Thank you for the video, these are all excellent points. And perhaps the best advice of 2024 is ignoring the advice targeted at "middle-men" who really don't have much to offer in any domain. Brutal but true. One little thing that I would like to add is reading outside of your comfort zone. I recommend not consuming stories that are interesting and for pleasure all the time, but attempting to dive deeper into foreign areas of literature. Recently I picked up Gormenghgast by Mervyn Peake, and while the story itself is not my usual taste, the prose is quite good and so unique it changed my mind about how prose can be written. Will I attempt it in my own writing? I'm not sure. But it was definitely interesting and thought-provoking. I feel like when I first started writing I only read what I enjoyed and that limited my potential and perspective.
@JAlanRyker
5 ай бұрын
Yes, reading outside your comfort zone is an excellent point. Funnily enough, Gormenghast was also that for me, as fantasy is one of my least read genres, but I loved it.
@StéphanieWorrell
Ай бұрын
The main point I have against this book is that it tells you to get up earlier to do all those things. But having enough sleep is one of the most important things to stay healthy and have the energy to be active and creative. Getting up earlier will do nothing for you if you are already exhausted.
@JAlanRyker
Ай бұрын
That is very true. If I didn't mention it, I'm surprised, because it angered me so much when he said that the amount of sleep you need is purely in your mind. That if you decide you can feel good on 4 hours, you can. That's the worst advice. Not sleeping is so bad for your health, just like you said. Maybe as a person who doesn't actually make anything, this guy can get away with it, but it's still going to shorten his life. Unlike what the author of this book says, I think that you'd have to shift your day, and that is so difficult when evening is your time to finally relax with loved ones. I found that when I got up an hour early and just cut out sleep, I had energy for my writing, because I wake up pretty perky and then have caffeine on top of that, but I would be so tired at the end of the day that I would end up being impatient and irritable, and I don't want to be like that. An extra hour isn't worth that.
@ATMcGWriter
5 ай бұрын
Enjoying this channel. Really happy I found it today.
@JAlanRyker
5 ай бұрын
Thank you very much. Happy to have you here. Do you enjoy the self-improvement book coverage? From the view count, it seems to not be pulling people in.
@ATMcGWriter
5 ай бұрын
@@JAlanRyker I do enjoy it. I think it will grow. It’s just time vs people finding you. I really like your perspectives.
@jlolson53
5 ай бұрын
You're probably aware of (or read) literary agent Lucinda Halpern''s GET SIGNED. One section got me thinking: She was listing all the non-fiction self-help books with catchy titles such as HYPERFOCUS and THE PRODUCTIVITY PROJECT and their seemingly wondrous new insights and ideas, and I thought: all of these books probably have some genuinely clever ideas and perspectives, but ultimately they will have next to zero effect on any significant number of people. I've read dozens of self-help books over the years, and have probably gained some helpful tips here and there. However, I think it's extremely difficult (if not generally nearly impossible) to universalize pieces of advice. My attempt at stating such a universal for improving your writing would echo your own comment here: Live Life. At least, it certainly applies to me. LIVE LIFE MINDFULLY. I mean, take some time to reflect on things, to ask the big questions, to learn some basic philosophy, science, psychology, etc. From what I can tell, young writers would snicker at the thought of doing that. :)
@JAlanRyker
5 ай бұрын
That really is the key. You're right, you can come to many of the conclusions without having to learn them as unintegrated "tips" by being mindful, which then turns it into a part of a holistic approach. Very insightful point, thank you
@purpleporygon
5 ай бұрын
I agree with your last statement about expanding general knowledge. Learning about fundamental physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, psychology, philosophy, etc. pays huge dividends in becoming a writer with more depth in their material and an overall better understanding of the world. I'm in my twenties and I tend to notice most writers around my age have adopted a very superficial style with a limited understanding of the fundamentals. They seemingly possess an aversion to pushing their intellect too far beyond a certain comfort zone, taking the easiest route possible, curating a Hollywood studio of particle board held together with duct tape and glue rather than building a home from materials of real substance. Of course, there are exceptions to this. What forges great writers like Steinbeck, Faulkner, Joyce and Wolfe is the fact that they had such a strong grasp of nature, both human and otherwise.
@jlolson53
5 ай бұрын
@@purpleporygon Well, you're a rarety, my friend. The good news is that with your attitude, you may write something great. The bad news - which may also apply to Alan - is that you may fight an uphill battle in the current anti-intellectual culture. But that kind of battle is part of the fun...right? :)
@JAlanRyker
5 ай бұрын
@@purpleporygon all the writers who can only write writer protagonists because they don't know anything else...
@purpleporygon
5 ай бұрын
@@JAlanRyker Very true. The protagonist of my story is an aspiring writer who sits alone in her room all day not knowing what to write about. How interesting!
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