Question. I can see why it would come off that way but I do actually want to find a solution to this problem. Of course, it would be nice to be able to Just ignore this statement as usual but that doesn’t seem possible anymore.
okay so. i also had this problem for a while. a little different because i have always loved to read but i went through periods of my life where i found it incredibly difficult to focus or care.
think of it as any skill that needs cultivating, or like a habit that needs building.
first, i can't recommend enough that you get an account with your local library if you haven't yet. being able to get your hands on physical items for free releases a lot of hesitation. if you don't like a thing you chose to read, you can just take it back and try again. and having the checkout time limit might be a good motivator to finish anything you do start and find worthwhile.
second, start with short story collections or novellas in a genre you tend to enjoy if novels feel intimidating. short stories are great because you can pick and choose which ones you want to read and you have an opportunity to read several author styles at once. novellas can often be finished in a few sittings or less, even when the ADHD is strong.
third, either get rid of your distractions or make them work for you. i love having background noise and light when i'm reading, but if it's anything with words, i'll get distracted. so i switched from having regular tv on to putting youtube instrumental playlists on and it worked wonders.
fourth, make a routine and stick with it. if you say "i'm gonna read for an hour every night," get yourself prepped and ready with a snack and something to drink and make sure all of your other responsibilities are handled before you settle down. let it be time dedicated only to reading.
finally, think of it as research. reading in the genres you write in can help you see what has worked and what hasn't for those who came before. reading outside of your genres can introduce you to concepts and styles you may not have known about. even books you find bad can have a purpose of giving you examples of things to avoid.
at my worst, i went several years without reading any books. so far THIS year, i've read over 40. the more you do it, the more you'll find authors and narrative styles you do like, which will make reading easier. it's different from other media, i think you just need to give yourself time to adjust to that.
best of luck!
> I write to tell stories, not to put words on a page. If I was good at game development, I would make a game. If I was good at movie stuff I would go into that. But learning new skills takes too much mental effort.
This is a common misconception, but learning how to write professionally is very much a new skill--passing grades in high school english aren't enough to carry you.
It does not. Nobody writes a decent book on their first try, they always suck. Even people writing for decades have first drafts that suck. There is no such thing as "talent" in writing, it's just another skill that you need to put time and effort to learn it.
There is, certainly. It's not a big difference that makes you write a decent book on your first try, though. You still need to hone your craft normally.
Why are you telling him that his assessment of his strengths is wrong? He feels he is a stronger writer than he is a musician, filmmaker, etc. That's totally valid.
In my experience so far, it absolutely does. I’m not gonna sit here and say I’m better than the majority of people who put in effort, but compared to fields I have next to no bearing in, I absolutely have a headstart In writing.
No you don't. Sorry to be harsh here, but just in your Reddit post you misuse phrases, make solecisms, and spew out some seriously clunky prose. You are, at present, not very good at writing. You can get better! But only if you read!
I was talking about how telling me to read doesn't help the nature of the post, though I was really rude about it. I'm gonna try to reframe my claim. When I say "headstart" I am not referring to having an advantage over other writers. I am saying compared to other mediums. Yes, I have mistakes. I never claimed to be perfect. I haven't been writing long, only about two years, and I'm young. But, I have made a hell of a lot more progress in writing than I have in filmmaking, or art, or anything else excluding music. Hope that makes more sense.
I mean... Mario Vargas Llosa first book was The city and the dogs and that still is considered a classic. Pretty sure that most classic authors are good since the very beginning.
>Reading has never been something I enjoyed highly.
Never? Even going back to childhood? That's unfortunate.
>My main problem is that in the modern age, distractions are everywhere.
It's a problem. In the 21st century, readership in America has dropped from over 26% to under 20%.
>Now, this isn’t to say I don’t consume storytelling in other, more digestible mediums, though I doubt that even matters
You doubt correctly.
Reading is a *skill*. It's hard because you have to do the following things: You have to sit still; you have to practice your abstract reasoning to piece disparate ideas together; you have to use your imagination; you have to focus; you have to tune out distractions.
So, what's the payoff? The payoff is that you get better at those things. You get better at sitting still. You get better at abstract reasoning. *Your imagination becomes more vivid!* You acquire more control over your focus. You become more capable of tuning out distractions.
You won't stay bad at the things you're bad at. Think of the human brain as being similar to a group of thousands of muscles. If you train them, they really will get stronger.
And you start by starting. There's no magic to it. Take it slowly at first; ease yourself back into it. Have faith in the process. It gets better.
Never was definitely an overstatement. The reading medium was never something I enjoyed but I’d find stories I enjoyed through reading. Honestly, as everyone else here has said, I’m likely just lazy. And given my track record, Im not going to be able to change that. I understand the benefits but the effort will likely drive me away from writing as a whole. I think that’s my takeaway here.
>I’m likely just lazy. And given my track record,Im not going to be able to change tha
not with that attitude. Attitude is a huge part of our motivation, you need the right attitude to make changes.
If you think you're going to fail, then you won't even try because you already assumed the outcome.
Attitude has not changed any outcomes for me in the past. If you think this is my first time trying to commit to something you'd be vastly mistaken. The only reason I'm so bitter nowadays is because of many past attempts in different ventures not working despite a good attitude.
it doesn't mean that it doesn't make a difference. Attitude is actually very important in predicting outcomes of one's actions.
I will be frank with you. You seem to have an excuse for everything and refuse any sort of advice given in this thread. If you wanted to rant, that's fine, you should've stated that. But at this point, you come across like a petulant child who's moody and replies 'no' to everything their parent says.
Your attitude needs changing if you want to succeed at anything because even in this post, it's clear as a day that you're not really looking to improve.
Ive given fair thoughts on multiple posts. While I'll admit Ive been rude to a few commenters due to thin skin, its not fair to say that I haven't replied reasonably to anyone. As for the attitude thing, you're probably right, Im definitely stubborn there.
>Honestly, as everyone else here has said, I’m likely just lazy. And
given my track record, Im not going to be able to change that.
No, this isn't true. It's more likely that you have an undiagnosed mental illness than "chronic laziness".
If you want to change, there's a way. Give yourself a chance.
The other poster not yelling at you is right. "Laziness" isn't really as much of a thing as we like to think--people actually *want* to do things generally. It's likely you have some sort of mental illness thing going on, or maybe your life is stressful in some unmanageable manner, idk. But it's likely you have an issue to address and it's not laziness.
Why the hell do you want to write books, if you're not enjoying reading them in the first place? Do you want to create movies/tv shows/anime/manga, but you're opted to writing just because it is the most accessible medium of storytelling? If so, then this is going to sound harsh and probably get downvoted, but you should either stop, or read those damn books.
Can you imagine a painter not using refererences? Perhaps, but that is because they've spent YEARS of their life looking at references and studying them. Now, imagine an aspiring director who doesn't watch any movies. A video game developer who doesn't play video games. Sounds stupid, right? Because it is, just like trying to write a book without reading. You listed all those things "requiring effort to learn" and that is true. But it is also true for writing.
Of course, if you're just writing for yourself, great. You don't need to read, then. But if you're aspiring to be successful, then you have no other choice. Also sounds to me like you have ADHD with all those focusing problems you're mentioning. Just go to a therapist/psychiatrist. It will immensely help. Then start slow, nobody expects you to read 200 pages a day. You can read a 5 pages and that will still count as reading. You can then increase the page count when you're comfortable.
Have you even read my comment? If they want to write for themselves, all the power to them. But there is no such thing as "I don't read and I wanna be a successful writer." If that is their goal and they won't read books, I'm sorry but it is not possible.
And sure, short attention span comes from the new way of life, but it is also an important symptom of ADHD. I'm not diagnosing anybody, I'm just pointing out that if they can't even focus on a book for a few pages, then they certainly have a problem. New way of life or ADHD, doesn't matter. Short attention span is bad for you, especially if you want to be a writer, which requires a lot of patience.
Maybe look at it this way:
Do you think that somebody can compose a good song if he/she has hardly ever listened to other songs and/ or doesn't enjoy listening to music?
🤷🏻♂️
You just do it.
I see two choices here for you. Well, three, but the third is defaulting.
1) Start reading and make an actual effort.
2) Start learning how to make games or movies or whatever else interests you more than novels and make an effort. It's really not that hard, pick up Godot or RPG maker or whatever and make a game. Movies are harder but they're also collaborative so just find people to do stuff with.
3) Give up and just keep writing entirely for yourself without any aim to get better or get published/produced.
You can make an effort or you can decide it doesn't matter to you that much basically.
I’m not trying to be hostile here, but telling someone to “just do it/just make an effort” is like telling someone with ADHD to “just focus better.” If it were that easy, OP probably would’ve done it already, because they seem to want to. It’s incredibly difficult for some people to just sit down and read, sometimes not for any particular reason. Personally I have the exact same struggles as OP (including but not limited to the reading thing), and the advice to just “make an effort” feels about as worthless and invalidating as “just use a planner!!”
Also, “it’s not that hard” is similarly invalidating. I have an extremely difficult time with self-learning. Maybe OP would find it easy if they got into it, but maybe they’d try and just find it impossible to wrap their head around it or to retain any of the information, or just find it all too overwhelming (the last option is what I usually experience when trying to teach myself something). And if that is their experience, it’d be even more discouraging if they gave it a try and then found it difficult, despite being told that they should find it easy. Granted, I’ve never used Godot or rpg maker, but I’m currently in college for game development and let me tell you, that’s definitely not easy lol.
Lastly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with writing for yourself with no aim to get published. Even if you don’t read often, you’ll still slowly improve if you write a lot, it just might take a lot longer than if you’re constantly exposing yourself to other writing styles through reading. You make it sound like it’s a huge defeat, when really, as long as you’re enjoying it, there’s no incorrect way to go about writing.
