Stephen King on the importance of reading, for writers
Friday, 18 December, 2009 at 11:45 AM
The real importance of reading is that it creates an ease and intimacy with the process of writing; one comes to the country of the writer with one's papers and identification pretty much in order. Constant reading will pull you into a place (a mind-set, if you like the phrase) where you can write eagerly and without self-consciousness. It also offers you a constantly growing knowledge of what has been done and what hasn't, what is trite and what is fresh, what works and what just lies there dying (or dead) on the page. The more you read, the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself with your pen or word processor.
This quote is from On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King. I'm about halfway through this book for the second time and his advice to read stands out even more than when I read it a couple of years ago. A woman whose early identity was largely entertwined with reading, I haven't thought of myself as "a big reader" for several years now.
It's as if blogs and how-to articles online have taken the place of books for me. I still read a lot. It's just what I read that's changed.
While the things I read are important to me, this shift away from those years of thinking of myself as a voracious reader isn't setting well with me. I'd like to blame it on the typical busy-ness of life, but I know this is just a lie I tell myself. I am not reading much because I watch TV. Having gone complete years without even owning a television, I've once more fallen into in a rhythm that includes picking up a remote control several evenings each week, instead of a book. Or prior to the book, since I am reading this particular one each night before I fall asleep.
Enough. The end of the year with its questions of "What worked and what didn't?" and "What will be different about next year?" swirling around in many of our heads, is a perfect time to call a cold-turkey elimination of TV addictions.
Can I do it? I have to. Writing this novel matters a great deal to me. Now that I finally got started, I want to do it right. I want to keep the early momentum and push on, through the writer's block surprises and "man this is hard" stretches, and self-doubt phases. If Stephen King says reading is a way to help get myself there, then reading it shall be. Plus, "the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself with your pen or word processor" really got my attention. We bloggers are used to making fools of ourselves on a fairly steady basis. At least I tell myself it's not just me. But in my novel? There's far more weight to an actual work of fiction. It might be work to occasionally pen something of actual merit for a blog, but if I'm working this hard on a novel? Yea, best to take that as seriously as possible.
Fortunately for me, the "threat" of a stack of books is kind of like the Uncle Remus Br'er Rabbit's briar patch...
Reader Comments (6)
Hi Melody,
First, Stephen King is a god.
Next, I'm back on the no-TV bandwagon with you come January. We did great until about October of this year, then slipped back into old habits - me much more so than Blair. It IS a habit to just click on the TV. I've found my mind/body literally craves it. It goes away after a month of no TV, but it is hard to retrain myself. We'll stick it out together and pass along good reads. Here's a starter: Kitchen Confidential. It's non-fiction, but a brilliant voice and edgy humor. I think you'll like it.
Thanks for the recommendation, Dena! I haven't been so good at the cold-turkey thing. Remembered a minor addiction to a show that's building toward a finale which I will not be missing. And, er, stuff. But I'll make it soon. Have really enjoyed reading more, already. Hoping this encourages me to increase the writing too!
Good luck with your resolution. I like your idea of planning to do it in January. Gradual could maybe be a good thing. :)
DENA! You didn't say this was a Anthony Bourdain book! I've never read anything by him before, but the few times I saw him on TV I was enthralled. Frightened, but enthralled... :) Will put it on my list!
Hi Melody!
I really enjoyed your post and your writing! I love Stephen King's book too...& I'm inspired to read it again after seeing your post!
I haven't watched TV in years -- it started about 15 years ago when I my son was two and I didn't want him watching it -- so I got rid of the thing altogether. Not watching TV did give me a lot more time -- although, sometimes I feel a little "out of the loop" and think about getting reconnected again! Now that my son is 17, the TV is back in the house (he wore me down and we got one at last!) -- but, I'm still out of the habit! (although I LOVE DVD's I have to admit!) Well...at least it's not in my bedroom -- & that's where I do a lot of my reading at night!
Thanks again for your wonderful post! Happy New Year!
Hi Lisa,
Apparently I overlooked this? Yikes!
Thanks for the encouragement to remove TV from my life. I'm not there yet (re-discovered, the day after I wrote that one of my minor TV addictions would be wrapping up really soon, and it's getting crazy good,) but better. Of course my spare time this has created seems to be currently poured into doing some graphic design tests and lessons, which is important for my work. But I tend to think the pendulum always swings. I'll get there. And? Today's writing group meeting is a perfect time to recommit myself for the year.
My family didn't have a TV until I was 12, so I can relate to your son's life experience. I know this helped to make us (siblings) all great readers.
Happy New Year to you too!
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