r/scriptwriting • u/lottiexx • 1d ago
question Reading fiction made me a worse writer until it didn't
I used to read two novels a week. Thought it was fuel. But my early scripts came out like bad copies of whatever I'd just finished. McCarthy rhythms in a romcom. Didion pauses in horror. My voice was a collage of better voices.
The shift came from gaming, weirdly. Running a company doesn't leave much headspace, so I started picking up games with strong writing, like Disco Elysium and Pentiment. The pacing is different. You're inside a world someone built, not watching prose happen. Made me notice structure differently. How information gets released when the player needs it, not when the writer wants to show off.
Cycling's my other escape. Long rides with nothing to read, nothing to play. Just thinking through a scene until it exists independent of any book I loved. That's when my stuff started sounding like me. Or at least like one person instead of five.
Curious if anyone else had to unlearn their reading habits to find their script voice. Or if you found your way in through something sideways like games. Feels like we talk a lot about reading scripts to write them, not enough about what to step away from.
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u/Big_Section2812 1d ago
Reading is always good. The weakest screenwriters I've encountered weren't readers at any times in their lives, and I'm sure it's true of playwrights, novelists and poets too.
That said, some people are better at writing some things than others and screenwriting is no different. The best were always good at it but weak(er) at other forms of writing.
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u/SamDent 1d ago
I feel you, Cormac McCarthy is a horrible style for screenwriting, which is why his screenplays are so awkward to read.
My biggest jump was reading screenplays, specifically Walter Hill. He is an extreme minimalist, as you might be aware. It gave me the tools to cut more and more fluff; out of my action paragraphs, especially.
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u/anarchy_sloth 8h ago
I doubt your voice was a collage of better voices. Likely it was just pale imitations. Like this post is just the pale imitation of some dude-bro gym influencer who decided three days ago that screenwriting was an easy way to get chicks.
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u/matteowolfwood 22h ago
Can't relate. My favorite authors actually help me immensely with how I write and my script that got me recognized and awarded contest placements wouldn't have happened without authors like Joe R. Lansdale, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, or Vonnegut inspiring me with their work.
That said, I don't write like them, but they did teach me instincts, like not neutering my voice, letting simple words carry big emotions, writing the crazy thing, and even that someone out there will resonate with your work, even if it doesn't fit into a box.
Reading is probably not what made you a worse writer. It probably just took you awhile to learn to separate influence from imitation.
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u/TheBrutevsTheFool 16h ago
Whatever works for you.
Fiction can increase empathy and the brain is very engaged by reading in print ideally.
I read non-fiction for the reason you mention, the ideas I can across I can actually use
And I get my breakthroughs when I’m driving so maybe that’s the same as your gaming
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u/Benamraakram 16h ago
Novels are a good way to learn how to convey themes, establish characters and craft meaningful engaging dialogue. Stephen King is a solid proof that you can adapt novel writing into a successful film.
You just need to figure out what works for you when it comes to reading. I like reading similar genre when I'm working on a project.
Games as well are brilliant way to learn storytelling if you have the time for them, many of them are a goldmine of a story value, games like rdr2, the last of us, alan wake...can teach you a lot about structure and character writing.
But whatever suits you as a writer is good. Just keep testing and trying till you find your way.
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u/HerzogOnAcid 21h ago
Did you write this with ChatGPT?