this is my journal ... i write it as i go ... it has typos ... it's not perfect ... but then ... neither am i Goals and Priorities February 15, 1998 4:07 p.m.           used with permission      If there's one fact that rings true to every newbie writer, it that there's just never enough time. In the past couple day's I've been lurking around a writer's mailing list and listening to people argue about whether a writer needs to read or not. Among the thoughts presented (by a woman named Catherine, which is important to understand what follows) was that active writers don't read very much. She backed it up by comments made to her by Terry Bisson.      I think this is true.      Most professional writers that I know, defined here as people who make a bulk of their income writing, don't read that much. There's probably a billion reasons why, and my point today is not to try to explain them.      My point today focuses on the fact that this idea was condemned fairly violently by several writers who, I think, essentially felt their turf was being attacked.      The argument got me thinking.      And I actually came out of lurk mode there to make the following statement.            Long post, but what the hey...      In a perfect world, all writers would have more than enough time to read everything they wanted, as well as write everything they wanted. As well as spend their 8-10 hours working the job that pays all their bills.      But, last I looked, we don't live in that world. There are decisions to make, priorities to set.      My experiences fall into line with Catherine's. A majority of the writers I know who make at least a majority of their income from writing fiction no longer read nearly as extensively as they once did. A vast majority, I believe. The question really gets down to each individual and their needs and anxieties. I know writers who read as voraciously as possible in order to avoid "doing something just like" someone else. Personally, I think this is a terrible reason to read. But that's just me.      I'm nowhere near making a majority of my income from writing fiction. But I'm getting better, and I'm beginning to sell stuff with a modicum of regularity (a couple professional sales a year for the past three). I can tell you I learned a ton more from planting my butt in the chair and hammering the keys than I ever did from reading someone else's work.      I _do_ learn from reading other's work, though--mostly short stories. But I have to admit I no longer read for enjoyment. My opinion is that if you are truely reading to learn, a new writer has to put aside his or her "Gee whiz" sense of awe and intimidation, and tear into the guts of Big Name Pro's story. The quest here is not to be carried away into fantasy land, but to discover the nuts a bolts of "How did he do that?" "What did he do to make me feel this way?" "How can I incorporate that technique into my own stories?" I watch movies this way, too, by the way. Storytelling is storytelling.      The honest truth, though, is that I can't spend nearly as much time reading as I did before I wrote, or as much as I would like to. I just flat out can't or else I would never be able to write my own stuff. People who know I'm a SF writer are constantly telling me that they love reading SF, and they would like to write some but never seem to have the time. My first answer is "Well, stop reading it and start writing it." I think this is key. You have to read enough to understand the conventions. But after a point, the act of reading is no longer valid training for a new writer--or at _least_ there's a point of diminishing returns.      Of course, when you stand up and say this, you immediately make yourself a target for people to take your words out of context. I mean, get real. Do you actually think Terry Bisson is recommending that everyone stop reading? Of course not. Jeez, the guy makes his living from readers. What he's saying is that a professional writer makes his money by _writing_ his own stuff, and that training to be a professional writer requires a great deal more writing than reading.      Sorry if this came of as a rant... :)      This topic spoke to me so strongly because I've been really busy in the past few days. The day job has been intense. Lisa has been absorbed in a book she's copy editing, and I've been spending more time with Brigid during the weekends and evenings. And I've done more laundry and whatnot than usual. I've had several self-driven writing related goals to achieve on top of all those. One of the things I've given up these past two weeks is reading.      I didn't give it up consciously, mind you. It's just lower on the priority list for a new writer. At least it is for this new writer. And the topic struck home.      People ask me how I find time for writing.      The answer of course, is goals and priorities.      Goals and priorities. E-Mail Daily Persistence is © Ron Collins

MORE ENTRIES Love our principle, order our foundation, progress our goal Auguste Comte BACK TO