Writer's Block

[InbetweenDreams]

@InbetweenDreams you do need to read to write. Reading a lot of books is NOT a death sentence to someone who wants to write a book. You need to read a lot. Believing reading will taint and corrupt your own creativity is toxic.

I think I may have misspoke, or rather mistyped. I don't read a lot of books, things like novels and alike. Just never been what you call a bookworm. What I meant was that I'm worried that because I'm not an avid book reader that would be a detriment to writing anything of much quality, provided I find whatever groove and do it. I definitely lack creativity and confidence in that area. I find it difficult to come up with an idea and when I do I tend to think they're bad ideas.

A good book to read on writing is On Writing by Stephen King. You might not agree with all of his advice, maybe you prefer plotting while King prefers what the writing community calls "pantsing," but it's a good book to start.

Speaking of plotting versus pantsing, maybe to help jog back your creative engines, you could try winging it (pantsing). Not everything you write has to be for others. Writing just for you, and only you, is a good way to make you more confident in your creative ability. Of course, I've written things just for me that were so embarressing, I've deleted them and hope to God no one ever recovers it, but it helps train your brain to lull you into that trancelike state where a story flashes before your eyes and you type everything you see and hear.

Writing isn't like a physical sport. You don't need to have a young healthy body to do it. You do need practice, and lots of it, but it's never too late to start. I tend to agree with Stephen King in that writing should be enjoyable. I didn't start writing because I wanted to be a writer, it began as a hobby. If you found you enjoyed writing and want to go back, you should start writing again, and reading (movies don't count, but audio books do).

Here's a plan - look for a book you think you might enjoy reading (can be any book, a romance, sci-fi, fantasy, anything), read it so long as it interests you (you don't need to force yourself to read books you don't like), maybe a chapter a day, doesn't matter, and set aside time to write. Write anything, could be cringy fan fiction, doesn't matter, just write about whatever you want to write about.

I will definitely check that out. I think the creativity part is going to be the first heavy lift. I suppose some people are great with telling stories, or like my grandpa was, good at bullshitting (making up stories) but not everyone is good at putting it on paper (at first).