Do You Spend More Time Reading or Writing?
So NaNoWriMo hasn’t been as…successful…as I hoped (read: epic failure). I got Murphied a lot, more than even my weaksauce goal could have accounted for.
While I’ve been dealing with life’s little surprises, I have been able to read several books. Now you’re probably wondering how it’s possible to have time to read but not to write. Let me explain: You can read in waiting rooms, while you’re folding laundry, and chilling in the car pool line. A lap top just doesn’t fit between me and the steering wheel.
You can also read when your brain is only sort of functioning. Sometimes it’s nice to sit down and not have to think, but just absorb the story and material.
Do you guys spend a lot of time reading? How does reading influence your writing?
When I go on a book binge, I waffle between frustrated and motivated, between gosh-this-is-so-good and holy-crap-how-did-this-ever-get-published.
Right now I actually feel rejuvenated. So I’m going to go use that energy to get some writing done.
(BTW, I won’t be reviewing anything I read, especially not INHERITANCE. Those of you who know my review policy, should be able to get that message.)
While I’ve been dealing with life’s little surprises, I have been able to read several books. Now you’re probably wondering how it’s possible to have time to read but not to write. Let me explain: You can read in waiting rooms, while you’re folding laundry, and chilling in the car pool line. A lap top just doesn’t fit between me and the steering wheel.
You can also read when your brain is only sort of functioning. Sometimes it’s nice to sit down and not have to think, but just absorb the story and material.
Do you guys spend a lot of time reading? How does reading influence your writing?
When I go on a book binge, I waffle between frustrated and motivated, between gosh-this-is-so-good and holy-crap-how-did-this-ever-get-published.
Right now I actually feel rejuvenated. So I’m going to go use that energy to get some writing done.
(BTW, I won’t be reviewing anything I read, especially not INHERITANCE. Those of you who know my review policy, should be able to get that message.)
14 Comments
Holly L'Oiseau
Oh yes! I just finished writing my first contemporary, and reading good contemp books like PAPER TOWNS and ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS helped me understand what a good contemp needs!
Becky Wallace
@ Holly: I loved, loved, loved, both of those books. After I finished PAPER TOWNS I kept wondering why it took me so long to jump on the John Greene train.
William Kendall
I read a great deal, both for pleasure and academics. I think one pair of authors who have really influenced my style of writing have been the father and son team of Michael and Jeff Shaara.
prerna pickett
I go through spurts of both. Right now it’s writing, but I’m missing reading. Time for a library run!
Becky Wallace
@William: My dad has a whole shelf of Sharra’s work. Did you know Michael wrote “For Love of the Game”? I loved the movie, but I’m a huge baseball lover!
@Prerna: Let me know if you pick up something good!
William Kendall
Yes, and I love that story, and the film! One of my favourites. You read that one, and then compare it to the Killer Angels, his masterpiece, and you can see the same style at work, even with vastly different genres.
Joe Duncko
I always worried about the fact that I write more than I read. I mean, no matter where I look, when authors give advice to juveniles who wish to learn the trade they say “Read, and read some more.”
Some people tell me that in order to know what a book needs you have to read. However, if you’re writing contemp, can’t you just write in the same style to observe your every day life? Just some food for thought.
Trisha Leaver
You need to get a smaller laptop 🙂 Just kidding.
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