ISBW #46 - Reading
00:01 I Should Be Writing #46: August 10, 2006
00:44 Magazine deadlines, rewrites.
01:04 Working on stories for the Slush Bomb and my submission to Viable Paradise.
01:30 We make our own stress.
02:06 Podcast back on schedule.
02:22 Pseudopod launches on 8/11!
02:40 Reading and its importance to writing. Read romance, like Kiki says, or read about food, Ruth Reichl’s books.
08:33 Lifehacker or Joe’s Goals might keep you organized.
10:04 Daikaijuzine launches next month - accepting submissions now.
10:28 Podcast for writers who want to know tech: Tech for Writers.
10:38 Horror writing competition for the Pacific Northwest.
11:00 Comments on last week’s show.
About the Author: I am a writer and podcast producer, writing for magazines and RPGs. I am a wanna-be fiction writer with several short fiction, comic scripts, and one novel sale. Playing For Keeps will be out August, '08.
Anonymous | Aug 11, 2006 | Reply
Thanks for using Joe’s Goals! I linked you back on our press page.
Abizer | Aug 11, 2006 | Reply
As for the Jonathan Coulter Song that’s inspired you - I’m thinking about turning “Code Monkey” into a comic strip!
Jonathan Sherwood | Aug 15, 2006 | Reply
Nice show! I’ve been doing more reading than writing over the summer, so the show resonated with me.
You talked a lot about how reading feeds the idea machine, but it also feeds the language machine. Just constantly exposing your brain to good writing gets it used to good imagery, good rhythm, good metaphor, and good word choice. All that stuff comes back out of you when you write.
So, as you said, read everything - read out of your genre, read pulitzer prize winners, read excellent non-fiction. It all builds up toward a critical mass in your skull.
keiko_mushi | Aug 16, 2006 | Reply
Damn! I thought that I was busy. It seems that I am not the only one around here who feels that they aren’t getting stuff done. No matter how much spare time that you have, it is way too easy to be distracted. No matter how little that you do, you will find a way to make your life complicated. Go figure!
Good luck with the novel, Mur. There are a lot of folks cheering you on from the bleachers. Know that there are a lot of people who’ve benefitted from your podcast.
Mom Nancy | Aug 17, 2006 | Reply
I’m checking out the links and I want to say I totally agree with the not defending yourself in a critique situation. I used to be in a group where our mantra ended up being, “That’s great, but you can’t go to every reader’s house and explain that to him.”
By the way, just found your podcast and YES, I SHOULD BE WRITING!
Caitlin | Sep 19, 2006 | Reply
Re reading material: When people say ‘don’t read in the genre you’re writing in’, I think they mean while you’re actually in the process of writing the piece, not don’t read it at all.
I read an interview with one writer once who said that she read widely, as much as she could get her hands on, but when she was actually working on a current project she didn’t read anything, not even a newspaper. Instead she fuelled her creative brain with non-word art, like visual art or dance.
That’s probably taking it to extremes but the principle is the same. If you want to write a story about a planet of people who can’t remember why they are there, it might help to read Foundation (if that is what you were thinking of), but maybe you shouldn’t read it at the same time that you write your story.
Kilort | Nov 24, 2007 | Reply
Nice show!