I ask this very simple question because, a while back, I was not reading at all! I had a discussion with a friend and fellow author and we began to chat about not having time to read, with everything else happening in our lives—work, writing, editing, sports, romance, family, sleep—and the list goes on. I am sure you’ve all heard it all, right? I thought to myself: “how am I not reading!?” It was crazy! I used to read voraciously and it was what made me want to write myself so many years ago. So, I made a promise to myself to never let it happen again. So, I made time to read (and especially if you are a writer), I would hope you do, too. One thing came up about twitter followers. Most of mine (and his for that matter), happen to be writers. He seemed to think that having writers follow you meant that they were only that: writers. I am here to say: nay! Am I right? Please say yes!
Writers should be reading! Plain and simple. It doesn’t have to be an exorbitant amount, but get it in while you can. It is quite simply a measuring stick, research, and who knows, it might teach you a thing or two! So, with that being said, I ask my audience of writers:
Do you make time to read?
Please comment and let us know what you are reading, too, if you don’t mind.
As a side note, I very much enjoy the site Goodreads and would highly recommend any and all of you to join the site! If you do, please friend me HERE!
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
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Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
Photo from Stock.xchng
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
Absolutely. Include outside fiction writing genre, nonfiction. Snatch bits and pieces whenever.
ReplyDeleteI do read, although not as much as I'd like! At the moment I'm reading Kiss of Evil by Richard Montanari. I'm about 40% through and finding it tough. These days I tend to read more blogs, articles and twitter links! However, I think you're right, reading is a great source of inspiration.
ReplyDeleteMy reading habits have changed substantially over the years. I don't read as much fiction as I used to, but I am a voracious consumer of nonfiction. I subscribe to and read many magazines as well. I actually find nonfiction very stimulating intellectually and I think it helps me as a fiction writer because I have a larger awareness of human experience and the natural world. I still make some time for fiction, which I still love.
ReplyDeleteYes, I read alot of books: paperback, hardcover and ebooks as well. In fact I get ispiration from other authors I have read and have used that for writing the eight books in my Amderesta The 3rd/4th Republic series.
ReplyDeleteI noticed this about myself as well. When I was younger I used to read daily. Sometimes 2 or 3 novels a week. Now I write every day & haven't picked up a book in quite some time. I'm going to pick up a book first thing tomorrow. Maybe
ReplyDeleteI read all the time. I read 27 books just last year. I'm on schedule to beat that this year. I think writers who don't read need to get over themselves. That's just being stuck up.
ReplyDeleteI read when I can, on the bus and between classes. I read less now than when I was younger, but I buy more books. Before I'd go to the library or to my mum's bookshelf (an avid fantasy and mystery reader).
ReplyDeleteI accidentally bought Wothlondia Rising 3 as a gift for my little brother, should have bought Covenant of the Faceless Knights. Will buy it when I see him and his computer again, hopefully he'll like it and want to read the rest of the series.
Wow, thanks all for the comments! Evidently this is something that we needed to discuss, I'd say. Thanks to everyone who shared their reading experiences and I'd love to know what people are reading, too!
ReplyDeleteDonan, Tracy, Morgan, Daniel and Michael seem to be able to fit the reading into their schedules! I bet they don't watch a lot of TV. :)
Anonymous seems to need a push back into reading a bit more frequently, so I encourage you, whomever you may be...
Emilia is doing the best she can, too! I am reading on lunch break when I can, before I fall asleep (if I can get a page in, I am lucky) and sometimes in the evening when I can spare the time! And he can read any of the Wothlondia Rising stuff in any order, too. They are all prequels to Covenant of the Faceless Knights. (PS. I am going to be releasing a 2nd edition of the book shortly with a new cover!)
I read probably two books a week unless it's something really weighty like Mantel's new "Bring Up the Bodies." I read ARCs to see what is fresh and new. I read classics over again. Just as I cannot go a day without writing something, I cannot go a day without my reading time!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.authoreileengranfors.blogspot.com
Eileen, thanks for the comment! I appreciate the respect that you bring for the written word for sure. I only hope that enough of us out there can fight the fight against what I believe is a society geared toward NOT encouraging, but discouraging, reading. It's just my opinion, mind you, but I have seen a few too many TV shows of late with that underlying message. I am glad that you are reading and writing! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI read a lot, probably 4-5 books a week. I review books for Reader's Favorite and for my own websites. It's crucial to read if you write - to see what other people are up to, to learn from their styles, to show support and to be entertained!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm reading. As writers we're learning all these "rules" of the craft, and sometimes we allow it to hinder our reading experience. I'm not going to let it ruin it for me. yea for reading! That is why we started writing, right?
ReplyDeleteI do read, but enjoyed it more back when I could read for hrs & hrs at a time and immerse myself in the story. (Ahh, the good ol' days!) I don't have as much time now, but Peter Straub's A Dark Matter is so good & the childhood-friends flashbacks so similar to something I was working on during the summer (although the characters are a bit older than mine), that I'll find the time somehow. It got the creative juices flowing in me again. Reading can do that. :-}
ReplyDeleteI like to read and having my Kindle app on the iPhone has made it easier to sneak in reading while I'm waiting in line. There are always lines and so now there is always time for reading. I like Rudyard Kipling and Elmore Leonard.
ReplyDeleteI am guilty of giving up the fair amount of reading I was accustomed to in younger days. In fact, to get back to basics I have spent the entire month of January reading in every spare minute available in preparation for a new WIP I started yesterday. To me it's a no-brainer; if you want to be a great writer, you better be a great reader.
ReplyDeleteFor myself, I have found that the more I read, the more I am inspired to write my characters and my world. I have heard it said that reading your genre while writing your book is a taboo. Something about it effecting your prose, but as long as you have an established voice and style, I don't find that to be true. I find, as I read other awesome books in the genre I write in, I am totally motivated to slam down more of my story. I want people to enjoy my characters and world just like I enjoy other people's.
ReplyDeleteI do think it is important though to step outside the genre I prefer to work in. I can't count the amount of times I have had ideas pop into my head, that are totally out of nowhere from what I am reading, all because I am so absorbed in a certain book that isn't my genre.
I have had periods in my life where I'm too busy to read regularly, and it only makes my writing absolutely AWFUL. Something about making time to read somehow means I have more time to write, and I'm not just staring at the screen willing something to happen. Maybe I'm just incredibly simpleminded, and if I spend time away from books, I forget how it's done?
ReplyDeleteYes, I read a lot. Not as much as I used to. You are correct about how writing seems to take up reading time. However, my co-author, PJ, reads as much as ever. I want to do more reading. A book I recently finished was Shoken Wars by DJ Bowman-Smith. (I listened to it on my Kindle) I enjoyed it very much. -Karen
ReplyDeleteI probably read more when I was younger. The more I write (and blog) the less time I made for reading, but then I got a Kindle last year and that's helped me with reading more. Plus, I'm trying a Goodreads reading challenge for 2014, to read 40 books this year, not counting research for my book. I think my writing is better when I'm reading more actually.
ReplyDeleteI firmly hold that if you don't read, you can't excel as a writer. Right now I'm reading "An Introduction to Genetic Engineering" by Nicholl. I needed to learn more biology for my fiction. I just blew through much of a huge reading list for a writing program I'm in, so I'm a bit crispy on fiction just now (although I did actually read Cetaganda this week).
ReplyDeleteI went through a long spell where I couldn't read for pleasure--reading turned into work. I think I may be getting past it. I am currently rereading Samuel Delany's "Dhalgren". (That great mad brick of a book...)
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