The world here is very different from what I grew up knowing. I'd been raised in Las Vegas, by my aunt and uncle Through a series of rather dull events that I just don't care enough about to mention, I ended up living here with my father.
It's easy. And not easy. We live on section 8, welfare, food stamps, social security. The whole lot of crap.
My life's story isn't why I'm writing, and I won't be going over that long, boring tale. It's not worth your time. But, what I will tell you, is some of my thoughts and the events of my days.
You see, I spend my spare time writing poetry and working on several novels and a fan-fiction based on the show "supernatural"; and, of course, World of Warcraft. If I'm not doing any of that, I'm eating, sleeping, takin' a shit or filling out an application for work.
I play WoW with several friends I've gathered over the years of playing that game; and I consider them very close, like family.
Now, a few hours ago, I was sitting in bed bored out of my mind because my laptop - which I purchased using funding for my college- and I realized something: there is not one single book in my collection of two hundred or so that actually catch my interest anymore.
I was left wondering what happened to the days when I could read the Harry Potter books back to back fifty times a month and be completely content. I was left wondering if I were getting older and turning into another of the mindless drones of society who never open a book past high school because, well, why bother when you've got WoW and television? Of course, I'm proud to say I haven't turned that god aweful machine (the tv) on in over a year. But that doesn't negate the sudden disinterest I had in reading.
This is a big deal. At this age the only thing I wanted in life was a good paying job, my own apartment, my laptop and enough money to pay for the net and WoW, as well as time to write. This is a big deal because a writer with no interest in reading is no writer at all. Reading is absolutely fundamental to writing, and the scary thing is- I'd only just recently learned why it's so utterly important.
Now, in case you don't know yet, it's important to read as a writer because it gives you the perspective you need as a writer on different writing styles. It helps you place yourself as a writer in terms of your style, ability, and general interests in genre and "person placement" (1st vs 3rd person perspectives). It's also generally fascinating to see how other author's word things, it can inspire you to do a bit of creative writing that, well, well out-does anything you've done previously. Not because you've copied or hacked off another author, but because you've suddenly seen a more complete horizon of what you, as a human and as an individual, are capable of in terms of writing.
It's also just damn blasphemous to be a writer and not a reader. But, that's subjective.
Anyways, I realized later tonight that I'd just matured as a reader. I couldn't keep reading the same crap over and over again, even if I were reading it as a professional now and not just as a means to pass time and entertain. I just don't have the mindset necessary to do it.
So I go out, I find a few new pieces of writing, get a couple novels on my comp, etc etc. I find my spark again. And suddenly, I find myself wanting to write more.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you have something you love to do and you find yourself blocked from doing it (in a writer's block kind of sense), the best way to to solve it is to look at other people's work. Get off that island you call your ego, that subjective sandbox, and start expanding your mind -in an objective fashion.
You see, I spend my spare time writing poetry and working on several novels and a fan-fiction based on the show "supernatural"; and, of course, World of Warcraft. If I'm not doing any of that, I'm eating, sleeping, takin' a shit or filling out an application for work.
I play WoW with several friends I've gathered over the years of playing that game; and I consider them very close, like family.
Now, a few hours ago, I was sitting in bed bored out of my mind because my laptop - which I purchased using funding for my college- and I realized something: there is not one single book in my collection of two hundred or so that actually catch my interest anymore.
I was left wondering what happened to the days when I could read the Harry Potter books back to back fifty times a month and be completely content. I was left wondering if I were getting older and turning into another of the mindless drones of society who never open a book past high school because, well, why bother when you've got WoW and television? Of course, I'm proud to say I haven't turned that god aweful machine (the tv) on in over a year. But that doesn't negate the sudden disinterest I had in reading.
This is a big deal. At this age the only thing I wanted in life was a good paying job, my own apartment, my laptop and enough money to pay for the net and WoW, as well as time to write. This is a big deal because a writer with no interest in reading is no writer at all. Reading is absolutely fundamental to writing, and the scary thing is- I'd only just recently learned why it's so utterly important.
Now, in case you don't know yet, it's important to read as a writer because it gives you the perspective you need as a writer on different writing styles. It helps you place yourself as a writer in terms of your style, ability, and general interests in genre and "person placement" (1st vs 3rd person perspectives). It's also generally fascinating to see how other author's word things, it can inspire you to do a bit of creative writing that, well, well out-does anything you've done previously. Not because you've copied or hacked off another author, but because you've suddenly seen a more complete horizon of what you, as a human and as an individual, are capable of in terms of writing.
It's also just damn blasphemous to be a writer and not a reader. But, that's subjective.
Anyways, I realized later tonight that I'd just matured as a reader. I couldn't keep reading the same crap over and over again, even if I were reading it as a professional now and not just as a means to pass time and entertain. I just don't have the mindset necessary to do it.
So I go out, I find a few new pieces of writing, get a couple novels on my comp, etc etc. I find my spark again. And suddenly, I find myself wanting to write more.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you have something you love to do and you find yourself blocked from doing it (in a writer's block kind of sense), the best way to to solve it is to look at other people's work. Get off that island you call your ego, that subjective sandbox, and start expanding your mind -in an objective fashion.
Yep.
ReplyDeleteThe Thorn Birds
Tara Road
A Painted House
(Do NOT cheat and see the movies first. Keep that idiot box OFF.)
Will do xD
ReplyDelete