Thanks for a good read on writing! I see myself in so much of what you are describing.
I have a “pointer” that I would have given myself when I gave up on my second attempt at writing a novel. I was looking way too much at what other people did. I got jealous of my favourite authours instead of inspired! And anything I read that I actually thought was bad also turned me off from writing. I was looking for inspiration, good advice, the best ways to do it. I read books on creative writing, I watched lectures online. Eventually I forgot all about the fun of writing. I mean, when I was ten I made my first book by folding pieces of paper and stapled them together. I wrote the stories and drew the pictures and I remember getting completely lost in it. That, I feel, is the essence of what any writer should strive for.
Looking forward reading your stuff!
JL