can be creeps so trust your gut instincts.

Also get Stephen Kings book On Writing. He states in his book to read everything you can get your hands on, good stuff, bad stuff, boring stuff, so you will know what to and not to write!

I've also gone through some phases with reading. And I'm young enough that there will likely be many more.

I read every day, almost all day when I was in high school. I was the kid who was perched on any seat I could find in the school reading and re-reading any good book I could find. I read mostly adult fantasy by that point, although a few years prior I had read a lot of YA fantasy that ended up being just as if not more formal for me than anything else I've ever read. So genre absolutely doesn't matter.

Then I went to university and did journalism and English and read an absolutely staggering amount of text most of which didn't really do it for me (with the exception of a couple really, really amazing experiences... North and South by Gaskell; Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson; anything by John Donne; several incredible medieval manuscripts that have also been really inspiring; parts of Woolf, James, Poe, and Joyce; and Paradise Lost). I got a lot of understanding out of everything, though, and seeing how trends changed across media and times. I did very, very little personal reading because I was usually behind on academic reading (I'm a bit slower a reader than others).

I also became and still am a huge news junkie. Whether through burn-out or just changing tastes I find a lot of my current reading is actually non-fiction current affairs. I have a particular fondness for long-form narrative non-fiction, which I'm terrible at writing but love to read. I try now and then to get into a novel and it immediately sucks me in for days, which I love but my current situation means I'm moving around a lot and working a lot, so my book collection often remains packed up and inaccessible while I can get online really easily. I've also started doing way more crits both here and alsewhere than I used to, which is a separate but interesting experience.

To the OP ('cause that was just a ramble): All of these are, in their way, useful experiences I guess. I know with anime/manga there's quite a different, somewhat more collaborative process. Others will know more about it.

I've met people who love making worlds in every industry from natural resources to visual effects. Some of them write in their spare times, some are heavy game modders, some program, some have learned writing professionally. If you want to have a creative career you will be involved in making worlds, but there are all kinds of levels of that, depending on your particular craft. Learning a craft, be it writing or something else, is hard work but those are the tools of your passion and will give you a fighting chance at doing what you want to do.

Don't give up on reading. I'm picky too. I drop and pick back up books all the time. And when I don't have something new to read, I pick up an old favorite and try to study it. Or at least get the rhythm into my head.

I used to love reading when I was a kid. I worked my way through the class library pretty fast, was always in the public library and I was quite the explorer when it came to books.

As I grew into my teens I kind of fell out of love with books and moved to comics. I stayed with them for years and I struggled to go back. I could never figure out why I'd want to read a description of something when in comics they just drew it!

After I had kids I really wanted them to love books too so I started reading to them as babies and then they to me as they grew older and they still read almost every night. This lit a fire in me again and I started to re-read loads of childrens books which led to me starting to write again (I used to love writing when I was younger too) and I'm a couple months away from finally finishing my first childrens MS. However I think I OD'd on childrens books in a short period of time. So I fell in love with historical fiction (don't hate me but I love Dan Brown). And I did the same thing - OD'd on that.

So I can relate to the phases of your life thing - I've been through a few of them as you can see. But I can also relate to the lazy problem. If you're like me it's not because you're lazy as such but more because there's always something else I'd rather do and I never have time to read because of that.

My whole life i've gotten an injection of creativity from video games - the interactivity has always been amazing to me. So given the choice - I'll rather play a game than read a book because for some reason I feel I get more out of it in the given time. And then there's films and TV shows. I'll watch Star Trek or Game of Thrones and feel fulfilled. For some reason my mind thinks I can get my shot of fun by doing those things more than I would from reading a book. That's so wrong I know!

So what's my point? I dunno. I'm just saying I can relate. LOL.

xYinxx said:

Thanks, everyone. The book in question is Mistborn: The Well of Ascension. For some reason, I just couldn't get drawn into Sanderson's work like I did with the first Mistborn book. I've heard before that Sanderson's second Mistborn book wasn't as good as the first, and I guess that might be true.

The other book I picked up with Mistborn was The Way of the Shadows. Haven't really dived into that one, is it worth it to stick with it?

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I'm an avid reader and I disliked both Way of Shadows and Mistborn. I found them both poorly written. So I'm tempted to say it's the books and not you.

I would strongly recommend to everyone that if you intend to be a writer, and you find a book that is turning you off, keep reading it until you figure out why it's turning you off.

Too much exposition. Not enough action. Been done too much. The reason isn't really important except that you understand it. In the end, whether you're right or not (and who the hell decides that?), it will help you become a stronger "you" as a writer.

There's nothing wrong with reading YA and manga if that's what interests you at the moment. But keep in mind that your reading tastes may change as you grow older.

I also wonder if you're having trouble with reading because you've gone too much into analysis mode. A lot of writers have that phase when they suddenly can't enjoy stories anymore because they're too busy noting the flaws.

xYinxx said:

I originally took a short break from writing, and I have recently written something and have a current story that I want to work on. However, don't writing and reading need to go together? Is there no other way to become good at this craft?

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xYinxx said:

It's because it's an outlet for my creativity where I can create characters and worlds. That's why I want to write stories.

