Why do people who hardly read books think they can be authors?

[LaelthsDaughter]

53. You make a good point.

I agree that one must read often to have a good sense of how to write. It's just... I don't often like to read published books anymore. I'll find some that interest me, but it gets difficult to entertain the ones that don't. I like reading fan works more often and I have some pretty high standards at this point. (Don't get me wrong I read the classics, lotr, hp, hell I even read vampire academy.)

I write for a hobby and almost side gig on wattpad. I hope to one day be published since I have a small following. It's a start and it's definitely helped me develope my skills.

My take is to tell people that if they aren't succeeding in a writer career then try writing something more familiar. If you're a doctor, write about being a doctor and the struggles that come with it. Take a break. Come back after a month and if it's entertaining to you when you reread it, you know it's good. If it needs work, try looking at how dramas describe things. Use exaggeration, try more dialog, describe what everyone is doing. Down to breathing and blinking. Daydream it out? What happens as you let the scene progress? That's how I try to help people.

I hope that helps! Sometimes there's lost causes, but for those who are really passionate you might want to take this approach.