This month's question is, "Should you read a lot which may influence how you write and what you write about, or not read at all so that you have original ideas?"
I'd say read. That's how you get a sense of what works and what doesn't. I think even if you lived in a bubble and wrote, you'd still come up with universal themes and ideas. Reading does give you ideas. But that's not a bad thing. Besides, reading an author's work is being supportive. Isn't that what we're supposed to do?
What do you think? Should you read other people's work, or just write your own stuff with no outside literary influences?
Yeah, there is no story that can't be compared to another in some way. Reading and being supportive is a win indeed.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteExactly! You have to learn how a story flows, what derails it - all that stuff.
ReplyDeleteYou can learn a lot by reading others' works.
DeleteOne learns much from reading, Personally my poems have always been what have happened in my life but I do enjoy reading other people's post.
ReplyDeleteHave a good month Sherry,
Yvonne.
Thanks, Yvonne!
DeleteI totally agree with you about reading. It's helps your writing and is so good to do in general.
ReplyDeleteI like that it's supportive of other authors, too.
DeleteCompletely agree! I can't even imagine what it would be like to write without reading regularly. The comics I read never fail to inspire me to work on my own; would probably be less productive, otherwise. And as you said, it's always good to support the work of others, too!
ReplyDeleteYep!
DeleteReading makes one a better writer, IMHO. At least read while editing if you don't want to influence the writing...
ReplyDeleteI don't know what IMHO means, but I think it is important to read. If nothing else, it's good for the brain.
DeleteWriters need to read, but classics as they will give them the sense of the right structure, dramatisations and character development, but sadly most of them just read their own genre and think Harry Plopper is their idea of literature.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Harry Plopper. Good one. Even though that particular series is not considered a "classic" it's at least very imaginative, with some interesting characters, and it gets people reading.
DeleteCouldn't agree with you more, was introduced to some marvellous authors on my recent course and glad that I was led to them 🤗
ReplyDeleteIt's fun when you find a writer whose work you admire and want to keep reading.
DeleteI'm at a loss as to why someone would want to write but doesn't read. To me the love of reading is what drives a writer to create another great story for others to read.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I couldn't imagine not reading.
DeleteAgreed! (How could any writer not want to read???)
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteI agree my friend! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteBig hugs right back at you!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Reading is the twin of writing. Both go together.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Can't really have one without the other.
DeleteI think reading different stories would help you in lots of different ways. You can take note of other authors' writing styles, for example. Reading can give you new ideas, too.
ReplyDeleteYou can definitely get a sense of what works and what doesn't.
DeleteTo my way of thinking, we should read as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's good for the brain!
DeleteI can't understand anybody who doesn't read. Do they know what they're missing? I guess not. 😁
ReplyDeleteThey definitely don't know what they're missing!
DeleteI enjoy reading work by authors I know. It let's me know them better.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good way of looking at it. And it's also supportive, which is much appreciated in the writing community.
DeleteReading is such a pleasure for me that I can't understand people when they say they don't like reading!
ReplyDeleteReading takes time. And so many people want things fast. They don't want to take the time to read the whole story.
DeleteLoving this week's topic.
ReplyDeleteAs you wisely say 'even if you lived in a bubble and wrote, you'd still come up with universal themes and ideas'. That said my reading too much (is that even possible???) has always been one of my excuses for not putting pen to paper as I feel I'd struggle to come up with anything remotely original, that anything I wrote would be a mish-mash of the many books I'd read over the years.
Maybe you should take the time to write. You might be surprised by what you come up with.
DeleteThe more you read, the more you can write. It's grist for the mill :)
ReplyDeleteYes. It gets the creative juices flowing.
Delete