Have you ever made an effort to give up something with the idea that you would be better off?
A couple/few weeks ago I thought it would be a good idea to dial back my reading in order to make serious headway on my manuscript. I usually read at night for an hour or two before bed and I thought I could use that time for writing. In addition to my normal daily writing time.
Did your sacrifice ever wind up being not only not helpful, but actually detrimental to that thing you were trying to help in the first place?
It did for me.
Turns out I can only write so much in a day and still maintain consistent production (of some quality) over the course of a week. Finding that out was frustrating. Pile on top of that the frustration of not being into some book or another and there was one cranky dude wandering aimlessly around the house.
Once I got rid of him, I realized I was at serious loose ends without a book.
My thought is that I need that constant fuel of other writers’ work to feed my own (not directly, ideally). I use reading to keep my subconscious active, to spin off ideas, to provide grist for the mill.
And now I know. And, as a good friend once told me:
I may deprive myself of other things in the name of writing, but I shall never again forsake the one thing that made me want to write in the first place.
i have thought you often, jonathan, wondering if i could do the same in order to increase production. i didn’t think i could – i need to read. One night i brought my laptop up to work on, and well didn’t get past turning it on. yes, reading is a learning experience, but it is oh so much more. enjoy! and you had to try….otherwise you would have always thought you could be doing more.
Yeah, I’m glad I tried. AND I’m glad it failed! Do you find that writing binges hamper subsequent production?
well, it makes sense. i think often there is a build up the story and we need to get it out. this could be followed by a period of silence, while the build-up occurs again. does that sound right?
Yeah it does sound right. I feel like going on writing binges (especially where the motivation is to put some of the story behind me) is the old “robbing peter to pay paul” scenario. I’m better off keeping it steady.
Amen to that! Reading is not only an essential tool for writers, it’s an activity unto itself. Reading is inspiring, but it can also provide a welcome distraction for a writer whose mind is constantly in story-telling mode. Happy reading.
I normally read before bed at night to quiet my head and gain separation from the day. Looking back, it seems ridiculous that I thought it was a good idea. I guess it just shows how much I want to finish this draft. 😉 I saw on your blog that you are in your 37th week. Congrats! I’ll send good vibes your way through the upcoming weeks!
I do have to dial back on my reading when I’m writing full swing, but I still try to devote an hour a day to reading someone else’s work. Sometimes by getting my mind off my own manuscript frees me to drift and sometimes I find hidden nuggets of ideas as I read. 😉
Hidden nuggets are the best! You never know what you’ll find if you read something everyday. I’ve taken to exploring short stories over the last few months as a way of exposing myself to so many different styles and stories. It’s good to be reading again!
glad to hear it. reading is the best way to support writing, but it’s all about finding the balance.
It seems we’re always engaged in the eternal struggle for balance. As long as I have a book with me as I struggle, I can handle it 😉