October 2 optional question:
It’s been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don’t enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?
It’s been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don’t enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?
The awesome co-hosts for the October 2 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Mary Aalgaard, Madeline Mora-Summonte, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!
Full Disclosure: I am a reader. I’ve been a reader since I first figured out the meaning of those weird shapes in books. I used to read a book a day. I love to read. I’ve slowed down, but I still read. I can’t imagine not reading.
Now, I have made the decision to not read books in the same genre I am writing in. That satisfies my need to keep my books fresh and original. But I write in two different genres, so I can trade off, and there are plenty of books still out there that I can read.
And the concept of ideas being all yours- I can’t fathom it. My ideas are a conglomeration of things I read, things I see, people I talk to … you get the idea. Sure, I try to put those ideas together in a new-to-me way, but I don’t downplay the influence of the world around me. After all, we all know there’s nothing new under the sun.
I find no shame in building upon the legacy of our ancestors. Sure, the language has changed and vocabulary shifted, but isn’t that what we, as authors are still doing? Sitting around a campfire and telling our stories?
So, read on, fellow authors.
I love to read, too! I have favorite/go-to genres and categories, but I do try to expand my reading horizons now and then. I always learn something that way. 🙂
There are very few genres I won’t read. I try to finish every book I start. (Try being the operative word here.)
I think there’s a lot to be gained from reading outside your own genre. I write science fiction, and of course I read a lot of science fiction. But I read a lot of other things too, and I think that helps keep me from just imitating what every other Sci-Fi author is doing.
Because who knows when the gunfight in that Western romance might spark on idea for the battle in your sci-fi universe!