Argh.

[hafital]

How do people feel about reading while writing? Does anyone ever feel like they shouldn't? Or that they become all muddled because of it? I mostly don't like to read while writing, if for no other reason that I'll use it as a means of avoidence. But also, if a fic is written in a different pov or tense, my brain starts thinking in that tense (or pov) and when I go back to writing its hell switching back. Anyone else have this or similar problems, or is it just me?

ETA: Okay, I don't mean simultaneously. LOL. That's a neat trick....

Comments

hmmmm

[olympia-m.livejournal.com]

That is an interesting question. With a funny answer. When I'm writing my thesis, I actually read fanfiction. One paragraph of fanfiction, one of the thesis. But when I'm writing fanfiction, I usually don't read any other stories. I do get inspired to write fanfiction because I've read a fanfic story that I liked, though it does not affect my use of tense or POV.

Does that make sense? :)

Re: hmmmm

[hafital.livejournal.com]

When I'm writing my thesis, I actually read fanfiction. One paragraph of fanfiction, one of the thesis.

Ah. See, this I understand. Thesis/paper/academics in general go hand in hand with reading fanfic, in my opinion. *g*

Does that make sense? :)

Yes. :) It's basically what I do. Only when I don't. If I'm actively writing a story every day, I try not to read, but sometimes like when I'm bored at work or something I'll start a story and, if it's any good, I'll get all caught up and finish like all that author's stories or all the stories in a particular series or something. And that's when, turning to my story, I get all jumbled. Like today reading a present tense story and then suddenly Duncan and Methos want to switch tenses on me, the goofs, and I have to rewrite each sentence instead of letting it flow.

Now, does that make sense? LOL. I think I confused myself.

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

I tend not to read at all while writing - not email, not books, not IRC, nothing. When I'm writing, I tend to get wrapped up in the writing itself, and tumble out an hour or two later, all surprised at where the time has gone.

[hafital.livejournal.com]

That's good. For me, it depends a lot on what it is I'm writing, exactly. If it's a difficult piece, I often long to take breaks, while I'm eking out a sentence here or there, and I think that's where I have to not read fic. Email and music are okay. Although sometimes I can't listen to music when writing. Again it depends on the story. I think this is more what I'm referring to, when I'm writing something that's taking forever or is really long (for me) and tricky.

If it's one of those that just hums along, then it's like you have no choice *but* to write. :) I just hang on for dear life and let the story tell me where to go. Then any and all distraction is very counterproductive, not to mention irritating. Like sleep. And eating. *g* Interesting!

[elynross.livejournal.com]

It really depends, for me, and it's changing. Early on, writing HL, I don't think I slowed down on my fanfiction reading while writing. Anymore, though, especially writing in various other fandoms, I don't seek out much fanfiction because it feels like it might "contaminate" what I'm thinking about. I don't think I've had that reaction to pro writing, though. Of course, I haven't done any really sustained writing in quite a while. Lately, I'm as likely to put down whatever I'm reading because I had a fiction-related burp and sit there scribbling, as anything.

[hafital.livejournal.com]

Anymore, though, especially writing in various other fandoms, I don't seek out much fanfiction because it feels like it might "contaminate" what I'm thinking about.

Yes. I used to worry about this more. Now, though, I've come to the realization that everything pretty much influences my writing. But, that is the thing -- I like to control and be aware of any contamination, if that makes any sense.

I think if I'm too much into reading, I get into a different head space that makes switching to writing difficult. It's probably more an immersion thing than anything else.

Lately, I'm as likely to put down whatever I'm reading because I had a fiction-related burp and sit there scribbling, as anything.

That must be from too much fiction-related soda pop. The fiction-related brain freeze is quite a trip, btw. hee. ;)

[elynross.livejournal.com]

But, that is the thing -- I like to control and be aware of any contamination, if that makes any sense.

Yes! One of the things I meant to mention was reading Neil Gaiman saying that while writing Neverwhere, he avoided other books that clearly dealt with the areas he was writing about, including another book that had a kind of London "underground" feel, and similar things. I've done this, specifically, avoided coda fic for particular episodes, because I have my own idea about things. Of course, I've never gotten those written, either....

Maybe it's the beginning to watch a live show (SV) while also having writerly thoughts? With HL, I didn't write anything while HL was live, and even when I was writing, it wasn't so much ideas that might obviously "overlap" other writers.

[hafital.livejournal.com]

Yes! One of the things I meant to mention was reading Neil Gaiman saying that while writing Neverwhere, he avoided other books that clearly dealt with the areas he was writing about, including another book that had a kind of London "underground" feel, and similar things.

Oh, totally. This is important because the wrong exposure at the wrong time can totally kill an idea.

Maybe it's the beginning to watch a live show (SV) while also having writerly thoughts? With HL, I didn't write anything while HL was live, and even when I was writing, it wasn't so much ideas that might obviously "overlap" other writers.

Certainly live fandoms present a whole other host of issues. I've never written in one, so I'm not sure what I would do or how I would react to the other stories being written. I can well imagine it would make me wary of reading, though. A lot more than in a closed canon show.

[elynross.livejournal.com]

I've never written in one, so I'm not sure what I would do or how I would react to the other stories being written.

Don't! For the love of God, DON'T!!!

Not that I have strong feelings about this, or anything. cough