The best advice I ever got from my writing mentor in college was this: she said “read everything!“ That resonated for me because I had always been a very catholic reader, sampling one genre after another, always looking for a good story and beautiful writing. I also learned that reading clashing styles could often inspire me. Joan Didion along with Ann Tyler. Different prose styles, different voices, wonderful energy. I have consulted how-to books only when I started my mystery series but reading hundreds of mysteries was much more helpful.
My reading tastes have always been eclectic and only rarely highbrow. I'll read labels if there's nothing else to read! I'm glad you mentioned Ann Tyler. There was a time when I read everything she put out there and waited for more. I must have some of her books around here somewhere...
Not that I've already summitted some literary peak using it but the best piece of advice I ever got about writing was yours. It was this: just write. I've been going with that ever since, continually distilling my voice, both as a person and a writer with every new piece. As always, thank you Ramona.
It is good advice, isn't it? I wish I could take credit for inventing it. I think almost all of those books on writing may have said the same thing eventually. Just write. 😏
I'm a voracious reader of the gobble-gobble school. I inhale that stuff! And no matter how much I try to "read as a writer" as we are urged to do, when I get in a story, I just tear through - completely incapable to stop and pause wondering how the hell the writer did it. On the other hand, I know right away when it feels wrong. That must be the way I learn: remembering to NOT do that!
I tend to do the same, but sometimes something wonderful stops me cold and I have to read it over again. Then I can't help but wonder, 'why does this work?'
The same happens with it's something awful, only in reverse: "Why is this here? What were they thinking??"
It's all a learning process, even when I'm almost totally immersed.
I confess, I read the first 2 pages of Tana French's The Likeness multiple times. It just bowled me over. I still don't know how she pulled it off... I guess I never will know. That's OK.
I don't tend to think of high, low, or middle brow. I look for a good story as mentioned above and writing that is much more than serviceable, so I'm currently re-reading Tom Holland's brilliant Rubicon about Rome and next will re-read the first Game of Thrones novel which was the best of them. In an average month I read history, biography, crime fiction, some literary fiction, natural history, cultural commentary.
Books have to draw me in within a few pages or I’m done. I also don’t feel I have to read anything someone tells me is a must-read. I’ll be the judge of that!
I hear ya. And when I'm told, "But it won a prize!" I don't salute. I've talked to people on prize committees and the politics are very real. As a longtime print reviewer, I've also seen log rolling and great PR campaigns for books that I found pretty awful....
Ramona, I see we have some touchstone books in common—The Writer on Her Work and the Perkins biography, to mention a couple. I also return to The Paris Review’s interviews with women writers. Mostly, though, I read good writing and ask how the writer made the magic.
Yes. I never see anything I write as magic. Though I do read some of my earlier works sometimes and wonder who wrote that? Couldn’t have been me. I’ve never been that good!
Yes. Exactly. Read. Read classics, to learn what lasts. Read crap, to see what sells. Read biographies and autobiographies and psychology to see how other people's minds work. Read history and sociology to understand context and notice patterns. Ask yourself why one book keeps you up until 3 am and why another sits facedown on the bedside table open at page 27, gathering dust. Read analytically, read for pleasure. Read read read.
As more of a photographer than a writer, although I'm working on the writing part, you have to do it. Take lots of photographs; you can delete images or mistakes in digital photography. Photograph what you like, and do not follow trends. Find someone's work that you admire and get a feel for what you want to pour your time, money, and energy to.
This was just what I needed. Been struggling with both writing and creating art. I’ve been blaming distractions for my lack of motivation and putting too much of my focus on reading the “how to’s” when I know better. Thank you for the reminder to simply write for its own sake.
Absolument, as we say in French ❤️
Je suis bien d’accord!
Ah, un compatriote linguistique!!
The best advice I ever got from my writing mentor in college was this: she said “read everything!“ That resonated for me because I had always been a very catholic reader, sampling one genre after another, always looking for a good story and beautiful writing. I also learned that reading clashing styles could often inspire me. Joan Didion along with Ann Tyler. Different prose styles, different voices, wonderful energy. I have consulted how-to books only when I started my mystery series but reading hundreds of mysteries was much more helpful.
