ASK AUNTIE MJ: AM I READING WRITING BOOKS TO KEEP MYSELF FROM WRITING?
Do you think reading books about writing is a distraction to the process of actually writing the thing I ultimately want to write? You see, Iâm prone to procrastination. So now that Iâm trying to take writing more seriously (so that I can finally finish writing a first draft), Iâm suspicious of myself in this specific situation.
You have asked one of The Writing Questions! Letâs take a moment to CELEBRATE.
Your question is a branch on the tree of this question: is a reading a form of procrastination that prevents you from writing? You canât write without reading. You have to do it. But you have correctly pointed out that at a certain point you need to stop reading and write.
This is why people go into RESEARCH SPIRALS where they research so much that they never actually write the thing they need to write. The questions beat in the mind constantlyâam I done? Am I ready? Do I know enough?
But you are asking specifically about reading books about writing. And I have an answer for you.
 Yes, reading books about writing can be a form of procrastination that prevents you from writing.
 Now let me break it down.
1. You donât need to read any books on writing to learn how to writeâbecause all books are books about how to write.
I just blew your mind. I know. Deep. Also true. All books with words in them teach us about writing. We learn by taking in the various components of whatâs on the page (or screen). From the big things (story, overall structure, book length) to the page level (paragraph length, sentence length and structure) to the word choice level. We note repetition and themes. We take in the authorâs style. We decide whether or not we like it, and (often separately) whether or not it is effective. We often do these things without realizing it. Writing instruction is largely an exercise in getting you to notice and consciously choose to do things you are likely already doing.
This is pretty key. Once you know to look for these things, you tend to look for them more and keep a clearer mental register. You can also drive yourself insane looking for them and wind up spending twenty years analyzing a single paragraph, and you will end up looking like this:
At a certain point, you need to let go and write. So sure, books on writing are fine. But in the end, they are sort of like everything else we read. They can have good tips, for sure. But letâs move on to point twoâŠ
2. If you are going to read books on writing, read more than one, but maybe not more than ten.
This is just a personal tip from me. I donât know how many you have read. Iâm guessing that if you are writing this question thatâs itâs probably a few. I think ten is about the limit. Hereâs why.
Everyone has a different way of writing and a different style of explaining how they write, if they explain at all. So if you only read one book on writing, you may get the idea that youâve done itâyouâve read A Book by someone who published A Book.
Anyone can publish a book. Iâve published a bunch of books and the other day I drank salad dressing instead of water. What does that tell you? Some books on writing will be good, and some will be very generic, and some will be okay, and some will be dumb. They vary, as all books do. So if you start down the path, read a couple. Try to mix it up a bit.
Some books are all about structureâstory arc, character archetypes, conflict, resolution, etc. These are good things to know about. If youâre going down the writing book route, read a few books like this.
Some books are more about the muse and the feeling and the magical journey and the birds singing in your ear. They might have a lot of very fluid exercises in them, like making lists of things you see, or writing a hundred words about a piece of grassâthat sort of thing. These books have their place. I have a few of these I like.
And then there are the books by the people who write for a living who will basically just tell you to write. Just write. Start now and work hard and write every day. Thatâs good advice. Thatâs how it actually happens. You will learn to write through writing, and you will likely be terrible when you start and get betterâlike everything else.
I made a video about this very subject for my friend John Green when he was out having a child. Iâll include the link here because it says pretty much everything I have to say in the subject. I also say it in a very unfortunate way that has an unintended double meaning, so enjoy. But the gist of the video is thisâŠ
3. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO BE BAD AT THIS
Thatâs whatâs holding you back now. Youâre afraid you donât know enough. No one knows enough when they start. No one ever knows enough, really. You just have to start. Write terribly. Go on. Do it. Then keep writing and improve. That is how it goes. No one would expect you to pick up a violin and instantly know how to play because youâre heard some other people playing the violin. You will get better with practice. You donât have to show your work to anyone until you feel ready, and it may take years to feel ready. Good. Fine. Thatâs normal. No one knows what they are doing when they start. They just have to start with GUSTO.
The fact that you are asking this question at all means something in you is saying, âI should just do this thing.â I think you should listen to that voice and do this thing. You can always read the books in the time you arenât writing. This isnât the kind of thing where you have to read ALL THE BOOKS before you start. Just start writing.
And do not drink salad dressing.
Ask Auntie MJ is a thing Maureen Johnson does once a week, usually between Wednesday and Friday, whether anyone wants her to or not. You can submit questions using the ask button.
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