Monday, July 9, 2012

Fuel for the Journey

From the Speakers: LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE by A Skylit Drive
Just Read: ANANSI BOYS by Neil Gaiman--Really great. I'm growing to love Gaiman's voice and stories. I liked the Island magic feel, and I think I might try to incorporate that into a coming week's story . . .
Reading Now: PIRATE LATITUDES by Michael Crichton
Reading Now: A CLASH OF KINGS by George R.R. Martin

You know why I love reading? Not only is it entertaining, an escape from mundane everyday life, and a great way to get some sun by the pool, but as a writer, it's great fuel for future stories.

Stephen King's number one rule is to read a lot and write a lot. The two are synergistic, I'm discovering more and more. It's stunning to me how writers can experience writer's block if they follow this rule. Every story I've read this year, it seems, has planted the seed for my own story.

Maybe being a part of Write1Sub1 plays a role in this, since I'm forced to dig up deeper and deeper fossils of stories to keep the challenge going, but I swear it seems the more I read the more convinced I am that I'm going to write stories for the rest of my life.

Here's a few examples. I spent a week reading some of Poe's most popular stories, and wrote a story in their vein that's now made it to the final considerations at Penumbra magazine. I'm reading PIRATE LATITUDES by Michael Crichton, and this week's story is going to take place on an English galleon. And the more GAME OF THRONES I read (and watch), the more encouraged I am to write stories set in fantasy worlds . . . and submit them to F&SF or Beneath Ceaseless Skies.

The journey continues, halfway through the W1S1 year, being fueled along the way by greater and greater stories. Hopefully my own works in progress are likewise improving. Only time (and acceptances) will tell.

To everyone who's been reading my stuff so far along the way: my greatest and most heartfelt thanks! Hope to see you (and your friends?) the rest of the way.

2 comments:

  1. Congrats on sticking to your goals.

    I don't think every reader can be a writer, but every writer must be a reader. Like you, I get a lot of inspiration from authors I love to read.

    Currently, I'm reading John Hart's "King of Lies," and Joyce Carol Oates, "The Falls." I love their voice and style and often find myself at the keyboard after a couple of chapters.

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  2. Great to hear other writers have similar thoughts, Erin. Makes me think I'm doing something right!

    I haven't read "King of Lies" or "The Falls." Would you recommend them? Probably the number one way I discover great new books is by recommendation from a friend.

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