I am a writer so that means I must be a great leisure reader. Right? Wrong! I should, but with two young kids and the rest of life’s demands keeping me on my toes, I’ve had little time for reading, until recently. Reading other peoples’ work is an important part of growing as a writer. There are reviews to be written, passages to be dissected and grammar mistakes to catch; in my preferred prose, I usually don’t find any. I like to think it’s because I have great taste in authors.
So you want to learn about how to produce great writing? Pay attention when you read to how the author has constructed the characters, developed the setting, set-up the good guy to take the fall, and watch as the author cleans it all up with one fell swoop of the pen. (Or keyboard.) See how the elements of writing, (discussed in my last blog) are put to use.
I own about 200 books. (I’m not kidding). They range from children’s literature to Y/A. and Adult novels. The more genres you read, the wider your education as a writer. Most of my books have been getting dusted off periodically instead of being read, because being a mother is a full-time job. So is being a writer and an editor. Lately, I’ve considered that I may need a doppelgänger, or two. In the meantime, I just make it all work.
When I realised I was writing more than reading, I started offering my services as a book editor. This way, not only am I still being paid to write, but now I have time to read because people are paying me to pay attention to their prose with great care. As a writer, I am reaping the benefits of studying their prose, building my vocabulary and enjoying a great read.
There are always way to find time to write when you think you can’t. Just as there are always reasons to enjoy a great read and help others with their prose along the way. If you can’t fit leisure reading into your daily regime you are missing out on living vicariously through others and building your skills as a writer. Then again, maybe your life is so exciting that this idea wouldn’t appeal to you. As for me, between changing diapers and singing Inuktitut songs to my children, I know that there is a realm I can escape to and I don’t have to leave the house to get there. It’s only a manuscript or a book away.
#Lovelifeinliterature
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