My reading tastes have always been eclectic and only rarely highbrow. I'll read labels if there's nothing else to read! I'm glad you mentioned Ann Tyler. There was a time when I read everything she put out there and waited for more. I must have some of her books around here somewhere...
Not that I've already summitted some literary peak using it but the best piece of advice I ever got about writing was yours. It was this: just write. I've been going with that ever since, continually distilling my voice, both as a person and a writer with every new piece. As always, thank you Ramona.
It is good advice, isn't it? I wish I could take credit for inventing it. I think almost all of those books on writing may have said the same thing eventually. Just write. 😏
I'm a voracious reader of the gobble-gobble school. I inhale that stuff! And no matter how much I try to "read as a writer" as we are urged to do, when I get in a story, I just tear through - completely incapable to stop and pause wondering how the hell the writer did it. On the other hand, I know right away when it feels wrong. That must be the way I learn: remembering to NOT do that!
I tend to do the same, but sometimes something wonderful stops me cold and I have to read it over again. Then I can't help but wonder, 'why does this work?'
The same happens with it's something awful, only in reverse: "Why is this here? What were they thinking??"
It's all a learning process, even when I'm almost totally immersed.
I confess, I read the first 2 pages of Tana French's The Likeness multiple times. It just bowled me over. I still don't know how she pulled it off... I guess I never will know. That's OK.
Yes, I have a shelf or two full of how to books on writing. Many of them were helpful, but the best advice, as you say, is to write.
A good reminder, thank you, Ramona. BTW, You have a few of my favorites on your shelves.
Great!
I don't tend to think of high, low, or middle brow. I look for a good story as mentioned above and writing that is much more than serviceable, so I'm currently re-reading Tom Holland's brilliant Rubicon about Rome and next will re-read the first Game of Thrones novel which was the best of them. In an average month I read history, biography, crime fiction, some literary fiction, natural history, cultural commentary.
Books have to draw me in within a few pages or I’m done. I also don’t feel I have to read anything someone tells me is a must-read. I’ll be the judge of that!
I hear ya. And when I'm told, "But it won a prize!" I don't salute. I've talked to people on prize committees and the politics are very real. As a longtime print reviewer, I've also seen log rolling and great PR campaigns for books that I found pretty awful....
Ramona, I see we have some touchstone books in common—The Writer on Her Work and the Perkins biography, to mention a couple. I also return to The Paris Review’s interviews with women writers. Mostly, though, I read good writing and ask how the writer made the magic.
Nice! Most writers can’t explain their magic. Because it’s, well…magic. 😏❤️
I can usually explain my self-edits, not that anyone has asked. Whether I’ve made any magic is for readers to decide.
Yes. I never see anything I write as magic. Though I do read some of my earlier works sometimes and wonder who wrote that? Couldn’t have been me. I’ve never been that good!
Yes. Exactly. Read. Read classics, to learn what lasts. Read crap, to see what sells. Read biographies and autobiographies and psychology to see how other people's minds work. Read history and sociology to understand context and notice patterns. Ask yourself why one book keeps you up until 3 am and why another sits facedown on the bedside table open at page 27, gathering dust. Read analytically, read for pleasure. Read read read.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
As more of a photographer than a writer, although I'm working on the writing part, you have to do it. Take lots of photographs; you can delete images or mistakes in digital photography. Photograph what you like, and do not follow trends. Find someone's work that you admire and get a feel for what you want to pour your time, money, and energy to.
Good advice. Thanks.
I couldn't agree more! Have you been inside my head?
I don’t know. Maybe… 🤔
Kingsolver and Carson sharing space together on your shelf. ~swoon~
Points taken, Ramona. This advice is evergreen.
This was just what I needed. Been struggling with both writing and creating art. I’ve been blaming distractions for my lack of motivation and putting too much of my focus on reading the “how to’s” when I know better. Thank you for the reminder to simply write for its own sake.
You're so welcome. Onward!