(I haven’t written in two days, as I have had a migraine that comes and goes. Right now I’m fighting it with a prescrip. pain med. Which leaves me a wee loopy. Hence the lack of links in this post. I’m sure Google can help you if you are interested in anything here. Thanks for your understanding.)
Writers have to read. Seriously. How in the hell do you intend to know how to write a book if you don’t read them?
I remember when I helped moderate the forums at Lulu.com and I read a post about a writer who defended that s/he didn’t have to read because they learned all about plot from movies. (and somehow they expected others to read THEIR books…)
Oy.
I used to read a ton. And I still love books. I keep buying them. But I’m reading at a much slower rate than childhood, or even when the Pink Tornado was a baby. But there’s less reading. And lots of buying. This doesn’t add up.
It came to a head when I was looking for a John Kessel book the other day before my interview with him (which was awesome, and I can’t wait to bring it to you). I knew it was in my To Be Read pile(s), so as I started shifting through them, I was horrifed at the size, the dust, the horribleness of it all.
I’ve tried to read more in 09. Reviewing for Tor will help this, as there’s actual monetary incentive to read books. And although I did slow down when I hit Thunderer, I need to pick back up. So I’m going to try the public humiliation thing. I will be updating my GoodReads profile in the coming days with my To Be Read shame. Feel free to friend me on Good Reads, and I’ll be keeping track of my reading here in the sidebar.
It’s not even all scifi! I have memoirs, collections of letters, essays, non-fic, how-to, etc. I want to expand my mind, see. And I can’t do that if I spend most of my evenings online (not even writing).
I should be reading. I’ll need support.
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8 Responses to The pile of shame
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I’m right there with you, Mur. I used to read a whole bunch but over the past couple of years it has slipped away as life gets in the way. The subway to and from work was great but now I find that time used for either writing or editing.
I feel your shame and your large ‘To Be Read’ pile as I also keep buying book after book and adding it to the list.
I’ll give all the support I can and maybe it will help us both get back to our roots as to why we started writing stories in the first place.
J
I’m already a friend of yours on Goodreads, so I can’t wait to see what your TBR list looks like. My TBR list is long, but the good thing is that I don’t own any of those books so they aren’t giving me guilty looks from my bookshelf and beside table
.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I also am liable to have my TODO list of stuff greatly exceed my ability to get to it. Of course in my case it’s not reading books, but I think it’s the same problem overall.
Good luck!
–
Furry cows moo and decompress.
I empathize greatly. My reading-for-pleasure has been dramatically cut since I started college. Good luck.
Mur, you post the number of words you write daily @ #solidarity. Maybe you should start another hashtag for the number of pages you’ve read. #wellread? #fundamental? (for RiF) #ISBR? I haven’t checked any of these to see if they’re already being primarily used for something else.
I know this feeling all too well. I tend to only set aside time for reading between the moment I get in bed and however long until the book hits my face as I doze off while reading.
I really need to embrace this old love of mine more fully. It is good for the soul, especially if I can find someplace to read without being interrupted. I need the relaxation, I need to feed my brain and my heart and to spend time on myself that way.
And yeah, you and Stephen King are right, writers need to read.
I almost feel bad for sending you a copy of my book now, as it adds to the Pile of Shame… no shame there, I’m just thrilled that you have it and may read it someday.
Chris
Books: http://www.lulu.com/homebrew
mur
I know you hear this all the time yet
I love you
I have a crush on you and I’m an instant fan
now you and your friends need do nothing but eat and breath.
death and taxes aside your work is great your my newest bigest hero
should is a shame word and you made it funny.
your sooo cool
I love Take Over my mom even loved it she laughed more than I’ve herd in to long a time.
gosh..
I hope you read this
I’ll send more better fan mail soon
swoon
Don’t feel badly about reading (even though someone else said you should be reading). For years I practically inhaled books. I was a person that read everything I bought, usually as soon as I bought it. My true love was writing and I wasn’t doing it. But now I am and whenever I get the urge to put my reading ahead of it (the impulse is still there to do it), I remind myself of my first love, writing, and I make sure to pick up my own pen instead of a book. After writing one hour twice a day for almost a year, I realize that my own writing is every bit as good as what I’ve read and the only way to get my message into the world or out of my heart is to write it out there.
Your blog title says it all.
From reader turned writer….