Ooof, going into the weeds with this topic. I'm in agreement with Rachel in not believing in regrets and basically going with the mentality of everything happened because it was supposed to happen. But I do have a regret (and no I'm not going to repeat my reboot story, ha ha ha.) My biggest regret was not reading more and wide when I was younger. I thought that reading other people's work would cause me to steal ideas and not generate my own original ones. As a result, I don't have a thorough understanding of tropes and formulas found in most stories specific to their genre. My writing is very visual focused (cinematic) some would say, and I find that as a result a lot of my intimate dialogue scenes read as boring or melodramatic. It took me 10+ years to get caught up with something I would have had a stronger understanding of if I had read more sooner. Now I feel like I'm playing a game of constant catch up. Catch up on my reading, practice my writing, master structure, etc. Of course, my life probably would have turned in a completely different direction maybe one I would like less than the life I have now. Everything happens for a reason.
Thanks for sharing your regret, Wilmar. I think a lot of people worry about that regarding reading widely, especially in the genre you write. And sometimes we can be overly influenced. Though always hopefully catching it enough to steer the boat into more original waters. Being visually focused, just means you need to see if you can get your book made into a movie. I think it would be great for the big screen! :D ~Ari
I suppose my greatest regrets were being impatient when I was young and then becoming a perfectionist later. But, like you said, they may have been the best decisions at that time to help me learn to be a better writer. I had those preconceived notions about what being a writer meant, too. For a while it looked like I was also going to pursue being an artist before I turned to writing. The reason I didn't is because I sold myself short in that regard.
Thanks for sharing your regrets, Andrew. I think it helps us to hear each others so we know we aren't alone. The perfectionism is such a stone around our necks. It is something I struggle with constantly. I'm sorry you sold yourself short regarding becoming an artist. Do you still dabble in art at least? ~Ari
@@TheMerryWriterPodcast You're welcome. I haven't really dabbled in art in a while. My last stint did, though, produce a series of pencil drawings (six of which are included with six of my poems in the Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature anthology). Sometimes I take photographs; I haven't ruled out photography as something to dabble in.
Ooof, going into the weeds with this topic. I'm in agreement with Rachel in not believing in regrets and basically going with the mentality of everything happened because it was supposed to happen.
But I do have a regret (and no I'm not going to repeat my reboot story, ha ha ha.)
My biggest regret was not reading more and wide when I was younger. I thought that reading other people's work would cause me to steal ideas and not generate my own original ones. As a result, I don't have a thorough understanding of tropes and formulas found in most stories specific to their genre.
My writing is very visual focused (cinematic) some would say, and I find that as a result a lot of my intimate dialogue scenes read as boring or melodramatic. It took me 10+ years to get caught up with something I would have had a stronger understanding of if I had read more sooner.
Now I feel like I'm playing a game of constant catch up. Catch up on my reading, practice my writing, master structure, etc. Of course, my life probably would have turned in a completely different direction maybe one I would like less than the life I have now.
Everything happens for a reason.
Thanks for sharing your regret, Wilmar. I think a lot of people worry about that regarding reading widely, especially in the genre you write. And sometimes we can be overly influenced. Though always hopefully catching it enough to steer the boat into more original waters.
Being visually focused, just means you need to see if you can get your book made into a movie. I think it would be great for the big screen! :D ~Ari
I suppose my greatest regrets were being impatient when I was young and then becoming a perfectionist later. But, like you said, they may have been the best decisions at that time to help me learn to be a better writer.
I had those preconceived notions about what being a writer meant, too. For a while it looked like I was also going to pursue being an artist before I turned to writing. The reason I didn't is because I sold myself short in that regard.
Thanks for sharing your regrets, Andrew. I think it helps us to hear each others so we know we aren't alone. The perfectionism is such a stone around our necks. It is something I struggle with constantly.
I'm sorry you sold yourself short regarding becoming an artist. Do you still dabble in art at least? ~Ari
@@TheMerryWriterPodcast You're welcome. I haven't really dabbled in art in a while. My last stint did, though, produce a series of pencil drawings (six of which are included with six of my poems in the Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature anthology).
Sometimes I take photographs; I haven't ruled out photography as something to dabble in.
That is great, having your pencil drawings in with your poetry. I'm glad to hear you haven't fully given up on your art. ~Ari