In keeping with our discussion on reading, we bring you the concept of reading as it relates to writing. We have met very few writers who are not readers (and we have met more than a few writers who finally accepted their calling when they found nothing they wanted to read, and decided to write their own stories). Reading is as much a part of writing as pen, keyboard, paper, stamped, self-addressed envelopes…the article linked below explains it far better than we can, so we offer the thesis, picking up right after the author’s students confront an essay test where they’re to write about their favorite books:
This was terrifying. Out of ignorance or laziness or a self-confidence so massive that it was beyond delusional, these kids seemed to think they were going to show up at their keyboards and crank out 125 pages of totally original material.
They weren’t planning to steal at all.
This, as professional writers know, is madness.
2 responses so far ↓
KathyF // Mar 8, 2005 at 3:43 pm
A good movie about writers and stealing, sort of: The United States of Leland. Saw it last night, and there were great writer one-liners there that, as usual, I’ve forgotten.
booksquare // Mar 9, 2005 at 10:06 pm
Thanks for the tip. No worries about forgetting the one-liners. You’ll see the movie again.