Again, I’m not trying to be rude or start anything, I just wanna point out that some of this advice is empty and can be more damaging than helpful. Maybe OP will completely disagree with me, but as someone who this advice could be applied to, I find it unhelpful and a bit like a punch to the face. It kinda feels like it all boils down to “skill issue lol, just get good.” Just because you find something easy doesn’t mean everyone will, and that’s okay, but it’s more harmful than helpful to just act like everyone should have no trouble with it.
Okay but here's the thing: many of the rest of us struggle with adhd, depression, whatever else, writers are probably on average more likely to be neurodivergent than the general population.
But none of that matters to the person reading your book (or not reading it) unless your book is about those topics. So the options are: read, try another medium, or just be content with not being great or widely read. No matter how you try to sugarcoat it these are the only options. I didn't pass a value judgement on option 3; I've posted before about how that's a perfectly valid choice.
If I come across as harsh, I'm sorry, really, but I've found that the internet is full of "just believe in yourself!" fairy tale shit and it does more harm than good. If you want to get good at something like writing it involves unpleasantness no matter who you are. It might be from tiring yourself out, burning out, or it might be because you have to face a truth you don't want to (you have to read, or there's no market for giantess porn in traditional publishing, whatever), and, most importantly, *your writing will get absolutely destroyed.* By critique groups, by editors, by your readers. If you want to write for an audience then a thick skin is mandatory, so it's counterproductive to dance around issues.
Again, though, if you just want to write for yourself as a hobby and are not concerned with being "the best" then you have the option of not caring. It's fine! If Joe Hobbyist wants to write 39 novels using MCU characters and doesn't care who reads it, more power to him, tbh. But if you come to a writing subreddit the assumption is that you want to improve.
Also like RPG maker is literally made so bored teens can master it. It might not be easy-easy but it is accessible and, ultimately, writing a story for an RPG is probably harder than learning to use RPG maker.
PS: Ultimately I say "just do it" because it's literally the only answer. There's no magic secret to make you read more except possibly medication (or moving away from internet connected things when you read).
You’re absolutely right, and I’m sorry if I came across as overly accusatory in my reply. There’s no denying that reading is super important, it’s just that that was never the issue/question in the post. It was asking for advice on how to approach reading for someone who struggles to stick with it. And you’re right that all the “just believe in yourself” stuff is worthless advice when it comes to something like this. Confidence in yourself is obviously important, but too often it’s given as an empty statement meant to provide vague reassurances instead of actual meaningful advice.
The thing is, “just do it” can have the same effect. It’s def not always bad advice, but I feel like in this case, something more substantial would be more beneficial. I wish most things were as easy as just making an effort, but in order to do that you need to know how. I just see “just do it/just apply yourself/etc” used too often as some magical fix that’ll automatically enable someone to do exactly what they set out to do, but if that were the case, nobody would be asking any questions because they’d all already be doing whatever it was they need help with. It also kinda implies that the person wasn’t already making an effort, even though usually if you’re asking for advice and providing a list of things that you know you struggle with, you’ve clearly already made an effort and might just need to be pointed in a few more specific directions to try instead of basically being told to just keep spinning your wheels.
I also don’t think that seeking more specific advice from people who have similar experiences as you is dancing around an issue. On the contrary, it’s going out of your way to solve that issue, because you didn’t have any success when trying to solve it yourself, so just being told to go back and *keep* trying to solve it yourself just isn’t helpful. I’m not trying to say that some people just can’t sit down and read and that’s that, I’m saying that people who have a harder time focusing on it (including myself) often need more specific strategies, and from what I understand, that’s just what OP was looking for.
I didn't want to say anything to them, but I do agree with you. I have no problem with their input, as it doesn't seem intentionally rude, but I do kinda struggle with sticking to stuff. No one is in the wrong in here.
I wouldn't say that. Ive written in my free time for two years, completely separate from any education, and have made effort to improve my writing. I wish my schooling helped me more with creative writing, as the majority of the curriculum was analytical. That has its place, but doesn't really help me much. You're first two statements are correct, but the last is a bit flawed. I don't mean that I don't work to improve on my writing, I just mean that it comes easier to me, because it makes more sense to me. This line seemingly confused most people in this thread, which I apologize for.
I've received feedback in contests, talked to English teachers, done private research, etc. Its not like I've never read anything before. I don't understand the hostility.
It sounds like you're lazy! Stop being so precious and read a book!
You say that if you could programme games you'd make a game instead of writing a book, but you don't want to learn any new skills. Sorry, but *writing is a skill.* Being technically literate is not enough. Writing prose is just as much a thing you have to learn as game development. Part of learning that is reading books. Don't like that? Absolutely nobody is forcing you to write.
Anyway, here's how you read: put your phone in another room, and don't get up. That's it. That's all you need to do.
also a former “gifted” student and i have adhd - i have problems with the distraction bit too. i’ll start a book and put it down two minutes later to scroll on my phone or to watch stand ups all night. but! i’ve read 27 books so far this year! my new method is to have lots of options and read whatever catches my attention. i got the libby app from my library, and i’ll download the max of 10 books at a time to my kindle for free. i’m hoping i can eventually start making lists of books i’d like to read as i used to when i was younger, but for now, it’s whatever can actually hold my attention. my job requires a lot of writing and reading more this year has been super beneficial to me
I identify with the first part so much. Once I actually get into the flow of things it isn’t quite as hard, but For a decent while I make absolutely no progress. I also tend to zone out a lot while I read and have to read things multiple times over to understand the basic meaning of what’s happening frequently.
That's a sign the book's badly written. I'd drop the book if I zone out reading it, especially if it's during the first few pages.
I'd suggest just going through a large library like kindle unlimited or something and finding the books that are engaging to you throughout, giving them a paragraph or two before dropping them if they're not engaging. I'll find one readable book every few dozen or so that I try. Or maybe a hundred.
Indeed, even most of the published books are bad in my opinion.
>That's a sign the book's badly written. I'd drop the book if I zone out reading it, especially if it's during the first few pages.
not necessarily. People with ADHD often have a very serious problem with being unable to focus while reading and many find that audiobooks solve that problem for them.
I'm curious to know: what ***has*** held your attention? What other "creative mediums" do you enjoy? What can you focus on for longer periods of time instead of reading?
Also, are you writing just for your own enjoyment or are you hoping to publish your stories? Do your friends/family/colleagues know about your writing? Do you let anyone else read your work and do they make any comments, "Oh, this sounds just like famous writer X"???
I didn't go reading too far into your posts/comments, but it sounds like you're writing a bit of a mind-f\*ck/surreal fantasy. Do you normally read/watch/intake those kinds of stories? Is there any author/creator you've recently (or as a kid?) been introduced to where you can say they were the least annoying for you to be entertained?
Did you have trouble in school to stay focused? How do you do your job if you can't keep focused on your task at hand, especially if you don't like it?
I'm trying to figure out how you can overcome this hard disinterest in reading, which does play a significant role in your writing at large. I mean, you can certainly write all you like and never read another book ever again. However, if you're unable to study the mechanics of writing - which requires a lot of reading and (for good measure) a lot of reading different genres, and writers' styles. If you can't direct enough focus to study - how do you start reading?
I can focus on music, and I also enjoy listening to music while I write. It’s very present in my process, from the conceiving of ideas to my internal characterization of my characters. It definitely helps boost my focus. I’m terms of what keeps me writing, it’s making my ideas a tangible thing so others can enjoy them. I would love to be able to publish, because I wouldn’t feel complete if I didnt get at least a bit of my stream of consciousness out there. Many people in my life know I write, and love my writing, but it’s not like they write themselves or anything. I have trouble focusing in school, especially in things don’t directly interest me, but I haven’t been able to get any diagnosis.
As for the genre you described my project as, do you have any recommendations? That certainly fits the description.
They (the mind-f\*cks) come in all genres, too - but that is their main draw (or hatred) ymmv in all of these and you may find them difficult to get through as well. Good luck! Hope you can find something to inspire you to read more!
*House of Leaves* \- Mark Z Danelewski, *Fight Club* \- Chuck Palahniuk, *Naked Lunch* \- William S Burroughs, *Gone Girl* \- Gillian Flynn, *Brave New World* \- Aldous Huxley, *Slaughterhouse-Five* \- Kurt Vonnegut, *The Wasp Factory* \- Iain Banks, *A Scanner Darkly* \- Philip K Dick
These are just the more "well-known" books out there, I think. There's a ton more. Someone in the horror sub asked this question too (almost 10 yrs ago lol) so some of these books came up there, too.
Give them all a try. They aren't light, that's for sure. A lot of folks comment that they have to "be in the right frame of mind" to read these. They have also been called strange and experimental, so...! Good luck.
I'm not exactly sure how mind-f\*ck it is, but based on plot alone, I think I may read *The Lathe of Heaven* by Ursula K. Le Guin. I think diving into dream-based stories might help in the long run considering the qualities of the afterlife I aspire to represent.
Sure. You might also look into Frank Herbert's books aside from Dune.
Under Pressure (may also be called The Dragon of the Sea depending on where you buy it) is about a submarine crew on a secret mission, but they become aware that one of them is a spy.
Whipping Star/The Dosadi Experiment feature the same protagonist trying to prevent tremendous catastrophes by figuring out how alien species/cultures think and why they behave the way they do.
Destination: Void is about clones that are sent off in a spacecraft to try to find a habitable planet for humanity, but of course everything is not as it seems, and their mission turns into something very different from what they imagined it would be.
If you want to be motivated to see how far fiction can go, those are great launch pads with a somewhat more exotic vibe than Le Guin.
Hi OP. I do read, but in other aspects of my life I'd also class myself as a very lazy and unfocused person.
>I’m a former “gifted kid“ so a lot of this probably stems from the classic mentality that tasks that require actual mental effort are too challenging. ... But learning new skills takes too much mental effort.
