Just how erudite do you have to be before you can really start writing literature yourself rather than merely reading it? Whenever I consider writing something a voice in my head says "You, a writer? You haven't even read X or Y super important author yet, you're basically a kindergartener yet to enter elementary school as far as the art of literature goes." But as you probably know you will never feel like you read all that one ought to read due to their historical importance, fame or quality.