Writers Must Read - Feeding Your Muse

Writer's must write. It's the simplest and most basic tenet of the writer's rules. When writers don't write there is no process and therefore no product. Most of us write something, even if it's just a few words or phrases, every day. Yet how many writers take the time to read? I don't mean online news or research. I'm talking about the kind of reading that feeds your mind and fills up the well of your soul.

I remember when I first knew I wanted to be a writer. I was quite young and I was reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her writing was simple and direct, yet it caught me and held me in her thrall until I turned the last page. Even then, I despaired because I didn't want to leave Laura's world. I was happily relieved to find that she had written more novels, yet I worried what would happen when I finished the last one. But when I finished the last novel in the series I learned two important lessons. One, that there are lots of good books waiting to be read. Two, that you can always go back to a truly good book and enjoy it many times over.

Of course, I realize that most writers love to read. It's not the desire that's the problem, it's finding the time to read in a hectic lifestyle. Many writers work a "regular" job in the real world and write in their spare time, which usually doesn't amount to much. Yet it's so important to read something, anything, so that your mind can be refreshed, energized and stimulated. It doesn't really matter what you read. So what if it's not a literary classic or the newest biography of some political figure. Go ahead and read that sexy romance novel, the latest in your favorite crime/mystery series, or a fabulous new chick lit novel. If you're going to read, it should be what interests you, not what you think you should be interested in reading.

I learned long ago to not care what people think about my literary choices. I went through a long period of time in my early adolescence and in high school in which I was absolutely obsessed with romance novels. I especially loved the historical fiction ones by authors such as Barbara Cartland and Johanna Lindsay. However I hid the titles from others because I was ashamed of reading them. I thought they were "trashy" books and didn't want my family to see me reading about sex and other forbidden subjects. I understand now that those books aren't garbage and that they fill a need. People need to escape the real world for a while and these books provide us with pure entertainment and a little bit of hope. Romance and mystery and science fiction are just as valid as literary fiction. There are all sorts of people out there with different interests and preferences and the literary world reflects that in all the different genres.

Most writers love to read and that's why they write. Don't lose sight of why you began writing in the first place or what inspires you. Take the time to refresh, revitalize, renew and read.