If being a good reader is what goes into making someone a better writer then I must confess that I am not the writer that I think I am. Let me just say that I love to read, so much so that when I don’t get a chance to it hurts my heart just a little bit more with each opportunity that slips through my fingers.
After all, reading is what made me want to be a writer in the first place and it is what allowed me to enhance my abilities as a writer, learning more about crafting words, and the proper structure of them, what having the write setting and time period can do to enhance a book. I read about how important small details are to a book and how to get more in touch with my characters and who they were really portraying. With reading I even got to learn about certain things that I otherwise wouldn’t have known about and about places that I have always dreamt of going but that are not a guaranteed staple of my journey.
Having said all of that, lately, in the last few years I have not been the best reader that I can be. That last two years it seems as though I have not read at all (unless you count the fact that it took me almost a whole year to finish one book) and it saddens me. It is not because I don’t still have the desire to always have a book in my hand and take it with me wherever I go. It is because once you really thrusts yourself into being a writer, both the creative and the business sides of it, it seems like the time to read is minimal at best.
I feel like I can’t even balance the time to write and market my business, along with taking care of my daughter and making memories with her, so by the time I sit down to read anything I am so tired that I end up in the same place I started with the bookmark lying somewhere on the floor and the pages bent because I have tossed and turned all over my book.
You see it’s not as if I never make the attempt and even squeeze in what I think will be just enough time to read a chapter before I try and get some sleep. Mind you, that I wake up most mornings at 6am and don’t usually make it to bed until 2am (sometimes later) so I am operating daily on four hours of sleep. Example, I started the book I am currently reading in January with the New Year. At the most it should have only taken me a month to finish it (used to be less) but here it is March and I am still just halfway through. So does the fact that I can’t seem to squeeze in reading to my already filled up schedule mean that I am not as good of a writer as I once was? I sure hope not.
This is a reminder to all of you out there, find the time to read if you’re not already doing it. It will not only make you a better writer overall, but a better editor for those novels you have to edit, and just a better storyteller in general. Take it from someone who can’t seem to fit in a good book and who is desperately trying to find the balance so that I can, read almost as much as you write. It will make a world of a difference. Stay curious and stay captivating!
Jimmetta Carpenter
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I’m almost at the opposite end. I end up reading so much that it’s hard to get in my writing time. Working full time in a school, editing some projects, drafting another, outlining another, daily blogging, volunteering, author readings, committee work… Eek! I aim to have at least one novel publication ready each year, and to release a poetry chapbook. It works, but it’s not stress free, by any means.
I need to read to get some sanity back! I aim to read 100 books a year, and I am well ahead of schedule for this year with 21 so far. I frequently choose to read really great short works to keep up my count 🙂 So here’s one for you: if you haven’t read John Green’s The Fault in our Stars- which just took me an evening to read- you’re missing something! It’s very inspiring.
All the best on your writing, AND on your reading! 🙂
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to provide words of encouragement to me and a suggestion for a good book to read. I will definately look that book up at the library, if I can ever finish the one that I am currently reading. Good job on having read 21 books already this year, I am still on the 1 book, lol. What’s your secret? Thanks again for stopping by and I’m going to head on over to your blog in just a minute. Have a very blessed evening!
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I feel for you girl. I’m a writer and I love to read. I don’t read nearly as much as I used to and that’s a shame. I learn some much from reading. I should probably go and find the library . . . . 😀 hope you manage to find some time to read. Good luck with the writing.