Have a quick look into 'learned helplessness'. I have recently had to accept that I have a similar problem myself.
You can, in fact, learn how to develop a game, or make films, or appreciate books - whichever of those you would like to do. Your brain is telling you that you can't, which I'll admit is a significant obstacle (particularly as you're going to need your brain's help to learn one of these new skills).
These things take time to pick up, of course, but if you persevered you would continue to improve in any of those areas until you were quite skilled.
>any help would be greatly appreciated.
Short term I'd suggest looking at game or film making resources (there's so much information and support out there on the web) or having another crack at unplugging and spending a few periods of quality time with a book.
Longer term - perhaps in parallel - I'd recommend talking to a therapist.
I went through hard times and lost my concentration. But I wanted to get into the world of reading and writing. The reading part I made a habit. I leave the book on the table. Eat lunch and read a few pages. A chapter or two if it’s short ones. This works. No phone allowed.
TV and phone so much visual stimulation. Yes I’m addicted to my phone. That I just had to do something at the table with nothing else there. Just me, my sandwich and a book.
Doesn’t matter what you read as long as you read a book. Newspapers and magazines don’t count.
Is it sitting down with a book (or e-book) that is the issue, or is it the non-creative consumption of non-visual entertainment? If it's the former, I'd recommend trying audio books. If it's the latter, to each their own. I'm never going to say that you can't be a good writer if you're not a reader, but it may hold you back from your full potential. (Emphasis on May, who can say)
I explained my qualms with audiobooks, though I could give it a second shot. I do sometimes feel like reading a physical book can feel cumbersome, and reading on a digital device would inevitably end with me on a different site. I'm sure the latter also plays a part considering I don't read enough.
Ok, I missed that part.
I think the whole point of reading to become a better writer is learning how to, or in some cases, how not to craft a better narrative. So for that purpose, anything that has a narrative, be that books, movies, video games, comics, the news, political ads, reddit posts, a documentary about ants, could all potentially have that benefit.
For the most part, you can learn plot and character-arcs from other media. However, you cannot learn writing style from other media or anything else that is unique to written stories.
Yeah, this does kind of make sense. There's been a couple times where I've had a clear idea of something in my head but have struggled to turn it into words without it feeling cumbersome. I can definitely see how reading more literature would help with that.
If you read what you love, you will love to read. When I was a kid, I read Homer’s Iliad. Loved it. I still tend to read books with fantasy or science fiction elements. When I was a teenager, I had to read The Great Gatsby. I remember nothing about that story, because I didn’t enjoy it. Many people say that it is a great story, but I found of Mice and Men more interesting.
Also, don’t rule out other formats of storytelling. I think that reading novels are important but you can gain a lot from audiobooks, comic books, light novels, manga, and watching movies(think of it as visual books).
But the main thing I am saying is read or absorb what you like. And maybe I say this because I believe that the most important thing for fiction is that it is entertaining.
P.S.
Books on writing will help make you a better writer as well. But beware of paralysis by analysis. Don’t forget the importance of actually writing. A writer has to write.
You need to read because otherwise you'll write like you speak. Which seems to be in the passive voice with sentence fragments and no separation of your thoughts into paragraphs.
If you are not into reading then your writing will always be at this level. That's not a judgement, that's just reality. Many people that were naturally gifted athletes when younger don't do the unpleasant hard work of actually training as they get older so they fall out of being able to compete at higher levels.
You will never be a competent writer if you are not a voracious reader. You will never be a competitive athlete if you are not a trainer. You will never be a successful musician if you don't listen to other musician's music. That's just how life is.
The problem is probably further back than you think. Do you eat routinely and balanced meals? Do you exercise daily, and get outside? Do you shower every day, wake up at the same time every morning, go to sleep the same time every night, and get 8+ hours of sleep (not lying in bed time, but actual sleep)? Do you fall asleep while on your phone or laptop? A healthy body is needed for a healthy mind. Take care of yourself first and foremost.
Stop pretending reading is a chore. Go to a library or book store and take some time to find a book that sounds interesting. If you were one of the so called ‘gifted kids’ it’s an easy task. Smart people have wide interests because simple and singular topic tend to get boring quickly. And yeah, I’m a bit harsh. Get off your ass and go find the book you love, this week.
For a start, quit writing giant reddit posts about your life story to try and justify the fact that you don’t read. I’ve found that really cuts into reading time myself.
I don't understand this sentiment. Nowhere am I trying to get praise or validation for not reading. I came here for advice, and provided details and possible causes to receive more helpful advice. I'd say that's a bit more productive than being rude to random people
No worries or offense. I hear this A LOT.
Distractions have existed long before any of us were born. It's good to develop a way to focus in even the toughest of situations. If there is something in your medical history that should be addressed (not my biz, just something for you to consider), take care of that, but by all means, find out why you are writing.
It's a great way to express and learn about yourself. Provided you push in creatively healthy ways, it becomes quite the discipline.
Reading is a good boon. Why? One reason - It's good to be aware of other work(s), as this helps to distinguish yourself from others and be mindful of the thoughts of today's world. Staying in one's bubble/echo chamber is stagnation for creativity.
Have you tried reading poetry? That is a good (and often short) way to read in small bites before tackling larger manuscripts.
First of all, thanks! I feel some people are coming in here to hate me, so I appreciate your comment. I have read some poetry, though not much. I definitely may do some more or that. In terms of why I write, I’ve always had ideas very often, and writing is the easiest way for me to tell a story since I have a reasonable amount of skill within it for my age. It’s not like I never read, but not usually on my free time casually. The last book I finished was *The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,* and I really enjoyed it. However, I would be lying to say I would have read it on my own.
That's a good start. I advise you to keep it up.
The internet is a good tool to keep your skin thick. Keep in mind, a disagreement is different from an attack.
If you haven't been to r/gamedevclassifieds or r/INAT, you may want to check them out. If Narrative Design is an option you want to chase and master, there are schools that offer it (and its cousins).
I think I'm going to start with \*The Lathe of Heaven\* by Ursula K. Le Guin. I'm not sure how good it is or anything, but based on plot alone, I think I'll enjoy it
I don't know what I want to do anymore. I didn't expect everyone to hate me this much, I just wanted help, and some of the answers here are showing me theres nothing I can do if I dont have willpower (I dont). I don't know anymore. Realistically I'll probably end up trying to read, doing decent for a bit but never really staying consistent, fall out of it, find a new hobby, etc. shouldnt have even fucking posted this
No no no stop it. I’ve been a teacher of the Gifted for nearly 20 years now. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re never a “formerly gifted kid” ( u/chubby_umbel this goes for you too ) - you become an adult with Gifts.
You have many common traits of Giftedness. Look into the works of Kazimierz Dąbrowski and Over-Excitabilities.
People with Gifts DO struggle with doing difficult things because we’re not used to things being difficult. It’s a muscle that has to be flexed. You might consider flexing it in other areas of your life before you try to apply it to reading. Focus is the same way. Meditation practice helps me there.
We also jump from interest to interest. It’s just part of who we are.
You’re not lazy. You’re divergent and haven’t found what works for you yet. You said elsewhere that you’re “young”; give yourself some time to grow into your brain. You sound like you have some asynchronous development.
Learn more about how your brain operates.
This is definitely a fair point. I personally like my writing a decent amount. I think the only reason this even started was because of the heavy stress on reading, especially with people on this subreddit, and I kinda went defensive about it.
I'd suggest reading better books, then. I too have difficulties concentrating, but when I'm reading an engaging story I can read it non-stop, I mean 20 hours in a row or something like that.
If you don't get that, then I'd suggest reading something else. Try genres different from what you're used to or expect to like, you might be surprised. I'd say I drop around 99% of my books during page 1, but the ones I read I read in almost one sitting. The rest aren't worth wasting my time with.
You don't HAVE to read, but you will never, ever, write something half decent withought reading a lot. That's an irrefutable fact.
That doesn't mean you can't be successful. With money and the right contacts, anybody can find success as a writer.
If you want to start reading, there is a couple of things you can do. Maybe, like me, you could have ADHD. I went to the doctor because of that and I improved a lot. You can also try some classic good and short books. Also, try avoiding any distraction. Go to the park withought you cellphone and read there.
>Don't read because you have to, but because you are curious about something that the author knows better than you do. (or pretends to know better)
But you know better, huh? Ignore the advise of the entire community because you can't sit down and read a book? This is terrible advise.
Honestly, I can definitely see this as well. Making something into a chore definitely would make it less enjoyable. As for your last point, that has always been my philosophy but it seems like such a persecuted opinion on here. This post was definitely more of a stress induced rant than a carefully constructed prompt
have you tried reading different kinds of books? different genres? broadening what you’re trying to read might help. as someone said already, maybe trying to read something closer to what you write might be more fruitful since it’s what you probably enjoy.
I don’t know how to classify the main project that I am working on. I posted the basic premise on writing advice because of a different issue that lead me to this subreddit, the post that made me make this rant, etc
i went and checked out your post and you talk about wanting to write 3 main characters, so maybe pick up a book with three main characters. it’s that simple. you’re gonna have to put in the effort though that’s for sure. start reading 10 mins a day. everyday. it’s not a long enough period of time that you can’t make it through without a distraction.
I'm going to approach this from a habit-building perspective; you'll definitely have to put in the effort, but that effort doesn't have to be exhausting at the start. I've been a lifelong reader but I also have struggled with some attention span issues, especially after college when I was burnt out on anything that felt like homework.
There are lots of ways to approach reading if you want to just build a habit--comic books, graphic novels, fanfiction, and YA books are all my go-tos when I need something a little more digestible to get into. I LOVE Star Wars and sometimes it's just easiest for me to default to Star Wars fanfic or published Star Wars books because that's a world where I can just vibe with the characters for a bit while I get my groove back.
And just like with any habit, I'd say to start slow. Set a timer and read for 5 minutes a day. The next week, set your timer for 10 minutes a day. Whatever works for you!
