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*drags hands down face* I see we're resurrecting the You Must Read This List Of Old Usually Dead People Before You Can Write This Medium thing.
Okay. Let's do this.
Okay. Let's do this.
I'm not going to link the guy who thinks you have to watch classic television in order to write modern television one because television isn't my writing and two because he's Old Man Yells At Cloud and we don't need to hear that.
Here's the thing:
Here's the thing:
Watching popular or formerly popular television, reading popular or formerly popular books, will tell you what was popular at the time. It tells you what people were reading, watching, or buying at the time. It gives you a window into that zeitgeist.
In a broader sense, it also gives you an experience of what influenced the writers (actors, directors, etc) who came after. We all build on what we experience, so did they, so do we. And if that's what you want to know, by all means consume the historical, "classic" canon.
Contrariwise, or likewise, if you heard somewhere that You Must Be This Educated To Ride This Ride and you watched MASH or read Dickens and you actually enjoyed it, more power to you! Go, consume more of what you love! That's a firm rule I will stand by.
BUT, and it's a huge but, folks. There is no intrinsic, broadly applicable, starting from scratch these are the titles you need requirement to consume the so-called classic canon.
There just isn't. Nope. Don't believe it.
There just isn't. Nope. Don't believe it.
If you want to write a thing, write a thing. If you want to study how to write the thing, pick finished works in the same category as the thing and consume them. Drink in their glory. Devour their flesh, assume their power. Mary Tyler Moore is as valid as Fresh Prince for this.
The reason we read (or watch, or listen, or what have you) in order to write (or write, or write) is so that we learn the conventions of what we're working in and can decide whether or not to break them. Unfortunately, there's no shortcut there.
This is very different from "you must read(watch, listen) these specific comedies, dramas, mysteries, romances" because even the act of broadly reading and narrowing it down to what you like will help you figure out what you can stand writing long enough to get good at it.
And trust me, that does make a difference.
Is there value in consuming the so-called classic canon to learn the history, appreciate its influence on later creators? Absolutely. Is it necessary? Ehhhhhhhh no.
Is there value in consuming the so-called classic canon to learn the history, appreciate its influence on later creators? Absolutely. Is it necessary? Ehhhhhhhh no.
Also
*leans in, whispers*
You don't actually have to consume the thing to appreciate the influence. You can listen to what the people you want to emulate and learn about say about their influences. It's fine.
*leans in, whispers*
You don't actually have to consume the thing to appreciate the influence. You can listen to what the people you want to emulate and learn about say about their influences. It's fine.
Here endeth the... whatever it is when you're too tired to do a full on rant but you had a few things to say anyway. Screed. Only about 40 theses nailed to this here door.
As always, all writing advice is take it if it works for you or leave it where you found it.
As always, all writing advice is take it if it works for you or leave it where you found it.
... wait, no, I'm not done, but this is less about People Being Bossy and more about creative media of the past and its influences on the present.
So, here's another thing:
So, here's another thing:
