April Theme: Reading to Write by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Recently, while I was teaching a class, I decided that I wouldn't be able to work on my WIPs while the course was going on. So, along with some freelance assignments, mostly, I read. And read.
And it was glorious! I read old favourites and new releases. I read genres that I don't often read. I inhaled books that had been sitting on my shelves for years, and some, after a few chapters, were set out on the sidewalk to wait for a more suitable reader. (In this neighborhood, free books don't sit for long.)
Now, I'm between teaching and digging back into WIPs--picture books, novels, fiction and nonfiction--and I realize:
I was working on my WIPs all along.
I can't forget that reading opens up creative waterways that expands my thinking, encourages me to innovate and take risks--it makes my writing better.
And books are just so, so good I KNOW RIGHT?!!?!
And it was glorious! I read old favourites and new releases. I read genres that I don't often read. I inhaled books that had been sitting on my shelves for years, and some, after a few chapters, were set out on the sidewalk to wait for a more suitable reader. (In this neighborhood, free books don't sit for long.)
Now, I'm between teaching and digging back into WIPs--picture books, novels, fiction and nonfiction--and I realize:
I was working on my WIPs all along.
I can't forget that reading opens up creative waterways that expands my thinking, encourages me to innovate and take risks--it makes my writing better.
And books are just so, so good I KNOW RIGHT?!!?!
Indeed!
ReplyDeleteLove this: "reading opens up creative waterways that expand my thinking, encourages me to innovate and take risks--it makes my writing better."
ReplyDeleteSo true!
I shouldn't be, but I'm always surprised...gratefully so.
DeleteI LOVE the idea of putting out your books for others to take and read...do you welcome donations for that purpose? Sadly, there aren't many places around here that welcome books...even the libraries won't take donations like they used to.
ReplyDeleteSure! This neighborhood is great for book giveaways. I once put out six large moving boxes of new books (I freelanced for a publisher that was very generous back in the day.) It was so much fun to share the wealth!
DeleteRight!
ReplyDelete