The Love Of Books
January 26th 2010 12:15
For the last few months, my teachers (wonderful people that they are) have been feeding me good books. Ishmael Beah was a recommendation from my English teacher for an assignment involving reading a biography or autobiography. I loved it-a terrible story, one that I wish wasn't true, but well told and showing an underside much darker than the one here in my own city.
Right now I'm reading a book called A Scientific Romance that was recommended by my geography teacher and given to me by my English teacher. (Crazy stuff.) You'll get a full book review probably at the end of this week or the beginning of the next. Suffice to say that it's one of the most interesting books I've ever read.
For Christmas I got two Chapters gift cards. I've spent one, on the eleventh book of A Series of Unfortunate Events and the first book of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.
The last few months I've spent a lot of time reading, more than I have in a while due to lack of new and interesting books. I just got a new library card, (Toronto's got an amazing network of public libraries-some of the libraries are the most beautiful buildings in the city) so that won't be an issue, but it hasn't been for the last three months anyway.
As writers we love books. Most of us have been reading for years, reading pretty much whatever sparks our interest that we can get our hands on. We love stories, we love words on a page, we love when a story pulls us in and takes us on its journey. We love getting to know characters as if they were real people. And we have come to love the art of telling stories through words on a page, of crafting worlds and characters that draw readers in.
I believe that all of us who wish to be writers should read-blog posts, web pages, and books. Especially books. Not only in our genre, but of all different genres. Want proof that reading helps a writer?
Today while reading a Scientific Romance I had an idea to add something to Tamraq, the world that my Jihad series is in. I had to pull my binder out of my bag and write out a brief paragraph of how I want to incorporate that piece-unicorns as Rasie's mythical animal-into my world. Then I went back to my book.
While reading the same book I've had ideas for how to make the societies of Tamraq slightly more scientifically advanced. Most of their science is based on manipulating magical energy, which is partially from the person and partially from the planet. The Elves have even started working with non-magical technology, inventing the steam engine-but that's not something likely to appear in my books, because it happens after the Elves leave the human continent.
Reading other people's books will give you ideas about new ways to write, new styles to experiment with, new techniques-and it might just give you an idea for your own story, or an idea of something that would be really neat to play with in your own world.
What do you love most about reading?
Right now I'm reading a book called A Scientific Romance that was recommended by my geography teacher and given to me by my English teacher. (Crazy stuff.) You'll get a full book review probably at the end of this week or the beginning of the next. Suffice to say that it's one of the most interesting books I've ever read.
For Christmas I got two Chapters gift cards. I've spent one, on the eleventh book of A Series of Unfortunate Events and the first book of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.
The last few months I've spent a lot of time reading, more than I have in a while due to lack of new and interesting books. I just got a new library card, (Toronto's got an amazing network of public libraries-some of the libraries are the most beautiful buildings in the city) so that won't be an issue, but it hasn't been for the last three months anyway.
As writers we love books. Most of us have been reading for years, reading pretty much whatever sparks our interest that we can get our hands on. We love stories, we love words on a page, we love when a story pulls us in and takes us on its journey. We love getting to know characters as if they were real people. And we have come to love the art of telling stories through words on a page, of crafting worlds and characters that draw readers in.
I believe that all of us who wish to be writers should read-blog posts, web pages, and books. Especially books. Not only in our genre, but of all different genres. Want proof that reading helps a writer?
Today while reading a Scientific Romance I had an idea to add something to Tamraq, the world that my Jihad series is in. I had to pull my binder out of my bag and write out a brief paragraph of how I want to incorporate that piece-unicorns as Rasie's mythical animal-into my world. Then I went back to my book.
While reading the same book I've had ideas for how to make the societies of Tamraq slightly more scientifically advanced. Most of their science is based on manipulating magical energy, which is partially from the person and partially from the planet. The Elves have even started working with non-magical technology, inventing the steam engine-but that's not something likely to appear in my books, because it happens after the Elves leave the human continent.
Reading other people's books will give you ideas about new ways to write, new styles to experiment with, new techniques-and it might just give you an idea for your own story, or an idea of something that would be really neat to play with in your own world.
What do you love most about reading?
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Comment by Sonya 1
Freelance Tips
Writing Words
I love reading for so many reasons: A good book gives me a break from real life; I love to see a well-crafted story unfold; I get drama and excitement in fiction that I don't want in real life. I will read anything that looks like a well told story - I learnt a few things about Mount Everest while reading 'Into Thin Air'. As a writer, you can learn how published writers craft their stories, so reading is both pleasure and career development. As you mentioned, reading gives you ideas for your own stories to play with.
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
Such great insights... I've met a couple people who like writing but not reading. I don't think they were seriously interested in beconming writers though.
I've always had a hard time understanding anyone who doesn't like to read. I've had times where I couldn't read for weeks on end because I was busy and really behind in school, and it's really hard for me to deal with that. I miss my books after the first couple of days...
~Dianna
Comment by Mona
Comment by Mona
No offence intended. I'm sure it's a great book.
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I'm glad you liked my post. Books are something I could talk about for days on end-reading or writing.
These books probably aren't going to be ready for publication for quite some time. It is not anti-Islamic literature and in fact has nothing to do with anything on Earth at all.
I'm not going to change the name of my series. Calling it 'the Holy War series' just sounds silly to me.
~Dianna