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It doesn't sound like you've been getting much writing done. Or at least as much as you could be getting done. Is the "something" you wrote after your break just one thing? And you have a current story you want to work on but haven't really gotten into yet?

Maybe you're becoming stuck when you try to pick up a book because there's a few ideas you need to get out of your system already. It's difficult to truly engage with what you're reading and be able to look past some seriously minor flaws when something else is going on at the back of your mind.

So it's possible you might be fixating on the little things because on some level you're looking for a reason to tear yourself away and get your own stuff done. If you've been spending more time trying to get into books than writing your stories, it's probably time to bring some of your own ideas to fruition. What you write right now isn't going to be near perfect and reading from a wide variety is going to be a great way to get you there at some point.

But at the moment, maybe what you need is to get at least some kind of balance going on to begin with.

Brightdreamer said:

So, this one book is boring to you. Doesn't mean all books will now bore you.There are many books that bore many people, even though those same books are probably someone else's favorites.

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This is very true. I get bored with half of the books I've tried to read, but when I love a book, I REALLY love it. I'm just picky as hell when it comes to the type of story that really pulls me in.

Chase said:

Not always by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe one in several millions.

Reading is the best educator on how to write, so good writing may depend on it.

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I agree that reading is a good educator. However, I don't think you have to be a fan of reading for pleasure to write well. You have to like storytelling and have the ability to understand story structure, and reading novels does help with that a lot. But I think you can learn about story structure from watching movies as well. I personally get a lot more inspiration from film than books. Why? Well, it's simply because I can take in a film much quicker and easier than I can sit and read an entire novel. So I expose myself to more stories that way.

gingerwoman said:

Steven King says "if you don't have time to read, you don't have time to write."

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Stephen King is not the boss of me! I get the point he's trying to make, but there are a thousand ways to reach a goal in this life. His process isn't necessarily everyone's process.

Lillith1991 said:

why do you want to write a novel so badly if reading them doesn't interest you?

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I'm not uninterested in reading myself, but I'll answer the question because I have gone for long periods without reading anything while working on my novel. The simple answer is, I was too into my own story, and I didn't want to take the time to leave that world. I've always read a lot while on vacation, but it's a struggle to fit it into my everyday life because I constantly work on my own projects.

Ken said:

Don't ever let anyone tell you what you have to do. Do things your way if you want.

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Exactly! I don't listen to the "rules." I've had friends try to tell me my attitudes about life and my writing were off, and that I needed to do things a different way. I always stayed true to myself and my process, and guess what? Now I'm being published.

I'm not disagreeing with anyone that reading is a great way to learn about writing. It's also fun as long as you find a story that engages you. But I do think that writing a story, having it critiqued by beta readers, studying grammar (in whatever way) and really putting your heart into the learning process can teach you everything you need to know.

xYinxx said:

I'm considering returning both to get House of Hades by Rick Riordan. Ever since I was younger, I loved Percy Jackson, but I was told that reading a wide variety of books would be best, rather than just reading YA books.

I prefer YA books because they don't feel so drawn out. 300+ page novels feel just the right length to me right now.

...

The thing is, is it REALLY gonna harm my writing if I just stick to YA fiction/reading manga? I mean, reading at all is still good, right?

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There's a wide variety of styles and genres available in the YA market, especially these days; you could stay in the YA section for quite a while and still broaden your horizons considerably.

Will it harm writing? Probably not, if you're reading a lot (and paying attention to what you're reading - every so often, try to surface from the story, maybe reread a section, and see what the author is doing and how they're doing it.) Just don't limit yourself. Keep an eye on the rest of the bookstore, and if something intrigues you, give it a try. (From personal experience, I know it's possible to read everything from wordless picture books to century-old classics, enjoying each on its own merits. Heck, the highest book review rating I've handed out this month so far was for a wordless picture book - Quest, by Aaron Becker.)

And don't feel you have to push yourself on this now. Times changes. Circumstances change. Tastes change. And people change - yes, even you.

robjvargas said:

I would strongly recommend to everyone that if you intend to be a writer, and you find a book that is turning you off, keep reading it until you figure out why it's turning you off.

Too much exposition. Not enough action. Been done too much. The reason isn't really important except that you understand it. In the end, whether you're right or not (and who the hell decides that?), it will help you become a stronger "you" as a writer.

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this is excellent advice!

xYinxx said:

The thing is, is it REALLY gonna harm my writing if I just stick to YA fiction/reading manga? I mean, reading at all is still good, right?

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Short answer: Reading is supposed to be enjoyable, so read whatever you want to read. If you're not enjoying something drop it and find something you actually like (unless it's assigned schoolwork, that's different).

Long answer: Will sticking to just a couple genres hurt your writing? Yes and no.

Yes: There are distinct advantages to reading outside your preferred genres, just as a musician can benefit from playing different kinds of music, or an athlete will benefit from participating in multiple sports. Variety gives you more knowledge to draw from and can sometimes lead to interesting cross-genre work. Additionally, you may discover a hidden talent for/love of a genre that you never considered pursuing.

