Wangst and weemo

[feuervogel]

I read a lot of writers' blogs. Or LJs, whatever. And I've started to feel like I'm inadequate and inept as a writer, because I wasn't an English major. I'm not Trained in things like Narrative Technique, Structure, and Symbolism, and I'm not well-read enough in classics, folklore, or myths to make use of Allusions.

I'm an impostor.

All I've got is some characters, a story idea, and 20-odd years of reading spec fic (and some Real Books™). No technique, no ideas for creative symbolism or structure or literary allusions.

I'm never gonna sell anything.

Comments

[tsubaki-ny.livejournal.com]

You don't need a degree or help from so-called experts to read. A lot of what an English degree does is simply to put names to a lot of things you already knew by osmosis.

[feuervogel]

I like knowing the names of things. I may or may not make use of this knowledge, but having it, and being able to say, "oh, this is X" can help.

I occupy a weird intersection between organic writing and ordered. I have no idea how to explain it, though. Like when I learn taiji, I can learn the postures and form, but if I want to improve, I have to know why I'm doing, for example, single whip or cloud hands. I need to know the application, the why.

I'm terrible with theoretical *everything.*