Read more!

hatefacecore · 05-25-2012, 08:49 PM

I wish I read more books. I write fiction, but I haven't read a book in a while. I know my writing would be better if I did. I always complain that I have trouble finding the right words but I don't do anything about it. Are their others who don't read as much as they want to but still do their share of writing?

kennyc · 05-25-2012, 09:28 PM

I don't think you can be an effective writer without being an effective reader.

VydorScope · 05-25-2012, 10:05 PM

In Steven King's book On Writing he pretty much if your not reading non-stop, you should not write. He said if you do not have time to read, then you do not have time to write. I would not be quite that drastic (he reads more then one book at a time... several a week) because I have 2 jobs, a family, and teach, and etc. But I try to read at least nightly.

gmw · 05-26-2012, 04:59 AM

I often wondered if any writers tried to abstain from reading while they wrote ... I don't think I could do it. My reading slows while I'm writing (I have only limited time), but I never stop. I tend to re-read books while in the most active stages of my writing, rather than starting unknown authors or books, there's something comforting about sitting down with something that you already know you like. ... Recently I've been re-reading some of Charles Dickens and some John Irving, but I'm not sure they were a good choice, writers that are that good with their words can be intimidating. I sometimes wonder if I should seek out some dreadful books in the hope of making me feel better about my own writing

.

orlok · 05-26-2012, 08:33 AM

to what all of them said. I just couldn't imagine not reading.

Nancy Fulda · 05-27-2012, 03:41 PM

For a long time, I abstained from reading when working on writing projects. Somehow, the fascination of other authors' invented worlds knocked my creative process off-balance.

These days, that doesn't seem to be a problem anymore, but I still tend to read in waves. I'll cram several books into a single month, then go several months without reading anything except work by my editing clients. (Granted, this haphazard schedule may be due as much to parenting schedules as to anything else. My life is crazy on occasion.)

crich70 · 05-27-2012, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda

My life is crazy on occasion.)

Whose life isn't?

VydorScope · 05-28-2012, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

Whose life isn't?

A very very bored person.

dadioflex · 05-28-2012, 08:52 AM

So first day they were building the Tacoma Narrows bridge, the chief engineer comes up to the Mayor and asks him, "So this bridge you want - got a color in mind?"

The Mayor looks at the engineer quizzically. "Let's get it built first, we can worry about the color later. So long as you connect the two sides of the strait, let's call the color negotiable."

"Connect the two sides! Over the water, right? So that's what a bridge is. Ya know I've been meaning to look that up, but how's a fellow supposed to find the time to study on bridges when he's spending all day buildin'em?"

The rest is history.

Rest in peace, Tubby.

05-25-2012, 08:49 PM	#1
hatefacecore Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Jacksonville Device: Kindle	Read more! I wish I read more books. I write fiction, but I haven't read a book in a while. I know my writing would be better if I did. I always complain that I have trouble finding the right words but I don't do anything about it. Are their others who don't read as much as they want to but still do their share of writing?

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05-25-2012, 09:28 PM	#2
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I don't think you can be an effective writer without being an effective reader.

05-25-2012, 10:05 PM	#3
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	In Steven King's book On Writing he pretty much if your not reading non-stop, you should not write. He said if you do not have time to read, then you do not have time to write. I would not be quite that drastic (he reads more then one book at a time... several a week) because I have 2 jobs, a family, and teach, and etc. But I try to read at least nightly.

05-26-2012, 04:59 AM	#4
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I often wondered if any writers tried to abstain from reading while they wrote ... I don't think I could do it. My reading slows while I'm writing (I have only limited time), but I never stop. I tend to re-read books while in the most active stages of my writing, rather than starting unknown authors or books, there's something comforting about sitting down with something that you already know you like. ... Recently I've been re-reading some of Charles Dickens and some John Irving, but I'm not sure they were a good choice, writers that are that good with their words can be intimidating. I sometimes wonder if I should seek out some dreadful books in the hope of making me feel better about my own writing .

05-26-2012, 08:33 AM	#5
orlok Close to the Edit! Posts: 9,797 Karma: 267994408 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Amazon Fire 8", Kindle 6"	to what all of them said. I just couldn't imagine not reading.

05-27-2012, 03:41 PM	#6
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	For a long time, I abstained from reading when working on writing projects. Somehow, the fascination of other authors' invented worlds knocked my creative process off-balance. These days, that doesn't seem to be a problem anymore, but I still tend to read in waves. I'll cram several books into a single month, then go several months without reading anything except work by my editing clients. (Granted, this haphazard schedule may be due as much to parenting schedules as to anything else. My life is crazy on occasion.)

05-28-2012, 08:52 AM	#9
dadioflex Dyslexic Count Posts: 526 Karma: 5041991 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Palm TX, Advent Vega, iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle	So first day they were building the Tacoma Narrows bridge, the chief engineer comes up to the Mayor and asks him, "So this bridge you want - got a color in mind?" The Mayor looks at the engineer quizzically. "Let's get it built first, we can worry about the color later. So long as you connect the two sides of the strait, let's call the color negotiable." "Connect the two sides! Over the water, right? So that's what a bridge is. Ya know I've been meaning to look that up, but how's a fellow supposed to find the time to study on bridges when he's spending all day buildin'em?" The rest is history. Rest in peace, Tubby.

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