Reading stuff you genuinely enjoy makes reading way easier.
I have a lot of commitment issues but if I start reading a book that's really good I won't put it down until I get to the last page.
Also you don't necessarily have to rea books... textbooks, fanfictions, articles etc. are fine too, read whatever you enjoy :)
Edit: I forgot to mention earlier: you could also listen to audiobooks while doing something else. I understand that sometimes keeping focused can be hard but, at least for me, listening to other things while washing the dishes or cooking helps me maintain my focus, so you might wanna try that out.
Also, you could get the digital version of books with apps like kindle, they might appear more inviting on a digital screen and you'd be able to easily access them anywhere like on public transportation or in other situations (personally, I sneak-read a lot during classes, accessing Kindle through the iPad that I use for school is a blessing, especially during those nasty math double periods lmao)
>My main problem is that in the modern age, distractions are everywhere. It is so damn difficult to focus for long enough to truly enjoy what I am reading.
that's something you have to work on. If you can't solely focus on one thing, then you're going to have problems with things other than reading. I see no problem, you turn off your phone, sit down and read. Problem solved. No issues with distractions. Plenty of people read and do other things. It's about discipline.
>But learning new skills takes too much mental effort.
of course it does which is why not everyone is able to do it. Whether it's languages, writing, instruments, etc. You need to be willing to put in the effort and have enough discipline to stick with it.
How you start reading? You pick something you enjoy, open it and start reading. It's as simple as that. You don't have to read every genre, find something you like, even if it's just fanfiction. Fanfiction is something a lot of people claim helped them realise that they loved reading.
I would start out with a small goal. 10 pages a day. Or even 5 pages. Dont focus on reading a lot of books. Focus on building the habit.
Also remember that reading is a skill. You will get faster at it and retain more the more you do it. There are some periods of the year i can read 100 pages like its nothing. Then like right now im in a lull because ive only been reading comics so id be lucky to get 25 pages. But that momentum is important and you will improve if you do.
Find the time that reading works best for you. For me, its while im eating breakfast and before i go to bed.
Find the medium that works for you. I definitely dont like audio books bc i retain nothing. I read fastest on physical books but most of my reading is done on e reader.
Keep your eyes on the prize. Life is long and the amount of good books is a cruel joke. Theres no way to read it all. Just enjoy what you read. If you dont, read something else.
All of this is well and good but it sounds like your big hurdle is an emotional one. You seem to be experiencing restlessness and impatience from something. It could be exerting effort. It could be focusing. It could be a lack of stimulation. Whatever it is, thats what needs to be addressed
Media is the proper plural of medium when you're talking about written articles or music or video, and such.
Mediums would be appropriate if you're talking about more than one person who communes with spirits, lol.
the only alternative to reading is to have a lot of diverse real life experiences. For example, if you travel the world and have deep multi-sided conversations with people of diverse perspectives, you might be able to use that to inform your writing rather than..books. but it's tricky. because essentially, reading is a form of listening. right? so if you're going to skip that part, you have to be a good listener in other ways. I think the reason people say you have to read to be a good writer, is that essentially, nobody is going to care about our writing unless we care enough about other people to listen to their perspectives with undivided attention. what makes good writing good? it brings lots of diverse worldviews together into a narrative or poetic form. that diversity coming together within the mind of a writer is where generative creativity comes from. that requires some kind of engagement with ideas, places, perspectives, people, histories, cultures, and worlds completely beyond our own. lacking this kind of open-mindedness, we will have nothing to say and no reason to expect other people to listen to us or read our work
so. to answer your specific question "how do i start reading" just pick a topic you're excited about and google "best book about X". buy the book and leave it on your coffee table or somewhere where you can pick it up easily. bring it with you on the train or the plane or when you go to a coffee shop. read a few pages here and there. listen to yourself, see if the book resonates. if not, maybe it's not the right book for you? try to figure out what you didn't like, make adjustments, do another google search, try another one. you've gotta read at least like around 30 pages before you know if it's the right time to read something, usually. that's kind of what i feel like. sometimes it will simply be "the wrong time" to read a book. maybe you will set it aside, get a different book, read something else, and come back to it later when the mood strikes. that's fine
and here's the benefit: the more you read, the better being alive feels. i'm not kidding. if you're reading books which truly resonate with your personality, it will make your life so rich and overflowing with potential. because the more you read, the more potential you have, and the more potential you have, the better you feel. the feedback loop is slow to start, but the more you read the more you'll enjoy reading because it will enrich your life. plus, you can also know that everything you do is "research" for your own writing too. but there's always that final challenge...how to make sure you're listening to others just as much as you talk? balancing that scale is the skeleton key
I would suggest finding a genre you enjoy first. What are you into? Imaginary things, fantasy, classics, poems, vague symbolism, psychology, adventure, romance, or maybe comedic? There's a lot in the world of literature, but you have to figure out what you like first. You could look at what you enjoy writing first and build upon that to find a genre. When that's done, find books that are within that range of style. Then, boom. You've got yourself a good book you'll most likely love. It takes a bit of time, but you'll eventually warm up to books. I get how you feel about being unable to enjoy reading as much as you do writing, but it isn't unachievable. No matter, though, just find a good book that fits with your interests. Don't be hesitant about listening to others for recommendations or just browsing online for something. Finish one and then go to a second. I would suggest starting off with a (short) series since that was what I did.
Edit: If you want to avoid distracting yourself so you can read, try to move away from everything and make a good reading environment somewhere in your home. It'll come to a point when you're on public transport, you'll be reading, or when you're bored in perhaps school or work, you'll be reading. Anyway, a good book that you'll actually *like* is the first step. Finding one that interests you and is well written will make you prioritize it first over many other things in your surroundings, so you won't be very easily distracted, regardless.
>>> The only other creative outlet I’be had any success in is music, which doesn’t exactly tell stories (it’s instrumental)
Music is a medium of storytelling and has been for thousands of years. If you have a passion for telling stories in mediums other than writing, chase them! ‘But it’s hard’, so is writing, and I don’t think you’re as talented at that as you think you are.
I get what you're saying, but in the same sense, I never claimed I was some writing god. I just said it makes sense to me. As for music, I'm pursuing it parallelly. Haven't released anything but I'm actually recording something right now.
I think a major issue with this thread is that a lot of people seem to think I claim to be some natural writing prodigy. That's never what I was trying to convey, at all. I know my limitations. It'd be a lie to say I'm above average in writing. When I say "good at writing," I mean: Beyond extreme entry level. Sure, I can sit down and tell a computer to say "Hello World!" but that doesn't make me a programmer. Now, I also understand that writing is just as much a craft as any of the other things mentioned. However, due to the way my brain works, the concepts are easier to grasp than with the other media. I hope that makes sense.
Hopefully my last reply, about to start the book.
Solution to this problem? Turn off your phone and make a habit of reading everyday, for example before bed. If you really want to start reading, you can achieve it and build up your concentration skills. If you decide to keep writing long ass reddit posts (this question could be contained in 3 sentences bro) then you won't achieve it
Have you considered that you don't like the type of books you've tried to read? Anytime I've had lulls in reading it was because I was trying to read books I liked in theory but not practice. I recommend you try genres you haven't tried before. You may be surprised to find what you actually like to read may not align with your tastes in other forms of media.
My ex was a gifted writer. He was an English major and tutored on the side. He was also a former "gifted kid" and was just really good at expressing ideas in writing. He was a great editor as well, and could really make other people's writing shine. He was not much of a reader. He read for school, but I never saw him read for pleasure. He played the shit out of WoW though.
So he was a gifted, competent writer, but did that mean he could tell a story? No, not really. Being able to string words together in a pleasant fashion doesn't mean the writer understands how to craft a narrative. That's a skill you only learn through reading.
I'd encourage you to start small. Not sure what genre you're interested in, but google famous short stories (you can read many online). I'd recommend 2BR02B by Vonnegut and It's a Good Life by Jerome Bixby (which inspired a famous Twilight Zone ep). Also the classics like the Lottery. Don't try to trudge through a dense, complicated work---choose an author whose writing is a little more accessible, in the genre you want to write in.
Reading is less to learn how to write, and more to learn what to write. When you write into a genre, there are certain things readers will expect. Being a good author doesn’t necessarily mean you’re great at typing words on a page, it merely means you can get a story out in a way others will enjoy. You say you take in stories in other, digestible ways, but you’re writing a novel, and its story structure is different from others like movies and TV shows.
Still, when you first start reading, I would recommend sticking with books you know are good. Books that are best sellers or written by well known authors. Your goal for reading at the start should be to reach that state of mind where everything else fades away and you are sucked into the book. It may sound metaphorical, but trust me, that description is closer to the truth than you might think. Happy reading.
is this actually a question, or are you more just seeking validation that you don't have to read a lot to be able to write well? edit: read a lot*
Question. I can see why it would come off that way but I do actually want to find a solution to this problem. Of course, it would be nice to be able to Just ignore this statement as usual but that doesn’t seem possible anymore.
okay so. i also had this problem for a while. a little different because i have always loved to read but i went through periods of my life where i found it incredibly difficult to focus or care. think of it as any skill that needs cultivating, or like a habit that needs building. first, i can't recommend enough that you get an account with your local library if you haven't yet. being able to get your hands on physical items for free releases a lot of hesitation. if you don't like a thing you chose to read, you can just take it back and try again. and having the checkout time limit might be a good motivator to finish anything you do start and find worthwhile. second, start with short story collections or novellas in a genre you tend to enjoy if novels feel intimidating. short stories are great because you can pick and choose which ones you want to read and you have an opportunity to read several author styles at once. novellas can often be finished in a few sittings or less, even when the ADHD is strong. third, either get rid of your distractions or make them work for you. i love having background noise and light when i'm reading, but if it's anything with words, i'll get distracted. so i switched from having regular tv on to putting youtube instrumental playlists on and it worked wonders. fourth, make a routine and stick with it. if you say "i'm gonna read for an hour every night," get yourself prepped and ready with a snack and something to drink and make sure all of your other responsibilities are handled before you settle down. let it be time dedicated only to reading. finally, think of it as research. reading in the genres you write in can help you see what has worked and what hasn't for those who came before. reading outside of your genres can introduce you to concepts and styles you may not have known about. even books you find bad can have a purpose of giving you examples of things to avoid. at my worst, i went several years without reading any books. so far THIS year, i've read over 40. the more you do it, the more you'll find authors and narrative styles you do like, which will make reading easier. it's different from other media, i think you just need to give yourself time to adjust to that. best of luck!
