Writing.Com General Discussion

I must confess that I'm feeling totally humbled by what I've learned since starting this thread. I thought I knew something about the craft of writing fiction, having done it off and on all my life. It turns out that I have no idea about even rudimentary basic stuff like three act structure, character arc, action and reaction, narrative voice etc. It's akin to thinking that because I can pick out Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the piano I'm ready to tackle Liszt's Campanella. I am aghast at how much I have to learn and I feel like hiding behind the sofa and crying.

It seems that being a reader isn't sufficient preparation for being a writer. I'm beginning to realise that I also need to properly study craft and theory, learn from the masters, understand the rules, know something about psychology and motivation, hone my skills and put in the hours and hours and hours of effort required to earn my stripes.

And it appears that there are no shortcuts.

Gulp. I'm off to have a lie down in a darkened room.