My Writing Ramblings: Do You Have To Be A Reader To Be A Writer?

Hello everyone. We’re over hump day and speeding toward the weekend. Yay!

I come to you today through a cloud of copious amounts of tea, coke zero and probably some of the worst night’s sleep I’ve had. Well, technically day’s sleep as I’ve been on night shifts for the last few nights.

Finding a positive in my sleepy, clumsy state, there is something I like about being awake at a stupid time of the morning (I will always prefer to be sleeping at night but when I can’t, I try to find good.) I like the stillness of the night time. The lack of busy. I find it incredibly calming.

When I don’t sleep, I read. I have been thinking a lot recently about the act of reading and why I like it. I do love the escape. I adore having access to the lives of the characters who inhabit the worlds I read about. I like discovering new book series and authors. There is not a lot that can beat that feeling I have when I discover an author and realise that there is already a vast catalogue for me to pick my next book from (which is pretty much what happened when I discovered Lisa Jewell for example.)

As I have been trying to write my own book, I have been wondering how much being a big reader helps with my writing.

I know some authors, when in the throes of writing their novels probably won’t pick up a book. The reasoning being that they don’t want anything to influence their own work. Each to their own but the more I try to write, the more I realise that I don’t think I could even contemplate writing a novel if I wasn’t the type of person who loves to read.
I am not sure I could create my own fictional world if I didn’t venture into the world of fictional characters and the settings of the unusual books, the strange narratives, the epic sagas and the wistfulness of romance.

For me, there is so much to be learnt from studying the writing of others. What I liked, what I didn’t like. Not to mention that I find reading really relaxing.

The writing process is such a personal thing. It varies from author to author. I don’t think I will ever stop reading whilst working on pieces of fiction. I think I would end up going slightly mad (ok, madder.) I certainly can’t comment on behalf of anyone else but I certainly need to be a reader to be a writer.

Until next week writing people.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.