Writing and Reading; Reading and Writing
If you want to be a writer, or consider yourself a writer, or are planning to be a writer, do not let me catch saying you don’t have time to read. Ahem. Because, really? You have no business writing if you’re not reading. Everything. All the time. Books and blogs and magazines and the backs of cereal boxes. (Maybe they aren’t so good to read anymore, I’m not sure–I rarely eat cereal these days.) You should be inhaling words from your reading as much as you are flinging words at the page.
Most of us writers come to writing because we loved reading so much. Who among us doesn’t have a childhood memory of being transported to another world by a book? Who among us hasn’t read a book and thought, I wish I could do that. Or even, I could do that way better than he did.
Words in, words out. The more I write, the more I feel I need to read. (Sort of like this weird paradox I described here.) It is as if I need to fill myself up with enough words so that I have a store of them to spit back out again. Have you ever felt like that?
Just in case you’re not reading everything you can get your hands on, here are a few tips:
Read as a writer
Once you start writing, reading is never quite the same again–because you are paying attention to all the things that slid past before. Cultivate this habit. Consider how the author writes description, and dialogue. What does she do to make the character leap off the page? What kinds of stylistic techniques does he employ? How does setting figure into the story? And how is the book structured? Jane Smiley’s book on reading the novel is a useful starting point. Oh, and you might want to consider reading a book twice. You’ll be amazed at how much you learn the second time through.
Write about your reading
Lately, as part of a journaling template I’m following in the morning, I’ve been writing a few words about what I’m reading. I find this a helpful practice because it helps me notice. In the book I’m reading now, for instance, I’m admiring the way the author uses fresh verbs and original descriptions. In the previous book I read, I noted how the author did some interesting loops with time. This noticing is why MFA programs as well at the writing program I teach at requires their students to write essays about their reading. Because deep reading is an excellent way to teach yourself to write. And writing about your reading is even more effective.
Read in your genre
In all genres, from mystery to romance to horror, there are certain tropes. If you’re writing in a genre, you need to know these tropes. Here’s the deal: if you’re writing mysteries, it is likely you love reading mysteries. And by reading a lot of mysteries, you’ve soaked in these tropes without even being aware of it. Which is why reading a lot is so good for the writer.
But don’t limit yourself
Branch out from the genres once in awhile. Read a memoir or some heavy literature, or how about a book of short stories or essays? You might be surprised what you find. And it just might inspire you to write something different, too. It can be really good for your writing to fool around in a different genre. Read dumb bestsellers and obscure classical novels, or at least take a look at them.
Always carry a book or Kindle or something with you
You never know when you’re going to get stuck in a line, or waiting for a child, or when you’ll be early for an appointment. Have something to read. Take it with you to the gym, so you can read it while on the treadmill (they always have boring TV shows on at the gym anyway). You can’t read if you don’t have something to read with you. Righ?
Okay, those are some of my ideas. How do you read as a writer? Has your reading changed since you started writing? Leave a comment. Or head on over to the Facebook group and discuss.
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