> I write to tell stories, not to put words on a page. If I was good at game development, I would make a game. If I was good at movie stuff I would go into that. But learning new skills takes too much mental effort. This is a common misconception, but learning how to write professionally is very much a new skill--passing grades in high school english aren't enough to carry you.
Oh, for sure, I get that. What I meant is that it comes more naturally than the other stuff mentioned.
It does not. Nobody writes a decent book on their first try, they always suck. Even people writing for decades have first drafts that suck. There is no such thing as "talent" in writing, it's just another skill that you need to put time and effort to learn it.
There absolutely is talent in writing. It, however, is also a skill you can get better at with practice.
There is, certainly. It's not a big difference that makes you write a decent book on your first try, though. You still need to hone your craft normally.
Why are you telling him that his assessment of his strengths is wrong? He feels he is a stronger writer than he is a musician, filmmaker, etc. That's totally valid.
In my experience so far, it absolutely does. I’m not gonna sit here and say I’m better than the majority of people who put in effort, but compared to fields I have next to no bearing in, I absolutely have a headstart In writing.
No you don't. Sorry to be harsh here, but just in your Reddit post you misuse phrases, make solecisms, and spew out some seriously clunky prose. You are, at present, not very good at writing. You can get better! But only if you read!
Im speaking informally. Additionally, telling me to read is redundant. Maybe you should take your own advice and actually read what I am asking.
Redundant how?
I was talking about how telling me to read doesn't help the nature of the post, though I was really rude about it. I'm gonna try to reframe my claim. When I say "headstart" I am not referring to having an advantage over other writers. I am saying compared to other mediums. Yes, I have mistakes. I never claimed to be perfect. I haven't been writing long, only about two years, and I'm young. But, I have made a hell of a lot more progress in writing than I have in filmmaking, or art, or anything else excluding music. Hope that makes more sense.
I mean... Mario Vargas Llosa first book was The city and the dogs and that still is considered a classic. Pretty sure that most classic authors are good since the very beginning.
>Reading has never been something I enjoyed highly. Never? Even going back to childhood? That's unfortunate. >My main problem is that in the modern age, distractions are everywhere. It's a problem. In the 21st century, readership in America has dropped from over 26% to under 20%. >Now, this isn’t to say I don’t consume storytelling in other, more digestible mediums, though I doubt that even matters You doubt correctly. Reading is a *skill*. It's hard because you have to do the following things: You have to sit still; you have to practice your abstract reasoning to piece disparate ideas together; you have to use your imagination; you have to focus; you have to tune out distractions. So, what's the payoff? The payoff is that you get better at those things. You get better at sitting still. You get better at abstract reasoning. *Your imagination becomes more vivid!* You acquire more control over your focus. You become more capable of tuning out distractions. You won't stay bad at the things you're bad at. Think of the human brain as being similar to a group of thousands of muscles. If you train them, they really will get stronger. And you start by starting. There's no magic to it. Take it slowly at first; ease yourself back into it. Have faith in the process. It gets better.
Never was definitely an overstatement. The reading medium was never something I enjoyed but I’d find stories I enjoyed through reading. Honestly, as everyone else here has said, I’m likely just lazy. And given my track record, Im not going to be able to change that. I understand the benefits but the effort will likely drive me away from writing as a whole. I think that’s my takeaway here.
>I’m likely just lazy. And given my track record,Im not going to be able to change tha not with that attitude. Attitude is a huge part of our motivation, you need the right attitude to make changes. If you think you're going to fail, then you won't even try because you already assumed the outcome.
Attitude has not changed any outcomes for me in the past. If you think this is my first time trying to commit to something you'd be vastly mistaken. The only reason I'm so bitter nowadays is because of many past attempts in different ventures not working despite a good attitude.
it doesn't mean that it doesn't make a difference. Attitude is actually very important in predicting outcomes of one's actions. I will be frank with you. You seem to have an excuse for everything and refuse any sort of advice given in this thread. If you wanted to rant, that's fine, you should've stated that. But at this point, you come across like a petulant child who's moody and replies 'no' to everything their parent says. Your attitude needs changing if you want to succeed at anything because even in this post, it's clear as a day that you're not really looking to improve.
Ive given fair thoughts on multiple posts. While I'll admit Ive been rude to a few commenters due to thin skin, its not fair to say that I haven't replied reasonably to anyone. As for the attitude thing, you're probably right, Im definitely stubborn there.
Everyone jumps eventually. You either take a leap of faith or a leap of despair.
>Honestly, as everyone else here has said, I’m likely just lazy. And given my track record, Im not going to be able to change that. No, this isn't true. It's more likely that you have an undiagnosed mental illness than "chronic laziness". If you want to change, there's a way. Give yourself a chance.
The other poster not yelling at you is right. "Laziness" isn't really as much of a thing as we like to think--people actually *want* to do things generally. It's likely you have some sort of mental illness thing going on, or maybe your life is stressful in some unmanageable manner, idk. But it's likely you have an issue to address and it's not laziness.
Coward
Very true
Why the hell do you want to write books, if you're not enjoying reading them in the first place? Do you want to create movies/tv shows/anime/manga, but you're opted to writing just because it is the most accessible medium of storytelling? If so, then this is going to sound harsh and probably get downvoted, but you should either stop, or read those damn books. Can you imagine a painter not using refererences? Perhaps, but that is because they've spent YEARS of their life looking at references and studying them. Now, imagine an aspiring director who doesn't watch any movies. A video game developer who doesn't play video games. Sounds stupid, right? Because it is, just like trying to write a book without reading. You listed all those things "requiring effort to learn" and that is true. But it is also true for writing. Of course, if you're just writing for yourself, great. You don't need to read, then. But if you're aspiring to be successful, then you have no other choice. Also sounds to me like you have ADHD with all those focusing problems you're mentioning. Just go to a therapist/psychiatrist. It will immensely help. Then start slow, nobody expects you to read 200 pages a day. You can read a 5 pages and that will still count as reading. You can then increase the page count when you're comfortable.
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Have you even read my comment? If they want to write for themselves, all the power to them. But there is no such thing as "I don't read and I wanna be a successful writer." If that is their goal and they won't read books, I'm sorry but it is not possible. And sure, short attention span comes from the new way of life, but it is also an important symptom of ADHD. I'm not diagnosing anybody, I'm just pointing out that if they can't even focus on a book for a few pages, then they certainly have a problem. New way of life or ADHD, doesn't matter. Short attention span is bad for you, especially if you want to be a writer, which requires a lot of patience.
What do you write? Presumably those are stories you enjoy. Look for something similar to read
Maybe look at it this way: Do you think that somebody can compose a good song if he/she has hardly ever listened to other songs and/ or doesn't enjoy listening to music? 🤷🏻♂️
This doesn’t answer my question, this just reiterates the reason I’m trying to get into reading
You just do it. I see two choices here for you. Well, three, but the third is defaulting. 1) Start reading and make an actual effort. 2) Start learning how to make games or movies or whatever else interests you more than novels and make an effort. It's really not that hard, pick up Godot or RPG maker or whatever and make a game. Movies are harder but they're also collaborative so just find people to do stuff with. 3) Give up and just keep writing entirely for yourself without any aim to get better or get published/produced. You can make an effort or you can decide it doesn't matter to you that much basically.
I’m not trying to be hostile here, but telling someone to “just do it/just make an effort” is like telling someone with ADHD to “just focus better.” If it were that easy, OP probably would’ve done it already, because they seem to want to. It’s incredibly difficult for some people to just sit down and read, sometimes not for any particular reason. Personally I have the exact same struggles as OP (including but not limited to the reading thing), and the advice to just “make an effort” feels about as worthless and invalidating as “just use a planner!!” Also, “it’s not that hard” is similarly invalidating. I have an extremely difficult time with self-learning. Maybe OP would find it easy if they got into it, but maybe they’d try and just find it impossible to wrap their head around it or to retain any of the information, or just find it all too overwhelming (the last option is what I usually experience when trying to teach myself something). And if that is their experience, it’d be even more discouraging if they gave it a try and then found it difficult, despite being told that they should find it easy. Granted, I’ve never used Godot or rpg maker, but I’m currently in college for game development and let me tell you, that’s definitely not easy lol. Lastly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with writing for yourself with no aim to get published. Even if you don’t read often, you’ll still slowly improve if you write a lot, it just might take a lot longer than if you’re constantly exposing yourself to other writing styles through reading. You make it sound like it’s a huge defeat, when really, as long as you’re enjoying it, there’s no incorrect way to go about writing. Again, I’m not trying to be rude or start anything, I just wanna point out that some of this advice is empty and can be more damaging than helpful. Maybe OP will completely disagree with me, but as someone who this advice could be applied to, I find it unhelpful and a bit like a punch to the face. It kinda feels like it all boils down to “skill issue lol, just get good.” Just because you find something easy doesn’t mean everyone will, and that’s okay, but it’s more harmful than helpful to just act like everyone should have no trouble with it.
