There’s been a couple of interesting discussions on the writing subreddit recently about how people who want to write should spend their time. The discussion seems pretty split as to whether you should only be reading if you want to write well, or if there’s room to watch movies, tv shows, anime, etc, etc if you want to improve your ability to tell stories.

I’ve said it here before but I’m a big proponent for idea that you can learn to write from any form of entertainment. If anything my stance on that has only grown stronger over the past two years. But there are a couple of big caveats you have to consider if you want to use your favorite non-written medium to improve your abilities.

1. You have to view your medium of choice critically.

This is probably the biggest point, because it’s the point that so many people overlook. Just because you enjoy your favorite anime show absolutely does not mean it’s above reproach. Nothing is. You have to be able to view your favorite things with a critical eye in order to identify what works, what doesn’t work, and why that is. I’m not sure why people have such a hard time with this, but I think it has something to do with the way we often want to identify ourselves with our favorite characters and stories in such a way that criticizing the works we appreciate feels like criticizing ourselves. If this is true for you its a terrible habit, break it immediately!

I was discussing Harry Potter with a coworker a couple of years ago and outlining some of my issues with the overall narrative construction of some of the story’s elements (hey, he asked.) When I paused to come up for air, my coworker gave me this look of dejection and said, “Aw man, but I like Harry Potter.” I quickly told him that that’s perfectly fine. I  like Harry Potter too, but that doesn’t mean it’s an object of perfection. There’s nothing wrong with liking something that’s flawed, everything is and to be honest, if you can acknowledge the faults of something and still appreciate it, I think you’ve proven the worth of that story or world!

2. Have the mindset of converting your medium into the written word.

I’ve read too many (really TOO many) stories where it’s obvious the author had a great visual picture in their minds for what was happening… and almost no grounding on any other level. As if they had this marvelous anime-esque (eesh, I’m picking on that medium today, aren’t I?) fight sequence in their minds and their whole goal in writing a scene was to convey its magnificence. But as most of you will now that doesn’t translate to paper.

You can use anything for inspiration for  your writing, but you have to play to writing’s strengths as a medium. Anime does it with flashy visuals and music that gets you pumped up. Writing does it by getting you into the action by putting you the character’s head. You get to see their thoughts and impressions as they devise a strategy, or get a feel for their pain when they break a rib. To quote mothers raising toddlers everywhere, USE YOUR WORDS.

There’s so much more that could be said on the topic, but I will let it rest for now.

I’m stuck in book 2. There’s no getting around that. There’s a few elements I’m struggling with, namely in the world building. Things that I thought were ironed out, but as I write I see they are not. I’ve also go ta character I was sure would be included in this book, but now I’m not sure if I want there, and a back story that I was intending to save to book 3, but now I don’t know if I need in book 2. Gahh, the agonies of discovery writing.

That having been said, I’m thinking of instituting “bored time” back into my life. You know, the time that usually gets filled playing a game on your phone, or reading a book on the subway, or waiting in line at the store. These are moments I need to start seeking out so I can process things I need to work out for my story. I’ll let you know how it goes 🙂

-R