For Authors: January 28, 2015 Issue [#6793] |
For Authors
This week: Reading and Writing Go Hand-in-Hand Edited by: Crys-not really here More Newsletters By This Editor
1. About this Newsletter 2. A Word from our Sponsor 3. Letter from the Editor 4. Editor's Picks 5. A Word from Writing.Com 6. Ask & Answer 7. Removal instructions
Hello! My name is Crys-not really here . I am the guest editor for the For Authors newsletter this week! |
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Reading and Writing Go Hand-in-Hand
I've heard it many times from seemingly otherwise-committed writers: "I hate reading!" or "I just don't have time to read. . ." I really don't know what to say when I hear those words. First of all, I wonder why someone who doesn't enjoy reading would ever consider becoming a writer. I became a writer at a very young age because I loved books and the places they took me. Engaging with the written word is like going on an fascinating journey. If a person doesn't have a passion for words, I seriously question their commitment to writing words that will make others go on journeys.
Reading and writing just go hand-in-hand. Writers must be readers. They don't necessarily have to read only fiction, or only non-fiction, or only whatever genre they write in. In fact, it's probably best that writers read anything and everything that can get their hands on. Reading fictional stories helps writers get a feel for the structure of stories, how to create authentic dialogue, and even what types of writing to avoid. (Stock character? Cliche story line? Purple prose?) Reading non-fiction helps even fiction writers figure out important, realistic details about setting, including historical context, time periods, descriptions of locations, etc. Poets who mostly write true-life accounts of their emotions also need to know what works and doesn't work in poetry. One of the best ways to know that is to read a wide variety of poems and figure out what kinds you enjoy.
I must confess, I don't have as much time to read as I'd like to right now. I also don't have as much time to write as I'd like to right now. However, I think I enjoy both things equally and enhance my creative process from both as well. Reading should be an important activity for any writer. Writing.com even encourages it with our reviewing system. By reading and reviewing works by other writers, you'll strengthen your knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and hopefully find new genres that you'll enjoy.
If you really can't stand reading, then at least write something that you'd like to see on a bookshelf! But read, read, read, and then write, write, write. You'll feel so much better about your work when you're open to new ideas! |
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Thank you for your thoughts on my last For Authors newsletter on whether or not you should prep for Nano! "For Authors Newsletter (October 8, 2014)"
I always prep for NaNoWriMo by outlining, plotting, character bios, etc., but I don't write that first word until Nov 1. I found that prep is important for me to reach the goal of 50K at the end of the month! -StephBee
I think you should prep for Nanowrimo. -Caitie
I tried the panster style. I got to the middle and fell horribly. I do not beleive pansters have no idea what they are going to write about. They have a plot idea, it may change as the days go by, but if their writing is spaced out evenly over 30 days I guarentee you they will have some problems. If they sit on their butts and write all 50K in a week or two they blaze past the middle and finish with a flurish. Would what they wrote a novel? Not a chance! If you read it you'd see plot holes, scenes that start and don't finish. They jump to the new character and scene and keep writing. I'm not faulting that. But don't believe it when someone says, "I finiished my novel in 30 days." they wrote a rough draft but if its to become a novel it will go through many more drafts!! So however you write, Put your posterior in a seat and WRITE! -Quick-Quill
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