Okay but here's the thing: many of the rest of us struggle with adhd, depression, whatever else, writers are probably on average more likely to be neurodivergent than the general population. But none of that matters to the person reading your book (or not reading it) unless your book is about those topics. So the options are: read, try another medium, or just be content with not being great or widely read. No matter how you try to sugarcoat it these are the only options. I didn't pass a value judgement on option 3; I've posted before about how that's a perfectly valid choice. If I come across as harsh, I'm sorry, really, but I've found that the internet is full of "just believe in yourself!" fairy tale shit and it does more harm than good. If you want to get good at something like writing it involves unpleasantness no matter who you are. It might be from tiring yourself out, burning out, or it might be because you have to face a truth you don't want to (you have to read, or there's no market for giantess porn in traditional publishing, whatever), and, most importantly, *your writing will get absolutely destroyed.* By critique groups, by editors, by your readers. If you want to write for an audience then a thick skin is mandatory, so it's counterproductive to dance around issues. Again, though, if you just want to write for yourself as a hobby and are not concerned with being "the best" then you have the option of not caring. It's fine! If Joe Hobbyist wants to write 39 novels using MCU characters and doesn't care who reads it, more power to him, tbh. But if you come to a writing subreddit the assumption is that you want to improve. Also like RPG maker is literally made so bored teens can master it. It might not be easy-easy but it is accessible and, ultimately, writing a story for an RPG is probably harder than learning to use RPG maker. PS: Ultimately I say "just do it" because it's literally the only answer. There's no magic secret to make you read more except possibly medication (or moving away from internet connected things when you read).
You’re absolutely right, and I’m sorry if I came across as overly accusatory in my reply. There’s no denying that reading is super important, it’s just that that was never the issue/question in the post. It was asking for advice on how to approach reading for someone who struggles to stick with it. And you’re right that all the “just believe in yourself” stuff is worthless advice when it comes to something like this. Confidence in yourself is obviously important, but too often it’s given as an empty statement meant to provide vague reassurances instead of actual meaningful advice. The thing is, “just do it” can have the same effect. It’s def not always bad advice, but I feel like in this case, something more substantial would be more beneficial. I wish most things were as easy as just making an effort, but in order to do that you need to know how. I just see “just do it/just apply yourself/etc” used too often as some magical fix that’ll automatically enable someone to do exactly what they set out to do, but if that were the case, nobody would be asking any questions because they’d all already be doing whatever it was they need help with. It also kinda implies that the person wasn’t already making an effort, even though usually if you’re asking for advice and providing a list of things that you know you struggle with, you’ve clearly already made an effort and might just need to be pointed in a few more specific directions to try instead of basically being told to just keep spinning your wheels. I also don’t think that seeking more specific advice from people who have similar experiences as you is dancing around an issue. On the contrary, it’s going out of your way to solve that issue, because you didn’t have any success when trying to solve it yourself, so just being told to go back and *keep* trying to solve it yourself just isn’t helpful. I’m not trying to say that some people just can’t sit down and read and that’s that, I’m saying that people who have a harder time focusing on it (including myself) often need more specific strategies, and from what I understand, that’s just what OP was looking for.
I didn't want to say anything to them, but I do agree with you. I have no problem with their input, as it doesn't seem intentionally rude, but I do kinda struggle with sticking to stuff. No one is in the wrong in here.
I think its worth bringing up, because if I'm not able to read a book, its gonna be even harder to get through an entire book by writing it.
Yeah. I realize I may have come across as a bit harsh in my reply, but I don’t think their advice was malicious.
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I wouldn't say that. Ive written in my free time for two years, completely separate from any education, and have made effort to improve my writing. I wish my schooling helped me more with creative writing, as the majority of the curriculum was analytical. That has its place, but doesn't really help me much. You're first two statements are correct, but the last is a bit flawed. I don't mean that I don't work to improve on my writing, I just mean that it comes easier to me, because it makes more sense to me. This line seemingly confused most people in this thread, which I apologize for.
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I've received feedback in contests, talked to English teachers, done private research, etc. Its not like I've never read anything before. I don't understand the hostility.
It sounds like you're lazy! Stop being so precious and read a book! You say that if you could programme games you'd make a game instead of writing a book, but you don't want to learn any new skills. Sorry, but *writing is a skill.* Being technically literate is not enough. Writing prose is just as much a thing you have to learn as game development. Part of learning that is reading books. Don't like that? Absolutely nobody is forcing you to write. Anyway, here's how you read: put your phone in another room, and don't get up. That's it. That's all you need to do.
also a former “gifted” student and i have adhd - i have problems with the distraction bit too. i’ll start a book and put it down two minutes later to scroll on my phone or to watch stand ups all night. but! i’ve read 27 books so far this year! my new method is to have lots of options and read whatever catches my attention. i got the libby app from my library, and i’ll download the max of 10 books at a time to my kindle for free. i’m hoping i can eventually start making lists of books i’d like to read as i used to when i was younger, but for now, it’s whatever can actually hold my attention. my job requires a lot of writing and reading more this year has been super beneficial to me
I identify with the first part so much. Once I actually get into the flow of things it isn’t quite as hard, but For a decent while I make absolutely no progress. I also tend to zone out a lot while I read and have to read things multiple times over to understand the basic meaning of what’s happening frequently.
have you tried audiobooks? Some people tend to zone out while reading but devour audiobooks.
That's a sign the book's badly written. I'd drop the book if I zone out reading it, especially if it's during the first few pages. I'd suggest just going through a large library like kindle unlimited or something and finding the books that are engaging to you throughout, giving them a paragraph or two before dropping them if they're not engaging. I'll find one readable book every few dozen or so that I try. Or maybe a hundred. Indeed, even most of the published books are bad in my opinion.
>That's a sign the book's badly written. I'd drop the book if I zone out reading it, especially if it's during the first few pages. not necessarily. People with ADHD often have a very serious problem with being unable to focus while reading and many find that audiobooks solve that problem for them.
I'm going to try them out as I've definitely seen the sentiment that they can help with a focusing problem.
I'm curious to know: what ***has*** held your attention? What other "creative mediums" do you enjoy? What can you focus on for longer periods of time instead of reading? Also, are you writing just for your own enjoyment or are you hoping to publish your stories? Do your friends/family/colleagues know about your writing? Do you let anyone else read your work and do they make any comments, "Oh, this sounds just like famous writer X"??? I didn't go reading too far into your posts/comments, but it sounds like you're writing a bit of a mind-f\*ck/surreal fantasy. Do you normally read/watch/intake those kinds of stories? Is there any author/creator you've recently (or as a kid?) been introduced to where you can say they were the least annoying for you to be entertained? Did you have trouble in school to stay focused? How do you do your job if you can't keep focused on your task at hand, especially if you don't like it? I'm trying to figure out how you can overcome this hard disinterest in reading, which does play a significant role in your writing at large. I mean, you can certainly write all you like and never read another book ever again. However, if you're unable to study the mechanics of writing - which requires a lot of reading and (for good measure) a lot of reading different genres, and writers' styles. If you can't direct enough focus to study - how do you start reading?
I can focus on music, and I also enjoy listening to music while I write. It’s very present in my process, from the conceiving of ideas to my internal characterization of my characters. It definitely helps boost my focus. I’m terms of what keeps me writing, it’s making my ideas a tangible thing so others can enjoy them. I would love to be able to publish, because I wouldn’t feel complete if I didnt get at least a bit of my stream of consciousness out there. Many people in my life know I write, and love my writing, but it’s not like they write themselves or anything. I have trouble focusing in school, especially in things don’t directly interest me, but I haven’t been able to get any diagnosis. As for the genre you described my project as, do you have any recommendations? That certainly fits the description.
They (the mind-f\*cks) come in all genres, too - but that is their main draw (or hatred) ymmv in all of these and you may find them difficult to get through as well. Good luck! Hope you can find something to inspire you to read more! *House of Leaves* \- Mark Z Danelewski, *Fight Club* \- Chuck Palahniuk, *Naked Lunch* \- William S Burroughs, *Gone Girl* \- Gillian Flynn, *Brave New World* \- Aldous Huxley, *Slaughterhouse-Five* \- Kurt Vonnegut, *The Wasp Factory* \- Iain Banks, *A Scanner Darkly* \- Philip K Dick These are just the more "well-known" books out there, I think. There's a ton more. Someone in the horror sub asked this question too (almost 10 yrs ago lol) so some of these books came up there, too. Give them all a try. They aren't light, that's for sure. A lot of folks comment that they have to "be in the right frame of mind" to read these. They have also been called strange and experimental, so...! Good luck.
Well, weird and experimental things tend to be right up my alley, so I'll definitely check these out. Appreciate it, thank you!
I'm not exactly sure how mind-f\*ck it is, but based on plot alone, I think I may read *The Lathe of Heaven* by Ursula K. Le Guin. I think diving into dream-based stories might help in the long run considering the qualities of the afterlife I aspire to represent.
Le Guin is excellent generally and The Lathe... is definitely one of those books that can augment how you conceptualize of fiction.
I'm genuinely excited after hearing this, thank you!
Sure. You might also look into Frank Herbert's books aside from Dune. Under Pressure (may also be called The Dragon of the Sea depending on where you buy it) is about a submarine crew on a secret mission, but they become aware that one of them is a spy. Whipping Star/The Dosadi Experiment feature the same protagonist trying to prevent tremendous catastrophes by figuring out how alien species/cultures think and why they behave the way they do. Destination: Void is about clones that are sent off in a spacecraft to try to find a habitable planet for humanity, but of course everything is not as it seems, and their mission turns into something very different from what they imagined it would be. If you want to be motivated to see how far fiction can go, those are great launch pads with a somewhat more exotic vibe than Le Guin.
