It's the last quarter of 2019! This is getting ridiculous. But, that also means it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post! IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can visit his site as well as the official IWSG site to join us or read other writers' posts.
So, if you read my quick post last week, I didn't have food poisoning, but my stomach definitely did not agree with what I had eaten the night before. I also had a cold I wasn't aware of--I thought it was allergies until it went from my head to my chest, the normal route for colds in my body. But anyway, Tobago was BEAUTIFUL, and I would love to visit it again.
Now, IWSG has a question every month we can answer if we like. This month's is especially interesting: 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?
My thoughts: 1) there is nothing new under the sun. No matter how much someone may try to be original, it's already been done before in one shape or another. Thus, there are no new and original ideas, not completely.
2) Are there really writers out there who don't like to read? How did they start writing in the first place? All writers I know got their start from reading others' works. It helps you become a better writer, find your place as a writer, and it just helps broaden your horizons. I don't read as much as I used to, but I still love to read when I can.
3) And I agree, if you don't enjoy reading, how can you expect others to want to read what you write? And wouldn't be a little arrogant to not like reading others' works but write for others to read yours? In my opinion, yes.
What do you all think?
6 comments:
Yes, I guess there are writers who don't read! Crazy people.
Glad you had a good time despite your cold.
I totally agree! I don't think I would have become a writer if I didn't fall in love with reading first.
"Are there really writers out there who don't like to read? How did they start writing in the first place?"
Yes, exactly!
It's like saying you know food better than anyone else, writing about it but never eating it. Doesn't work.
Reading is so pleasurable so I don't understand why someone wouldn't want to read. However, someone in this blogging community said once that they don't read while drafting out a story. So I guess there is that.
Teresa
I get not reading while you're drafting; it can be distracting. Not reading AT ALL, though??
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