Reading Block vs Writing Block?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

For the first time in eons, I find myself absolutely uninterested in reading, unable even. I often go through periods where fiction doesn't appeal much and I just read non-fiction and bits of poetry but right now I have no interest in reading whatsoever. OTOH, I have been writing quite a lot recently, and enjoying it, which has not always been the case. I have decided to just go with it for now, knowing that I'll stumble on something soon and recommence the kind of obsessive reading that has marked me since childhood, but I wonder if I had to choose only one, what would be more rewarding?

― M. White (Miguelito), Thursday, 18 August 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

I'm not sure you have to choose, or that you should. I mean, these things go in waves, and I tend to feel that reading and writing are symbiotic, that you take in certain amount of words for a time and then for another time you need to let them out.

― pr00de descending a staircase (pr00de), Thursday, 18 August 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

I can (and do) live with writer's block for months at a time, but I have never had reading block I don't think... I can't NOT read it seems. Hm, maybe if I forced myself to just sit with my thoughts sometimes instead of picking up a book as soon as I have a free moment, I could... write more? REVELATION!

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 18 August 2005 14:56 (twenty years ago)

More rewarding? Not answerable.

Writing sharpens your connection to your own thoughts, memories, emotions and perceptions in ways that reading cannot. OTOH, reading introduces you to the thoughts, memories, and so on, of other people. Since you don't have to choose one or the other, why even try?

― Aimless (Aimless), Thursday, 18 August 2005 15:29 (twenty years ago)

Mikey, remember this thread?

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 18 August 2005 15:46 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, Ken, I do. It's very odd for me to have no interest in reading right now. I cannot think of a time when I haven't been engaged in reading something. I think I need to get into 11th Century Chinese geneology or Etruscan or something equally recondite to restart my appetite.

― M. White (Miguelito), Thursday, 18 August 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

I hear you.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 18 August 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

Gah, what an infuriating thread... The on k/l linked to, I mean.

― pr00de descending a staircase (pr00de), Thursday, 18 August 2005 17:29 (twenty years ago)

Indeed. Let's hope we can maintain our more elevated level of discourse here.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 18 August 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

i can't tell if there's irony there or not.

― tom west (thomp), Thursday, 18 August 2005 19:19 (twenty years ago)

"Baldrick, have you no idea what irony is?"
"Yes, it's like goldy and bronzy only it's made out of iron."

― M. White (Miguelito), Thursday, 18 August 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

"terrible jokes terry pratchett still thought were worth stealing, pt. 28"

― tom west (thomp), Thursday, 18 August 2005 21:21 (twenty years ago)

Has David Markson been called to thread yet?

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 19 August 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

Only implicitly.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 19 August 2005 13:58 (twenty years ago)

OMG I just realized how David Markson's obituary will write itself.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 19 August 2005 13:59 (twenty years ago)

I think I already read it.

I'm about 15 pages into Going Down. Kind of overwritten in an annoying way, but it seems like the story might be interesting, or at least the Mexican setting. If nothing else, I can compare it to the masterwork of his drinking buddy and thesis subject Malcolm Lowry, if I ever get around to reading that. Big plans, big plans.

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 19 August 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

B..b..but he's not dead!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 19 August 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, but didn't you read his last book?

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 19 August 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

Was it different than his previous two?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 19 August 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

I dunno. in my mind I can't really tell one from the other. Maybe it notched up the finale a little bit.

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 19 August 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

I have but haven't read This Is Not A Novel because I swear it seemed to be the same book as Reader's Block, and although I enjoyed Reader's Block I just don't feel the need to read it again.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 19 August 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

Well, how interesting to stumble upon a hidden Markson thread just as I'm reading Wittgenstein's Mistress...I'm enjoying it, but in small bites...I'm wondering if it has a point, or if it's just an exercise in style. I get it, but can't seem to gobble it down. This is my first Markson, but it sounds like his others are much the same...?

― Docpacey (docpacey), Monday, 29 August 2005 15:58 (twenty years ago)

After yes, before no.

― k/l (Ken L), Monday, 29 August 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

Also after they get more severe.

I think there are many hidden Markson threads on ILB.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 29 August 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

dude gets a lotta play off that gimmick!

― Josh (Josh), Tuesday, 30 August 2005 00:58 (twenty years ago)

Hey, I just found this

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 2 September 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

I had to be careful looking at that, there seem to be some spoilers for the book I'm trying to read.

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 2 September 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

For my part the two seem to go hand in hand. When I'm writing well it gives me the impetus to read, and vice versa. When I'm not writing well I just plain don't want to be reminded about the printed word.

― Matt (Matt), Friday, 2 September 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.