The Learning Process

This post parallels my previous writing process post, I just hope I’m not the only one out there who relates to this. I’ve talked about the writing process being different for everyone. Each of us works differently. Today I wanted to write about how we learn differently.

Reading through various author interviews, talking to other authors, etc. I have yet to find an author how learns more about plotting and story telling through television. It doesn’t even really have to be an author, it could be anyone. Most of the time writers always talk about how they love reading and it’s all they do and they read 100 books a year and on and on and on.

My method is very very different. It’s not even really a method. Instead of reading I watch. It could be the history channel or a teen drama, but this is how I absorb information and understand things. I think I learned more about story telling and plotting through TV than anything else.

Part of me feels stupid for telling people this. Especially when I say I’m an author but I don’t read much. When I say this, it’s almost like it takes my credibility away for some reason. The thing is, a story has to be really fucking good for me to read it. I’ve never been a good reader, I’m still not that good which is why I don’t enjoy reading as much as I should. (Also why I shy away from reading sections of my book out loud).

So, I’m curious to know if I’m the only one who has developed storytelling skills through other mediums. Or maybe people are just born with it and don’t watch TV or read.

I can’t be the only odd ball out there.

*Side note: I haven’t been sleeping well, I apologize for any misspellings