Whenever I step into a library or a bookstore, I always have to stop by the writing section. I may not take a book home with me, but I always browse. I also own some good books filled with writing advice. Any writer ought to have a few good books about writing.
However, there’s a danger here. It’s all too easy to study these books as a way to AVOID writing. If you’re not careful, reading books about improving your writing can become a form of procrastination.
Maybe you dream of writing a fantasy novel, but you’re too scared. You don’t know how to begin. Your mind locks up every time you try. If that happens, it can be tempting to start collecting books that tell you everything you need to know about concocting plots, building believable characters, and tightening up your prose.
It’s true that such books can give you valuable advice. However, they are not a substitute for the act of writing. They might inspire you, tingle your senses, give you a rush of motivation–but how long does that last?
Do you immediately start writing, only to give up before you’ve made any real progress?
Do you promise yourself that you’ll start writing that day, only to procrastinate for weeks on end?
Chances are, you know everything you need to know to start writing. Even if you don’t, you can always clean up your first draft. You’re not writing in stone.
Put aside the books and start writing today!
Photo was taken by Ansy of Flickr
July 7th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Heh, for me it’s books about business that I spend too much time reading.
As for writing (fiction at least), I got so much more out of joining an online workshop and critiquing others’ works (and having my own critiqued) than I ever did from any how-to books or articles. It was a really great experience, and I’ll definitely get into it again when I get back to my fiction.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Hi Lindsay,
I haven’t actually tried joining a workshop, but it would probably do me good. Thanks for the idea.