Today’s question:
It's been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don't enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?
I don’t see how anyone can write who isn’t also a reader. It would be like an artist who hates to look at art or a ball player who never watches a game. How would you learn? Yes, we pick up little bits of other writers. But the more we write, the more our own voice emerges.
This month’s WEP event:
* * *
We finished and released the cover for our late spring release, Lost Helix by Scott Coon:
Our next event is Fayetteville Comic Con in Fayetteville, NC – Oct. 19-20. If you’re in central NC, come get your geek on at the con and stop by our booth.
Finally, the Hampton Roads Writer’s Conference was absolutely wonderful – so well organized and everyone so helpful. They even had vegan food for me.
But a huge treat was meeting author and blogger, Toi Thomas. She had so much energy and a wonderful smile.
What does your October look like? Anyone else going through bags of Mellowcream Pumpkins like there’s no tomorrow?
I can't image a writer not wanting to read. Congrats to Scott, the book cover looks great. Love the photo of you and Toi.
ReplyDeleteLoved the read and photo.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Good analogy. I can’t imagine not reading now that I got over my reading crisis after my husband died.
ReplyDeleteYou met Toi! Very cool.
ReplyDeleteDig the cover.
Love that Lost Helix cover! How cool that you got to meet Toi. She does have a lovely smile :)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to drool on my computer right now.
ReplyDeleteI had so much fun meeting you. I agree, the conference was really great. I got so much out of it.
LOL!!!
DeleteHi Diane, I agree on both counts, that we pick up little bits of other writers when we read and also that the more we write, the better we get, in terms of our voice, style, as well as plotting and world building.
ReplyDeleteSo much fun to meet an online buddy in person!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely have to be a reader to be a good writer!
Love the cover for "Lost Helix!"
ReplyDeleteI can't see how a writer could not be a reader. The reverse is not true, however. One can be a voracious reader, but not a writer.
ReplyDeleteLove Toi's shirt. I love meeting blogger/writing friends. That was an unexpected bonus to the writing thing.
ReplyDeleteI am also suspect of people who want to write who hate to read, but I have met a few.
"But the more we write, the more our own voice emerges" - this I have found to be so true. Hard to write without seeing how it's done. :)
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you sharing what it takes to be a writer. It's like you (as a publisher) hold the key to a secret world. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
That's a great cover! I love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you met Toi!
And I'm with David - "The more we write, the more our own voice emerges." I agree.
Excellent advice! Happy IWSG day :-)
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting and on co-hosting IWSG day Co-hosting, Flagship Content and Interesting Developments
Oh wow, great pic of you and Toi! It's so fun to meet blogger friends in person.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100% about reading.
It's weird to me that someone would write without reading. -- I'm not saying it can't be done (but I've never seen it).
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of you (but those apples with teeth are scary!)
I had to look up Mellowcream Pumpkins. I've never tried them.
They are better than candy corn! Get a bag.
DeleteSo far my October (and all of last month) has been in the 90-100s. Please send some sweater weather! I'm so ready for fall.
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a dark chocolate marshmellow pumpkin girl (best slightly frozen). I might *possibly* be persuaded to eat the chocolate candy corn, too. So many ways to get a sugar rush!
ReplyDeleteGreat analogies on writers who don't read. How does one learn to do anything without studying what has already been done? And such a loss of joy and enjoyment.
Marshmallow. Clearly influence by your mellowcream. :-D
DeleteLOL!
DeleteWhat a lovely cover. The character makes me curious. I want to know more about him.
ReplyDeleteThere are writers who don't read???
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good time at the conference and got to meet Toi!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine a writer who doesn't read.
Great pic of you and Toi!
ReplyDeleteIt must be fun to meet an online buddy. 😀
That's a great cover.
No matter how much you read, your writing will always be an extension of you. Reading doesn't remove your voice; it enhances it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read all the IWSG entries, but I have a feeling we're all in agreement on this month's question.
ReplyDeleteYou guys do a fantastic job with your cover designs. I'm so tickled for you that your publishing company is doing so well. It must've been quite a leap of faith to get it started, but it seems to have paid off. (I mean... you even got to meet Will Wheaton!!!)
Yes, I did meet Wil Wheaton.
DeleteThank you, I will let our illustrator know. DLP was a leap of faith which is why I studied the business a long time before I took that leap.
Glad you enjoyed the conference. I've got to get my hinnie in gear and start attending. Especially writer conferences in the state.
ReplyDeleteTrue, that's how you learn indeed. Great cover!
ReplyDeleteLove the pic of you and Toi. Love the new cover. Happy IWSG Day!
ReplyDeleteI love meeting fellow writers
ReplyDeleteI'm a great believer in writing being the best way of learning the craft. But you have to know what the craft is to refine our own. Can't do that without reading.
ReplyDeleteI love the energy of you and Toi! The cover is cool~ Writing and reading go hand and hand!!
ReplyDeleteI agree it doesn't make sense to be a writer if you're not a reader.
ReplyDeleteMy October treat are the Trader Joe's Halloween cookies, the ones that are kind of like Oreos but with orange frosting in between. Of course, I've been chowing on those since mid-September...
ReplyDeleteI wish we didn't have to drive an hour to get to a Trader Joe's.
DeleteI wish I could attend one of those events you're attending. Agree with the reading and writing part.
ReplyDeleteI also believe reading is an important part of writing. I can't developing the writing bug without first being a reader.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of you and Toi! No Halloween treats at our house as we don't get trick-or-treaters here. :( I loved Halloween when I was a teacher. We had so much fun! And I miss all the little ghosts and goblins who used to come knocking on our door when we lived in other places. Enjoy those Mellowcream Pumpkins!
ReplyDeleteHi, L. Diane!
ReplyDeleteIt's so important to read.
You're rockin' it out there at those conferences! Looks like fun!
Heather
I'm so glad your conference was a success! That's awesome. I love the picture of you and Toi. When I first started writing, I definitely picked up other author's voices until I found my own. :)
ReplyDeleteElsie
Do you have a spy camera on my house? How did you know about the pumpkins? Yes, I've eaten waaay too many. Actually, I've moved on to Reeses' mini cups and our grocery store's pumpkin/chocolate chip muffins. I need a sugar intervention, stat, and it isn't even Halloween yet.
ReplyDeleteOctober is my favorite month of the year, except for the Halloween candy which I'm trying my best to avoid this year as I try to lose a few more pounds before my knee replacement surgery in November. I won't even walk down the candy aisle at the drugstore!
ReplyDeleteGreat cover for Scott's book. You're right - reading doesn't detract from our originality, in fact it enhances our voice.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the amazing cover! I find reading only helps us develop as writers. And so neat that you met Toi!
ReplyDeleteHow great that you met Toi! It seems some of the DLP authors are hooking up in person, too! Congrats on the newest book.
ReplyDeleteWill we see Annoying Orange at the Horrible Harvest?
ReplyDeleteI'm currently editing it, I can say that your cover artist really does nicely capture the essence of each story on the covers. :)
ReplyDeleteLike a ball player who never watches a game--perfect comparison!
ReplyDeleteI love all your book covers! No, I can't imagine not being reader when you are a writer. I do find it tough to divide time between writing and reading. Reading can take over writing time and I never feel caught up with my reading. Always a good read dangling in front of me to grab my time!
ReplyDelete