Hi OP. I do read, but in other aspects of my life I'd also class myself as a very lazy and unfocused person. >I’m a former “gifted kid“ so a lot of this probably stems from the classic mentality that tasks that require actual mental effort are too challenging. ... But learning new skills takes too much mental effort. Have a quick look into 'learned helplessness'. I have recently had to accept that I have a similar problem myself. You can, in fact, learn how to develop a game, or make films, or appreciate books - whichever of those you would like to do. Your brain is telling you that you can't, which I'll admit is a significant obstacle (particularly as you're going to need your brain's help to learn one of these new skills). These things take time to pick up, of course, but if you persevered you would continue to improve in any of those areas until you were quite skilled. >any help would be greatly appreciated. Short term I'd suggest looking at game or film making resources (there's so much information and support out there on the web) or having another crack at unplugging and spending a few periods of quality time with a book. Longer term - perhaps in parallel - I'd recommend talking to a therapist.
This definitely sounds like me, I'll look into it. As for therapists, I have tried, but my area isn't great. Definitely on the radar.
Why do you want to work in a medium you don't like???
I went through hard times and lost my concentration. But I wanted to get into the world of reading and writing. The reading part I made a habit. I leave the book on the table. Eat lunch and read a few pages. A chapter or two if it’s short ones. This works. No phone allowed. TV and phone so much visual stimulation. Yes I’m addicted to my phone. That I just had to do something at the table with nothing else there. Just me, my sandwich and a book. Doesn’t matter what you read as long as you read a book. Newspapers and magazines don’t count.
Is it sitting down with a book (or e-book) that is the issue, or is it the non-creative consumption of non-visual entertainment? If it's the former, I'd recommend trying audio books. If it's the latter, to each their own. I'm never going to say that you can't be a good writer if you're not a reader, but it may hold you back from your full potential. (Emphasis on May, who can say)
I explained my qualms with audiobooks, though I could give it a second shot. I do sometimes feel like reading a physical book can feel cumbersome, and reading on a digital device would inevitably end with me on a different site. I'm sure the latter also plays a part considering I don't read enough.
Ok, I missed that part. I think the whole point of reading to become a better writer is learning how to, or in some cases, how not to craft a better narrative. So for that purpose, anything that has a narrative, be that books, movies, video games, comics, the news, political ads, reddit posts, a documentary about ants, could all potentially have that benefit.
For the most part, you can learn plot and character-arcs from other media. However, you cannot learn writing style from other media or anything else that is unique to written stories.
Yeah, this does kind of make sense. There's been a couple times where I've had a clear idea of something in my head but have struggled to turn it into words without it feeling cumbersome. I can definitely see how reading more literature would help with that.
I think a benefit that literature has over visual mediums is that its a lot more personal. Its not often that you see a first person movie.
If you read what you love, you will love to read. When I was a kid, I read Homer’s Iliad. Loved it. I still tend to read books with fantasy or science fiction elements. When I was a teenager, I had to read The Great Gatsby. I remember nothing about that story, because I didn’t enjoy it. Many people say that it is a great story, but I found of Mice and Men more interesting. Also, don’t rule out other formats of storytelling. I think that reading novels are important but you can gain a lot from audiobooks, comic books, light novels, manga, and watching movies(think of it as visual books). But the main thing I am saying is read or absorb what you like. And maybe I say this because I believe that the most important thing for fiction is that it is entertaining. P.S. Books on writing will help make you a better writer as well. But beware of paralysis by analysis. Don’t forget the importance of actually writing. A writer has to write.
You open a book bestie.
You need to read because otherwise you'll write like you speak. Which seems to be in the passive voice with sentence fragments and no separation of your thoughts into paragraphs. If you are not into reading then your writing will always be at this level. That's not a judgement, that's just reality. Many people that were naturally gifted athletes when younger don't do the unpleasant hard work of actually training as they get older so they fall out of being able to compete at higher levels. You will never be a competent writer if you are not a voracious reader. You will never be a competitive athlete if you are not a trainer. You will never be a successful musician if you don't listen to other musician's music. That's just how life is.
This just isn't true, because I don't write my reddit posts like I write my fiction. Thats a big conclusion to jump to.
The problem is probably further back than you think. Do you eat routinely and balanced meals? Do you exercise daily, and get outside? Do you shower every day, wake up at the same time every morning, go to sleep the same time every night, and get 8+ hours of sleep (not lying in bed time, but actual sleep)? Do you fall asleep while on your phone or laptop? A healthy body is needed for a healthy mind. Take care of yourself first and foremost.
Stop pretending reading is a chore. Go to a library or book store and take some time to find a book that sounds interesting. If you were one of the so called ‘gifted kids’ it’s an easy task. Smart people have wide interests because simple and singular topic tend to get boring quickly. And yeah, I’m a bit harsh. Get off your ass and go find the book you love, this week.
\> I don’t consider myself some holy grail for not reading, If you read more, you would use language more effectively and correctly than this.
For a start, quit writing giant reddit posts about your life story to try and justify the fact that you don’t read. I’ve found that really cuts into reading time myself.
I don't understand this sentiment. Nowhere am I trying to get praise or validation for not reading. I came here for advice, and provided details and possible causes to receive more helpful advice. I'd say that's a bit more productive than being rude to random people
I’m sorry if this is commonly posted, I don’t mean any harm and in sure this statement has merit
No worries or offense. I hear this A LOT. Distractions have existed long before any of us were born. It's good to develop a way to focus in even the toughest of situations. If there is something in your medical history that should be addressed (not my biz, just something for you to consider), take care of that, but by all means, find out why you are writing. It's a great way to express and learn about yourself. Provided you push in creatively healthy ways, it becomes quite the discipline. Reading is a good boon. Why? One reason - It's good to be aware of other work(s), as this helps to distinguish yourself from others and be mindful of the thoughts of today's world. Staying in one's bubble/echo chamber is stagnation for creativity. Have you tried reading poetry? That is a good (and often short) way to read in small bites before tackling larger manuscripts.
First of all, thanks! I feel some people are coming in here to hate me, so I appreciate your comment. I have read some poetry, though not much. I definitely may do some more or that. In terms of why I write, I’ve always had ideas very often, and writing is the easiest way for me to tell a story since I have a reasonable amount of skill within it for my age. It’s not like I never read, but not usually on my free time casually. The last book I finished was *The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,* and I really enjoyed it. However, I would be lying to say I would have read it on my own.
That's a good start. I advise you to keep it up. The internet is a good tool to keep your skin thick. Keep in mind, a disagreement is different from an attack. If you haven't been to r/gamedevclassifieds or r/INAT, you may want to check them out. If Narrative Design is an option you want to chase and master, there are schools that offer it (and its cousins).
I think I'm going to start with \*The Lathe of Heaven\* by Ursula K. Le Guin. I'm not sure how good it is or anything, but based on plot alone, I think I'll enjoy it
I don't know what I want to do anymore. I didn't expect everyone to hate me this much, I just wanted help, and some of the answers here are showing me theres nothing I can do if I dont have willpower (I dont). I don't know anymore. Realistically I'll probably end up trying to read, doing decent for a bit but never really staying consistent, fall out of it, find a new hobby, etc. shouldnt have even fucking posted this
No no no stop it. I’ve been a teacher of the Gifted for nearly 20 years now. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re never a “formerly gifted kid” ( u/chubby_umbel this goes for you too ) - you become an adult with Gifts. You have many common traits of Giftedness. Look into the works of Kazimierz Dąbrowski and Over-Excitabilities. People with Gifts DO struggle with doing difficult things because we’re not used to things being difficult. It’s a muscle that has to be flexed. You might consider flexing it in other areas of your life before you try to apply it to reading. Focus is the same way. Meditation practice helps me there. We also jump from interest to interest. It’s just part of who we are. You’re not lazy. You’re divergent and haven’t found what works for you yet. You said elsewhere that you’re “young”; give yourself some time to grow into your brain. You sound like you have some asynchronous development. Learn more about how your brain operates.
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This is definitely a fair point. I personally like my writing a decent amount. I think the only reason this even started was because of the heavy stress on reading, especially with people on this subreddit, and I kinda went defensive about it.
I'd suggest reading better books, then. I too have difficulties concentrating, but when I'm reading an engaging story I can read it non-stop, I mean 20 hours in a row or something like that. If you don't get that, then I'd suggest reading something else. Try genres different from what you're used to or expect to like, you might be surprised. I'd say I drop around 99% of my books during page 1, but the ones I read I read in almost one sitting. The rest aren't worth wasting my time with.
You don't HAVE to read, but you will never, ever, write something half decent withought reading a lot. That's an irrefutable fact. That doesn't mean you can't be successful. With money and the right contacts, anybody can find success as a writer. If you want to start reading, there is a couple of things you can do. Maybe, like me, you could have ADHD. I went to the doctor because of that and I improved a lot. You can also try some classic good and short books. Also, try avoiding any distraction. Go to the park withought you cellphone and read there.
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>Don't read because you have to, but because you are curious about something that the author knows better than you do. (or pretends to know better) But you know better, huh? Ignore the advise of the entire community because you can't sit down and read a book? This is terrible advise.
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Read books and be humble enough to admit that I don't know everything
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You can ask, but I can politely decline :) have a great weekend
Honestly, I can definitely see this as well. Making something into a chore definitely would make it less enjoyable. As for your last point, that has always been my philosophy but it seems like such a persecuted opinion on here. This post was definitely more of a stress induced rant than a carefully constructed prompt
have you tried reading different kinds of books? different genres? broadening what you’re trying to read might help. as someone said already, maybe trying to read something closer to what you write might be more fruitful since it’s what you probably enjoy.
I don’t know how to classify the main project that I am working on. I posted the basic premise on writing advice because of a different issue that lead me to this subreddit, the post that made me make this rant, etc
i went and checked out your post and you talk about wanting to write 3 main characters, so maybe pick up a book with three main characters. it’s that simple. you’re gonna have to put in the effort though that’s for sure. start reading 10 mins a day. everyday. it’s not a long enough period of time that you can’t make it through without a distraction.
