You've touched a key point of interest, for me, here: finding the balance between reading and writing. I perpetually struggle with it. I'm younger than you but I can't help but notice others who've managed to accomplish much more at an age much lower than mine (think Xavier Dolan). But there's also this dilemma of "qualification", right: I haven't written X amount of words which they all say you must as part of some sort of a prerequisite practice; I can't dive into writing right away as I haven't even read as much as I ought to; etc. And so you're stuck due to this stupid mental paralysis that doesn't allow you to pick up the pen and bleed your heart out on paper. Have you ever felt this? If yes, how does one overcome this state of paralysis? Is there any utility to the good old "Just do it, okay, just write; start wherever you feel like starting from and see where it goes because you'll learn by doing it" sort of advice?
I think that this balance is important - it is immensely useful to have that background to draw on, if you're doing creative work, but you can't let it become paralyzing, to let either your frame of reference or your *lack* of it hold you back from trying. I do think there's utility the line you mention at the end ... sometimes easier said than done, but important to turn off the critic/editor in oneself for a stretch.
You've touched a key point of interest, for me, here: finding the balance between reading and writing. I perpetually struggle with it. I'm younger than you but I can't help but notice others who've managed to accomplish much more at an age much lower than mine (think Xavier Dolan). But there's also this dilemma of "qualification", right: I haven't written X amount of words which they all say you must as part of some sort of a prerequisite practice; I can't dive into writing right away as I haven't even read as much as I ought to; etc. And so you're stuck due to this stupid mental paralysis that doesn't allow you to pick up the pen and bleed your heart out on paper. Have you ever felt this? If yes, how does one overcome this state of paralysis? Is there any utility to the good old "Just do it, okay, just write; start wherever you feel like starting from and see where it goes because you'll learn by doing it" sort of advice?
I think that this balance is important - it is immensely useful to have that background to draw on, if you're doing creative work, but you can't let it become paralyzing, to let either your frame of reference or your *lack* of it hold you back from trying. I do think there's utility the line you mention at the end ... sometimes easier said than done, but important to turn off the critic/editor in oneself for a stretch.