Long before christmas last year I met up with one of my closest friends and an old friend from school, we talked about our past and I asked her “how have you managed? How have you thrived so well?”
Her answer?
Reading.
Yes – I believe the saying knowledge is power – or at least now I do. I remember looking at her for a few minutes thinking – I read? I don’t feel as smart or as “woke” as you? But it was the content. I was reading for fun – yes, but not to feed my hunger or my needs.
I began ordering editing bookings, books about Greek mythology, instead of listening to the radio on the way to and from work I would use Audible (totally addicted now by the way!) I read positive thinking books, books about being assertive, books on people who are learning to write – and so began my confidence – pouring in – in all of its glory.
I feel that after just 1 month, I have read 5 books, listened to 4 audio books, and my writing has improved ten fold. My outlook on life has been more positive, I am stronger in sticking up for myself and creating boundaries, I am no longer scared or get “writers’ guilt” if I have a week or two of not writing.
So – I do believe knowledge is power – wholeheartedly now. Reading 100% has a positive effect for sure, and I would encourage it. I have found sayings like this must have come from somewhere, and if you believe you can achieve. And that – is exactly what I am doing.
Just as athletes train, and singers rehearse, musicians practice – we as writers need to read. Or we will starve our creativity and hold ourselves captive – let your mind free and fall in love with reading again.
As I’ve mentioned before, I will keep listing the books I have read or am reading currently on the home page. Don’t loose faith in yourself or your writing – give in to it, and fall in love with reading again, because ultimately – it will improve your writing.
England
“Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.” ANNIE PROULX
“Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.” WILLIAM FAULKNER
“Constant reading will pull you into a place where you can write eagerly and without self-consciousness. It also offers you a constantly growing knowledge of what has been done and what hasn’t, what is trite and what is fresh, what works and what just lies there dying on the page. The more you read, the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself with your pen or word processor.” STEPHEN KING
The Crow Series 