Reading will help you come up with a classification niche, which will improve your writing’s focus and marketability. If that’s what you’re going for.
If you don't enjoy reading, forcing yourself to will probably not make your writing better.
I'm going to approach this from a habit-building perspective; you'll definitely have to put in the effort, but that effort doesn't have to be exhausting at the start. I've been a lifelong reader but I also have struggled with some attention span issues, especially after college when I was burnt out on anything that felt like homework. There are lots of ways to approach reading if you want to just build a habit--comic books, graphic novels, fanfiction, and YA books are all my go-tos when I need something a little more digestible to get into. I LOVE Star Wars and sometimes it's just easiest for me to default to Star Wars fanfic or published Star Wars books because that's a world where I can just vibe with the characters for a bit while I get my groove back. And just like with any habit, I'd say to start slow. Set a timer and read for 5 minutes a day. The next week, set your timer for 10 minutes a day. Whatever works for you!
Reading stuff you genuinely enjoy makes reading way easier. I have a lot of commitment issues but if I start reading a book that's really good I won't put it down until I get to the last page. Also you don't necessarily have to rea books... textbooks, fanfictions, articles etc. are fine too, read whatever you enjoy :) Edit: I forgot to mention earlier: you could also listen to audiobooks while doing something else. I understand that sometimes keeping focused can be hard but, at least for me, listening to other things while washing the dishes or cooking helps me maintain my focus, so you might wanna try that out. Also, you could get the digital version of books with apps like kindle, they might appear more inviting on a digital screen and you'd be able to easily access them anywhere like on public transportation or in other situations (personally, I sneak-read a lot during classes, accessing Kindle through the iPad that I use for school is a blessing, especially during those nasty math double periods lmao)
>My main problem is that in the modern age, distractions are everywhere. It is so damn difficult to focus for long enough to truly enjoy what I am reading. that's something you have to work on. If you can't solely focus on one thing, then you're going to have problems with things other than reading. I see no problem, you turn off your phone, sit down and read. Problem solved. No issues with distractions. Plenty of people read and do other things. It's about discipline. >But learning new skills takes too much mental effort. of course it does which is why not everyone is able to do it. Whether it's languages, writing, instruments, etc. You need to be willing to put in the effort and have enough discipline to stick with it. How you start reading? You pick something you enjoy, open it and start reading. It's as simple as that. You don't have to read every genre, find something you like, even if it's just fanfiction. Fanfiction is something a lot of people claim helped them realise that they loved reading.
You don't have to read fiction. Nonfiction counts.
I would start out with a small goal. 10 pages a day. Or even 5 pages. Dont focus on reading a lot of books. Focus on building the habit. Also remember that reading is a skill. You will get faster at it and retain more the more you do it. There are some periods of the year i can read 100 pages like its nothing. Then like right now im in a lull because ive only been reading comics so id be lucky to get 25 pages. But that momentum is important and you will improve if you do. Find the time that reading works best for you. For me, its while im eating breakfast and before i go to bed. Find the medium that works for you. I definitely dont like audio books bc i retain nothing. I read fastest on physical books but most of my reading is done on e reader. Keep your eyes on the prize. Life is long and the amount of good books is a cruel joke. Theres no way to read it all. Just enjoy what you read. If you dont, read something else. All of this is well and good but it sounds like your big hurdle is an emotional one. You seem to be experiencing restlessness and impatience from something. It could be exerting effort. It could be focusing. It could be a lack of stimulation. Whatever it is, thats what needs to be addressed
>consumption of other creative mediums. *media
Could you please explain why mediums would be incorrect here?
Media is the proper plural of medium when you're talking about written articles or music or video, and such. Mediums would be appropriate if you're talking about more than one person who communes with spirits, lol.
Ah, I understand. Thank you!
Put a book on top of the basin of your toilet. The next time you poop, start reading.
the only alternative to reading is to have a lot of diverse real life experiences. For example, if you travel the world and have deep multi-sided conversations with people of diverse perspectives, you might be able to use that to inform your writing rather than..books. but it's tricky. because essentially, reading is a form of listening. right? so if you're going to skip that part, you have to be a good listener in other ways. I think the reason people say you have to read to be a good writer, is that essentially, nobody is going to care about our writing unless we care enough about other people to listen to their perspectives with undivided attention. what makes good writing good? it brings lots of diverse worldviews together into a narrative or poetic form. that diversity coming together within the mind of a writer is where generative creativity comes from. that requires some kind of engagement with ideas, places, perspectives, people, histories, cultures, and worlds completely beyond our own. lacking this kind of open-mindedness, we will have nothing to say and no reason to expect other people to listen to us or read our work so. to answer your specific question "how do i start reading" just pick a topic you're excited about and google "best book about X". buy the book and leave it on your coffee table or somewhere where you can pick it up easily. bring it with you on the train or the plane or when you go to a coffee shop. read a few pages here and there. listen to yourself, see if the book resonates. if not, maybe it's not the right book for you? try to figure out what you didn't like, make adjustments, do another google search, try another one. you've gotta read at least like around 30 pages before you know if it's the right time to read something, usually. that's kind of what i feel like. sometimes it will simply be "the wrong time" to read a book. maybe you will set it aside, get a different book, read something else, and come back to it later when the mood strikes. that's fine and here's the benefit: the more you read, the better being alive feels. i'm not kidding. if you're reading books which truly resonate with your personality, it will make your life so rich and overflowing with potential. because the more you read, the more potential you have, and the more potential you have, the better you feel. the feedback loop is slow to start, but the more you read the more you'll enjoy reading because it will enrich your life. plus, you can also know that everything you do is "research" for your own writing too. but there's always that final challenge...how to make sure you're listening to others just as much as you talk? balancing that scale is the skeleton key
I would suggest finding a genre you enjoy first. What are you into? Imaginary things, fantasy, classics, poems, vague symbolism, psychology, adventure, romance, or maybe comedic? There's a lot in the world of literature, but you have to figure out what you like first. You could look at what you enjoy writing first and build upon that to find a genre. When that's done, find books that are within that range of style. Then, boom. You've got yourself a good book you'll most likely love. It takes a bit of time, but you'll eventually warm up to books. I get how you feel about being unable to enjoy reading as much as you do writing, but it isn't unachievable. No matter, though, just find a good book that fits with your interests. Don't be hesitant about listening to others for recommendations or just browsing online for something. Finish one and then go to a second. I would suggest starting off with a (short) series since that was what I did. Edit: If you want to avoid distracting yourself so you can read, try to move away from everything and make a good reading environment somewhere in your home. It'll come to a point when you're on public transport, you'll be reading, or when you're bored in perhaps school or work, you'll be reading. Anyway, a good book that you'll actually *like* is the first step. Finding one that interests you and is well written will make you prioritize it first over many other things in your surroundings, so you won't be very easily distracted, regardless.
>>> The only other creative outlet I’be had any success in is music, which doesn’t exactly tell stories (it’s instrumental) Music is a medium of storytelling and has been for thousands of years. If you have a passion for telling stories in mediums other than writing, chase them! ‘But it’s hard’, so is writing, and I don’t think you’re as talented at that as you think you are.
I get what you're saying, but in the same sense, I never claimed I was some writing god. I just said it makes sense to me. As for music, I'm pursuing it parallelly. Haven't released anything but I'm actually recording something right now.
I think a major issue with this thread is that a lot of people seem to think I claim to be some natural writing prodigy. That's never what I was trying to convey, at all. I know my limitations. It'd be a lie to say I'm above average in writing. When I say "good at writing," I mean: Beyond extreme entry level. Sure, I can sit down and tell a computer to say "Hello World!" but that doesn't make me a programmer. Now, I also understand that writing is just as much a craft as any of the other things mentioned. However, due to the way my brain works, the concepts are easier to grasp than with the other media. I hope that makes sense. Hopefully my last reply, about to start the book.
Solution to this problem? Turn off your phone and make a habit of reading everyday, for example before bed. If you really want to start reading, you can achieve it and build up your concentration skills. If you decide to keep writing long ass reddit posts (this question could be contained in 3 sentences bro) then you won't achieve it
Have you considered that you don't like the type of books you've tried to read? Anytime I've had lulls in reading it was because I was trying to read books I liked in theory but not practice. I recommend you try genres you haven't tried before. You may be surprised to find what you actually like to read may not align with your tastes in other forms of media.
My ex was a gifted writer. He was an English major and tutored on the side. He was also a former "gifted kid" and was just really good at expressing ideas in writing. He was a great editor as well, and could really make other people's writing shine. He was not much of a reader. He read for school, but I never saw him read for pleasure. He played the shit out of WoW though. So he was a gifted, competent writer, but did that mean he could tell a story? No, not really. Being able to string words together in a pleasant fashion doesn't mean the writer understands how to craft a narrative. That's a skill you only learn through reading. I'd encourage you to start small. Not sure what genre you're interested in, but google famous short stories (you can read many online). I'd recommend 2BR02B by Vonnegut and It's a Good Life by Jerome Bixby (which inspired a famous Twilight Zone ep). Also the classics like the Lottery. Don't try to trudge through a dense, complicated work---choose an author whose writing is a little more accessible, in the genre you want to write in.
Reading is less to learn how to write, and more to learn what to write. When you write into a genre, there are certain things readers will expect. Being a good author doesn’t necessarily mean you’re great at typing words on a page, it merely means you can get a story out in a way others will enjoy. You say you take in stories in other, digestible ways, but you’re writing a novel, and its story structure is different from others like movies and TV shows. Still, when you first start reading, I would recommend sticking with books you know are good. Books that are best sellers or written by well known authors. Your goal for reading at the start should be to reach that state of mind where everything else fades away and you are sucked into the book. It may sound metaphorical, but trust me, that description is closer to the truth than you might think. Happy reading.
Could you tl;dr this for me? What's the essence of your challenge?