No: While there are benefits to branching out, there are also benefits to focusing closely on one area. By doing so, you're basically setting yourself on the path of the specialist, excelling in your particular field at the expense of a wider but potentially shallower knowledge base.

If I were you, I'd treat the library like a giant buffet table full of unfamiliar foods. You may hate half of them. For those, you take a bite, spit it out, and never have to try it again. However, hidden somewhere in there may be your new favorite thing ever. You said you like YA and Manga. What if you had only ever read YA and never discovered Manga (or vice-versa)? How much would that suck? That's why it's worth trying a little bit of everything. It would be a shame if you missed out on something you would have loved if you'd only realized how awesome it was.

Then, AFTER you've tried a bunch of stuff, if you want to narrow your focus and become a specialist, go for it. By then, you'll be secure in the knowledge that you're not missing out on anything.

xYinxx said:

The thing is, is it REALLY gonna harm my writing if I just stick to YA fiction/reading manga? I mean, reading at all is still good, right?

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I think it's a good idea to read around the age categories, especially if you'd like to write for that age category one day. If pace is the issue with adult work, there are shorter/faster-paced novels. Some genres tend towards the shorter, like urban fantasy and some mystery.

andiwrite said:

I agree that reading is a good educator. However, I don't think you have to be a fan of reading for pleasure to write well. You have to like storytelling and have the ability to understand story structure, and reading novels does help with that a lot. But I think you can learn about story structure from watching movies as well.

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You can learn about film structure from watching movies. Lots of mediums are used to tell stories (songs, films, television shows, novels, stage plays, etc). But they each tell those stories in different ways. How will you learn about exposition and internal monologue and about invoking senses beyond sight and sound, for example, if you're learning from a medium that generally doesn't or can't utilize those things? How will you learn the differences between structure in a movie and a novel if you don't read novels? They're not the same. Just watch a film adaptation of a novel you've read and it will be obvious changes had to be made. Movies can be great fun to watch, and they're certainly good to study if you want to understand more about how movies work, but they're not going to teach you how to write a story in a completely different format, no matter how much they inspire you. I've written stories inspired by songs before, but the song didn't teach me how to write the story.

I'm so very heartened by this thread. A brave question to ask, and some very compassionate, thoughtful replies.

Thanks - I needed that!

xYinxx said:

The thing is, is it REALLY gonna harm my writing if I just stick to YA fiction/reading manga? I mean, reading at all is still good, right?

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Seriously get your hands on a copy of Stephen Kings book On Writing! It is a biography of sorts and he talks about his writing journey, I do believe you will get some encouragement from reading this book.

Remember it's a journey NOT a destination, and this is hard to keep in perspective at 17, I know I was there once. So just keep on keeping on and read what you love.

virtue_summer said:

You can learn about film structure from watching movies. Lots of mediums are used to tell stories (songs, films, television shows, novels, stage plays, etc). But they each tell those stories in different ways. How will you learn about exposition and internal monologue and about invoking senses beyond sight and sound, for example, if you're learning from a medium that generally doesn't or can't utilize those things? How will you learn the differences between structure in a movie and a novel if you don't read novels? They're not the same. Just watch a film adaptation of a novel you've read and it will be obvious changes had to be made. Movies can be great fun to watch, and they're certainly good to study if you want to understand more about how movies work, but they're not going to teach you how to write a story in a completely different format, no matter how much they inspire you. I've written stories inspired by songs before, but the song didn't teach me how to write the story.

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Well, to be fair, lots of movies do have internal monologue. It's just spoken out loud instead of written.

I think this works for me because the thing I struggle with the most is the flow of a story. With a movie, I can note down each scene, see what happens in each scene and see how the writer used these happenings to progress the story forward. You can do this reading books as well, it just takes a lot longer. I've been writing my whole life, so the basic mechanics of writing and grammar are not too hard for me. Figuring out how the hell to structure a story = my weakness.

Overall, I think the best way to learn is to simply write and get critiqued. See what comes across to your readers and what doesn't. That taught me more than anything.

milkweed said:

Seriously get your hands on a copy of Stephen Kings book On Writing! It is a biography of sorts and he talks about his writing journey, I do believe you will get some encouragement from reading this book.

Remember it's a journey NOT a destination, and this is hard to keep in perspective at 17, I know I was there once. So just keep on keeping on and read what you love.

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Great book! I didn't agree with him on every single point, but I do think he has a lot of wisdom to share. If nothing else, the book offers a lot of inspiration regarding the road to publishing and (hopefully) major success. It took King a long time to become what he is today.

I'm not sure if it was asked and I missed it, but if you don't want to write, what exactly makes you want to write? You still wade through words, and guess what? Once you finish writing, you get to read your writing a time or eight, editing.....

andiwrite said:

..... But I think you can learn about story structure from watching movies as well. I personally get a lot more inspiration from film than books. ...

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i'm going to read a bunch of books on the brain and then go do neurosurgery, too......

I don't get the "one doesn't need to enjoy reading to write well" thing. At the extreme, I am sure it is possible, just like you can be a basketball star and hate the game....but most who excel in either format do not hate what they do. They enjoy it, or large swaths of it.