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/lit/ - Literature

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14793957 No.14793957 [Reply] [Original]

The single most common piece of advice I see established writers give is to read more.

My question is how many books/stories must one read before they can write without feeling like a fraud? 100? 500? 1,000?

>> No.14793988

>>14793957
Enough to know bad writing when you see it.

>> No.14794008

>>14793957
literally no idea, i've always felt like a fraud in everything i do. i don't see that changing.

i think you just have to find things you like, do them, and just remember
>prey that doesn't run might not be prey at all
don't self-consciously half-ass your shit, just go big or go home

>> No.14794017

>>14794008
>don't self-consciously half-ass your shit, just go big or go home
This might actually be some of the best advice I've ever heard. It's actually inline with a few other things I've heard. There's a band I like that made a comment in an interview once that went something like "If you don't think what you're doing is the best then what's the point?" Similar energy to your point, I feel.

>> No.14794136
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14794136

>>14794017
DOPE!, yes!, i think by acting with total confidence you will gaslight everyone else into thinking what you're doing is the right thing. i think this applies to almost everything. the illusion *can't* fail as long as you have confidence, manbearpig *can't* get you as long as you're in the circle. go big or go home friend

>> No.14794155

>>14794136
>manbearpig *can't* get you as long as you're in the circle
kek I wanna have a couple beers with you, fren. You seem like an interesting fellow

>> No.14794174

>>14793957
See >>14793988 and also unironically watch good (not /lit/ meme) movies and television shows to study character growth and plot development.

>> No.14794210
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14794210

>>14794155
holy smokes i was thinking of the sea bear from spongebob actually, but you got the idea.
>kek I wanna have a couple beers with you, fren. You seem like an interesting fellow
thank ya kindly! right time and place, i was just thinking about exactly these things as i read your post, all of it. it's the right question to be asking. sometimes i just want to break out into dance or something, i wonder why i don't, then i imagine louis ck getting on stage and talking about some asshole dancing on the train, and whatnot. but then i realize that im the one that made that bit possible. been stopping myself a lot less lately.

>> No.14794295
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14794295

>>14794210
Fren, where do you live? You seem like quite the character and I think we'd get along swimmingly.

>> No.14794364
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14794364

>>14794210
>Fren, where do you live?
wales but my base of ops is california. y tu?

>You seem like quite the character and I think we'd get along swimmingly.
i appreciate it!, and only sometimes!, ostensibly!, when i think ive got something to say. which is rare. but im trying to read more to help with that. fifty shades of fraud, etc, you know the drill.

my disc is nunch#4099, msg anytime and ill always get around to responding. there's some kids from middle school that i haven't met in 10 years, that don't even remember me, but in my head we're all still frogs.

>> No.14794391

>>14794364
>wales but my base of ops is california
damn, I'm on the East coast. I'll certainly get around to messaging you on discord though

>> No.14794439

>>14793957
>before they can write without feeling like a fraud?
That's not something reading will help with.

I'd say 500 is a decent start to have an idea of what's possible, more never hurts but as a writer your job is to spend most of your time writing, so after 500ish, I'd do it on the side when you can.

>>14794136
Very important advice too. Beginning writers tend to stand out due how little confidence they have in their work and the reader and it's just fucking awkward.

>> No.14794506
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14794506

>>14794391
fuck, sweet and godspeed

>> No.14794534

>>14793957
About 350

>> No.14794617

>>14794534
noice

>> No.14794780

Do those "Ology" books from the mid 2000's count? Because I read the shit out of them as a kid.

>> No.14794787

>>14794295
>!
SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK! SUCK HIS DICK!

>> No.14794800
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14794800

>>14794787
>SUCK HIS DICK!
thats not how friendships work, anon. i think. is it? what do i know?

>> No.14794802

>tfw this thread inspired me to list out all the books I've read and I barely make 50, even then there's a lot of cringe kid stuff there
RIP me

>>14794174
>good (not /lit/ meme) movies and television shows
Well at least I have that down. I've forgotten more movies than I'll ever remember. Probably should be a screenwriter desu, but that involves too many other people. Most of my ideas are too large for a single movie but too small for a series anyway.

>> No.14795154

>>14793957
Even after you start writing you'll be writing shit until your skills improve.

>>14794802
Screenwriting is just you. If you sell one, it goes out of your hands and other people will then fuck with it but they won't ask any further input from you.

>> No.14795189

>>14793957
Quiye the contrary. Never read and keep writing

>> No.14795224
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14795224

>>14795189
t. fanfiction writer

>> No.14795227

>>14793957
As many until you can write a good book. Write for enjoyment from the beginning though, just do it with the knowledge of these classics.

>> No.14795238

>>14793957
some good general advice is
when you first read your completed work you should think it's a good book then read it again 3 months later and if you still like it the books good

>> No.14795283

Writing is as much discovery and invention as it is referential. It's unique in that way.

>> No.14795319

You should find your own way that works. The only writing advice that I think makes sense for anyone is this: just start writing and don't stop.

>> No.14795345

>>14795154
>fuck with it
yeah, I don't want other people fucking with it. That's my biggest problem. I wouldn't mind getting into directing one day, but I don't feel like earning that shot by letting other people butcher my stories and characters.

>> No.14795351

>>14795319
>just start writing and don't stop
based