Reading...

If you’re a writer, chances are good that you’re also a reader. If you’re a writer who doesn’t read… this is like when you’re doing improv and instead of your partner saying “yes and” they say “no”. The buck stops here. Insert the screeching sound of a needle on a record player for those of you young enough to remember turntables.

I am a voracious reader. I read every single day. I read fiction and I read non-fiction. The reason I’m writing on this blog topic is to motivate. Maybe that’s the goal of all of my blog topics. They do say each author has one motivation/story that she/he tells over and over in every book. My character’s motivation is the same in my 2 novels, though they are very different characters. My “motivation” in each of my blog entries has been the same = motivation. I guess what they say is true. It’s how you arrive at it that’s different and isn’t the journey the key, not the destination?

In order to write a specific genre you must read that specific genre. Simple yes and true. If you’re a sci-fi writer, you need to read sci-fi. If you’re a mystery writer, you need to read mysteries. Every successful author will also tell you to write what moves you, not what you think may sell. That is sage advice as well. If you write for a specific market or trend that’s not really what you’re interested in: 1. It will show and your voice and passion will be flat. 2. By the time you’re ready to publish, the trend will have changed. 3. Every other wanna-be author has already tried to break in to that “hot new trend” and now the market is overly saturated with say: “the next 50 shades” and no agent or publisher or reader (if you’re self published) wants to read book #256 with the exact same premise as book #255.

Write what you know, read what you love - but the key words here are “write” and “read”. You don’t have time to read but you want to be a writer? Make time. Stop watching TV and read instead. Whatever it takes or it’ll never happen. Once it becomes a habit you won’t be able to stop. I’ve been reading before sleep for more years than I can remember and now I can’t, or don’t want to, sleep without doing it. Personally I change genres. I love reading a few different ones so I skip around. From sci-fi to fantasy to chicklit to regency and more. I also get CDs of books at the library and listen to books while I drive. Thus I am always “reading” at least 2 fiction books at a time.

I also read writing books, I love reading books on “how to write”, “what to write”, “when to write”, “why to write”. I have a list of my favorites which I may copy down and post here sometime. These books are not only motivators to write, they contain practical, useful knowledge. Chances are if you’re reading this blog now, you’re a reader as well as a writer, which is wonderful! Now go out and change the world (in a good way)!

Writing, Doing, Achieving (or) Goals (or) Just Do It

I’m working on my first novel, that’s true. I’m even writing a little bit almost every day, or night – which is my current goal. Goals are important, especially in writing. I feel that if I don’t set goals for myself there won’t be anything to accomplish, nothing to strive for. Having nothing to strive for seems like a very bad idea. Read on while I begin, not only to make valid points but also to make sense…

Each year in my writer’s chapter we write our writing goals for the year to come on a piece of paper. We then place the paper in an envelope, seal it and “turn it in” to be looked at when the next January’s frost hangs thick in the air. This was my first year writing those goals and so far I have not completely accomplished what I set out to do. I remember writing that I hoped to blog once a week and tweet once a week plus have the first draft of my novel completed. But I am making those goals in small strides. Always biting off much more than I can chew I have a full time job (overtime actually as I run my own business), I have another part time job, I am writing my novel, reading novels and studying, trying to blog and tweet (I have 3 active blogs and 6 active twitter accounts) and I have a regular, yet a little crazy exercise program as well as relationships to maintain. Forget about eating, sleeping or cleaning house - there is absolutely no time to fit in those mundane aspects of life.

The one constant, throughout my entire life, that I’ve always returned to over and over and over again is writing. It’s like my warm blanky. I can sit on my couch or lie in my bed and wrap myself up in my computer keyboard and screen. The warm soft glow encroaching on what might otherwise be a sad and lonely existence. When I tap out these letters I can be whomever I want, say whatever I want and reach my little cyberfingers out across the interweb, knowing not whose warm and wet eyeballs will find them.

I don’t mind that I’m an overachiever who wakes up each and every morning, rolls out of her bed with her puppy and kitty at her side, each begging for attention; stumbles into the kitchen to start the hot water for the coffee press; jumps into the shower and then goes until very very late at night when she collapses like a folding chair into the bed once again.

I don’t mind that in between the time I awake and the time I sleep there are thoughts brewing in my consciousness like bacon sizzling on a hot griddle. Sometimes they’re ripe for the picking, or crisp enough for the journey from skillet to plate to mouth and other times they are just beyond the edges of rapture, missing their goal like a poor lip synch in an old poorly dubbed kung fu flick.

At times, what matters the most is just doing it. Sure if you do it you should do it well BUT if you don’t do it all can the ideas become realities? The answer is no. No bounty was never harvested without the seeds first being planted. No best picture was ever won without the screenplay having been written.

So there you have it, my crazy advice that seems to lead directly to adrenal fatigue. Make those goals and keep them. Make those dreams become a reality. The only one stopping you is me, seriously though – it’s you – but if blaming me will get you off your ass, then by all means go right ahead.