What do you do when you get stuck with your writing? There isn't one answer of course, but I hope your first thought settles on reading.
Photo by Jukka Zitting
Reading as a Universal Answer
You've probably heard it many times (but who says clichés are automatically bad advice): Writers are always readers.
Reading is the finest fuel to writing. Reading teaches, inspires, motivates, transcends, transforms, stimulates, brings escape and comfort. Reading also irritates and questions; probes and provokes.
Seriously, is there anything a good read can’t help? Assuming you have the right book in your hands, of course.
If you can’t write, read; If you need escape from reality, read; If you need a laugh, read; If you need inspiration, read; If you’re stuck, read; If you’re feeling vulnerable, read; and so on. There’s an infinite opportunity and resources to read, which brings me to the following question.
Are You Reading The Right Books?
Assuming you’re an avid reader, a bibliophile, or a writer, at some point you’ve probably thought with regret about the limited scope of reading you can do in a lifetime. The latest boom in publishing (online, self-publishing, indie publishing), brings countless piles of books to to the reader. How to choose the right ones?
In her wonderful essay, writer Jenny Diski compares her past passion in following the whole range of cinema when she was young, which wasn’t too difficult at the time considering that cinematography was a relatively fresh industry, with the impossibility to ever do that with literature.
Here's the thing, no matter how much you love reading, it’s so much better if you read the right books for you. Bestsellers are not a sign they are the best for you. Often, one can enjoy an unknown manuscript or a blog more than a wrongly targeted bestseller.
Here's my opinion, it’s worth taking ten to fifteen minutes to study a book while ravishing in a bookshop and discover the book that will change your life.
PRACTICE
Since a lot of you are busy with NaNoWriMo this month, this won’t be a writing prompt, but more of a thought-provoking question you can share with the rest of us. Here it goes:
Are you making a careful reading selection, books that deserve your attention, or do you read anything that falls into your hands? What have you been reading lately?
Hi –
I have multiple lists on Amazon that I go through to pick the right book. But I do tend to read a lot of sci-fi and modern fiction, as well as comics. For me, the pull is either the voice, the language, or the overall concept of the book.
By the way, this is my first time on this site and I’m very glad to be here!
Welcome on board Steve; glad to have you around. You’re absolutely right – the voice, the language, and concept pulls you either in or out in a book – and the topic of course. Interests are interests.
Because of this article, I started reading more blogs, and am tackling 2666: A Novel, Roberto Bolaño.
It’s 900 pages long, wish me luck!
That’s fantastic Steve! Enjoy yourself.
I don’t really think about what’s I should be reading, but I think if you read good books, you’re start building a love for great literature and you start bypassing what’s not. I still throw in a true crime story now and then, and I did read 50 Shades to see what the hype was about. (It was the least sexy book I’ve ever read. GEE!)
When I’m trying to write something specific, I do seek out those books. It’s amazing how much you learn if you write. I always think about Joan Didion in The Year of Magical Thinking and how she sought out ever piece of information she could find to try to help her daughter recover, and how she sought out books to help her deal with her husband’s death. I can’t imagine going through any difficult situation without books.
Right now I’m reading The Memory Palace by Mira Bartok. I just finished Testimony by Anita Shreve and a book of gorgeous poetry, Seasons in Love, by Dave Malone, and I reread The Weight of Memory by a friend of mine, Jennifer Paddock. On my wait list is Barbara Kingsolver’s new book. I can’t wait.
I totally agree with you Marla about reading good books to build a love for great literature. As for 50 Shades, I intentionally skipped reading it – thank God. Thanks for sharing your list of current reads – it’s good to pile recommendatons before Christmas. 🙂
Marla! 🙂 That’s a quote – 50 shades – ‘least sexy book I’ve ever read’!! love it! Who are some of your favourite authors?
A combination of targeted reading and serendipity seems to work best for me. I do like reading in my genre (crime fiction), but I also read other books – very seldom worrying about bestsellerdom or fashion, more often relying on word-of-mouth recommendations from people whose taste I trust. However, every now and then, I like to push myself outside my comfort zone. And I very seldom regret it!
Sounds like a great approach Marina!
I read constantly. I choose books based on whether I think they will help me learn something or grow as a person or leader. I also enjoy good fiction. One of the books I’m reading right now (among many) is Wisdom Meets Passion by Dan Miller right now. It is great!
Reading to grow; growing to read. 🙂
I’m a “Whatever falls into my hands” reader. I keep a list of books I want to read but also realize I can learn from any book–even if it’s how NOT to do something. There are days when I wish I was more selective (I’ve read some junk) but it’s hard to pick and choose without wasting valuable reading time by researching.
Reading junkie. I am too. 🙂
I am currently reading “Dial Emmy for Murder” by Eileen Davidson (soap opera star of Young & the Restless and currently Days of our Lives) and Glenn Beck’s “The Original Argument” about the Federalist Papers. My great desire is to write mysteries, but i find myself writing mainstream/female interest. I’m doing Nano again this year, a sequel to another novel from several years back with sisters who love each other but tend to fight dirty. I know it’s trite, but it’s also 50,000 words in 30 days — i always try to hit the 50k mark by Thanksgiving. I also love the short stories of Eudora Welty and Dorothy Parker to clear a clogged mind.
Good luck with Nano Jamie and thanks for sharing you current reads.
Sophie, I like your post today as it has made me think about my reading habits and how they’ve changed since my social media presence has evolved. I find I am asked to read and review books, a thrill for me, but often the books are not in a genre I would normally choose. I love well-written historical fiction and fiction with some meat to it. I do take a long time to choose a book if it’s written by an author new to me. I open at several spots and read to get the flavor and the quality of the writing. I devour the book jacket, and, I must confess, I am swayed by the cover. Thanks for your thoughts.
