Reading That Helps Your Writing

Thursday, October 21st, 2010 at 11:19 AM | Category: Books, Meryl's Notes Blog, Writing 4 comments

I smiled when I read Daphne Gray-Grant’s October 5 issue of Power Writing. (I recommend the newsletter especially for writers.) She wrote, “Finally, one important P.S. I’m no longer a member of a book club because I dislike being told what to read — especially when there’s a deadline. If a book club works for you, well, make that item #8. If not, don’t feel guilty about it! Reading should be about enjoyment, not guilt.”

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Image by AIGA Wisconsin via Flickr

In this issue, she gave seven ways to make sure your reading helps you writing. I suppose I should share the seven tips to avoid torturing you while reading this. The tips are hers and the comments that follow are mine.

  1. Be sure to read only those books you enjoy. It took a couple of books for me to learn to just cut the book loose if it stinks. Well, unless, my college class required it.
  2. Read only a limited amount of crap. How do people get an accent where they live? Because they hear it so much, they sound like it. Same thing with reading bad writing.
  3. Read the kind of writing you aspire to produce yourself. This doesn’t mean reading Jane Austens. It means if you write white papers, read the white papers from the best writers and books about white papers from reputable white paper writers.
  4. Never feel obligated to finish material you don’t like. Before I pick up a book or agree to do a book review, I research it to see if it’s worth my time. Sure, I’ve posted a few reviews of books I didn’t like. In these cases, I was doing a job as a reviewer not reading a book I chose.
  5. Keep a record of what you have read. Books read PDF file. ’nuff said.
  6. Have a good system for tracking the names of books you want to read. I keep a file with this info that I can access on my mobile device. You never know if you find a deal while out and about.
  7. Give books away when you’re finished. The only books I keep are references that I can refer to again, autographed books and special books such as those where I contributed.

I agree with her that reading should be about enjoyment and not guilt. My book club has given me the opportunity to read books that I would otherwise never get to read especially fiction. Because I do non-fiction book reviews and other book-related work, I don’t get to read fiction.

Thanks to the book club, I’m currently reading The Help and read Time Traveler’s Wife. If I don’t like a selection, I don’t read it. Other members have admitted to not reading or finishing a book and we respect that. I also discovered books I would not have considered like The Secret Life of Bees and The Freedom Writer’s Diary. I’m sure every book club operates differently. I appreciate mine for their flexibility, insightful discussions and delightful company.

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8 1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

Reading That Helps Your Writing

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4 comments

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  • Posted by George Angus on October 22nd, 2010, 6:17 PM

    Meryl, Some of the best reading advice I’ve ever seen – especially for writers. I absolutely love the whole “garbage in, garbage out” concept.

    Also, working in a library has taught me that I’ve nary a spare moment for reading things that don’t resonate with me. I bring new books home all of the time and if I’m not delighted/captured, enthralled by about page 50, I bring it back.

    Hope all is well!

    George

  • Posted by Leslie on October 24th, 2010, 6:28 PM

    Hi! This is a wonderful, helpful post. I began writing a couple books right now. I am wondering if self publishing is a better option over shopping publishing companies. What are your thoughts? Also, where would you suggest locating an editor?

    Thanks!
    Leslie

  • Posted by Meryl on October 25th, 2010, 9:56 AM

    @George, thank you. Can’t talk all the credit, you know? Daphne inspired this post. Exactly. Why waste our precious reading time (and I don’t have enough of it) on bad stuff?

    @Leslie, thanks. Oh my goodness, those are loaded questions. Mike Shatzkin (http://www.idealog.com/blog/) and April Hamilton (http://aprillhamilton.blogspot.com/) are the best bloggers to read regarding self-publishing / epublishing.

    Editor question depends on genre and content type (book vs article).

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