Thanks Elaine. A new author takes a time to explore, but it’s very exciting to find a fresh name whose writing blows you away.
Reading to get inspired–absolutely I do. Sometimes I’ll wade into the genre I’m writing in, such as my spy phase last year. But most often I want to read the best, so I’ll pick out the latest prize winners. Or prize winners from the past. Peter Carey has won the Booker Prize twice, so I`m reading him for the first time: The True History of the Kelly Gang. Wow! And Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Laureate… double Wow! Plus, by my bed I keep an arsenal of books about the writing life: Annie Dillard and Brenda Ueland, are two. I just gotta read good writing. It rubs off. (Or so I like to imagine.)
Prize winners are great and Orhan Pamuk is fantastic. Even the shortlisted for Booker are a very worthy read.
I think reading books outside your usual genre also helps.
mood
Moody Writing
Agreed. You may even find yourself fancying something you never thought of before.
The pile of books on my bedside table is a health and safety hazard according to my husband! I read. I read anything and everything. As a Librarian I need to read – it is a professional imperative 🙂 However I don’t finish every book I start. Some time ago (a long time) I read a well reviewed Pulitzer prizewinning author and as I closed the last page I resisted the urge to throw it across the room. What a waste of time! It had nothing to say to ME – that is not to say it was not extremely wonderful for others. So now if a book is not gripping me, if I’m falling asleep over the pages – I skim it or just close the book and move on. Life is too short and there are too many other great books out there. Of course some books are hard, they require thoughtful consideration, they take effort and those may sit on my bedside table for years but they never get thrown across the room.
Wow, a librarian. You have the best job ever Juliana. What are your favourite authors?
Oh that is like asking which of my children I love best!!! Anne Michaels, Kage Baker, Hilary Mantell, Mary Doria Russell, Peter Temple, Janet Frame, Pat Barker……………………….
Wow, Juliana, that’s an eclectic list! The only name I recognized was Janet Frame…
Tough question, I know. Interesting selection though – worth checking out. Thanks.
What a wonderful post!! Really enjoyed this – and been diving into books with fervour recently… I do love a variety of styles to keep things fresh. Been going through the ‘top 100’ books of the century in the last year or two, and found some amazing ones, and some I just can’t stand. I love reading international books, that give me a flavour for another culture’s mindset, dialogue, etc. Just finished ‘Brooklyn’ by Colm Toibin, which I loved, and Olive Kitteredge by Elizabeth Strout. I love your point about finding what inspires you, because there just aren’t enough hours in your life to waste on books that don’t do something for your soul.
Thanks Zoe! I share your love for international books and exploring foreign cultures; it teaches and opens new horizons. I’ll check Toibin and Strout – thanks for sharing.
Ja, I always love recommendations – do you have any favourite authors and books? Just this morning I’ve been rereading and studying Strout’s book – it’s ABSOLUTELY phenomenal. The crafting of her sentences… wow. I would definitely recommend her. She won a Pulitzer for the book.
I have many: Herman Hesse, Milan Kundera, Julian Barnes, George Orwell to name just a few. I’ll definitely check Strout. Thanks.
I try to read Patrick Rothfuss’s Name of the Wind at least twice a year. This usually leads to reading the sequel, a Wise Man’s Fear, once to twice a year as well. As a fantasy writer, I can’t think of a more inspiring book. Name of the Wind is the novel, and the story, and the world, that pushed me to stop pretending I cared about writing fiction and to remember that as long as you put real heart and understanding into a book, it can be important and change lives. Fantasy or not.
Hey, Jeff, I write fantasy too. I’ve been thinking lately, I should be reading blogs by fantasy readers & writers. Can you suggest any, or even one? Thanks 🙂
Unfortunately, I don’t read many blogs myself, Yvette. I don’t know of any specific fantasy blogs (though I am sure there are many) but I do love Chuck Wendig’s Terrible Minds. Chuck blogs a great deal about the craft of writing and each week he provides his readers with a fun writing challenge that is usually pretty easy to work fantasy into. He’s a weird guy and weird people make for great inspiration 🙂 Sorry I couldn’t be of more help to you.
Great attitude Jeff.
Thank you Sophie 🙂
I’m a lifelong reader. At the age of 12, I suffered so many headaches my parents had my eyesight checked, only to find out it was 20/20. When they told my doctor how many books I withdrew from the library at a time (20-30), he suggested I read less! Ha ha. Never!
That’s a ridiculous medical advice. The doctor should be hunt down. 🙂
I’ve been reading for escape lately, and the two contemporary thriller/spy/terrorist-fighting novels I had picked up, I found to be just awful: defending the homeland, kill the enemy in his sleep if you can, FBI, Special Ops, what was I thinking when I bought these? that I could lose myself in any old book ,which had seemed to be true at one time in my life, but now. . .
Then in a dusty corner I found a volume I’d bought months ago at a little antique store, a former library book, the first check-out date stamp from before Pearl Harbor –The Short Stories of Robert Louis Stevenson, and those stories shine for me in a way the others can’t begin to. Very nineteenth-century-male-adventurer oriented, which perhaps begs the question of which century I live in internally. It’s, uh, not the twenty-first . . . . I think what I love is the complete absence of our contemporary sense of political correctness. The take on women, especially, and yes, that’s terrible, but it’s also true to my insides.
Well, you asked.
No judging here John – don’t worry. An escape is really made easier with an older book portraying a completely new reality. Also, Stevenson’s stories are very enjoyable.