Reading as a writer
There’s no surer sign of a committed writer than a pile of dog-eared books by the bedside, on the desk or in the bag.
We all have big demands on our time, but those who are serious about writing make time to read widely, particularly (but not exclusively) in the fields they would like to write in.
If you need a goal to get you reading, start a weekly blog in which you review what you read, noting aspects that strike you as particularly successful, problematic or otherwise interesting in things that you’re reading, whether these are literary classics, blockbuster novels, classic screenplays or the backs of cereal packets.
Forming a small reading group with other writers is also a good idea – discussing what you’ve read with others helps you to crystallise and articulate your own views.
Do you carry a notebook?
What the experts say
Keep a notebook on you at all times.
Some of your best ideas are likely to come when you’re away from your desk/screen, and it’s all too easy for them to evaporate without trace. Don’t let them slip away!
Notebook jotting is a particularly good way to capture dialogue and idiom on public transport or in settings you don’t usually find yourself in, such as while travelling, passing through other people’s workplaces or in the playground.
Do you make time to write most days?
Discipline
Writers who make a living from writing tend to develop discipline and a high degree of personal initiative, setting aside regular hours to work rather than waiting for inspiration to strike.
It doesn’t matter whether the best time for you is after the children are in bed, during your daily commute or early in the morning, what does matter is that the time you set aside for writing is regular – and that you overcome any urgent need to tidy your desk, house, make coffee or answer emails instead of writing.
Block out your writing times in a diary if it helps; set a plan of action for the week (including a number of words per day) and set deadlines. If you can only write for 20 minutes a day, don’t worry – having only a short daily period to write can concentrate your ideas and focus and counter procrastination.
Serious writers also tend to make time to keep up with what’s going on in the world of writing by listening to literary programmes on the radio, reading newspaper book reviews (Saturday’s Guardian is good for catching up), and by going to literary festivals, readings and book signings – great places to make contacts for your future career!
To find out more
• Read writing coach Louise McCarron on beating writer’s block.
• Look at the links to literary magazines & websites that profile authors and bookshops.
• Try a mini course in Finding inspiration.
• Have your work reviewed professionally.
• Read how Sarah Waters, Patrick Gale and Lynne Truss organise their writing days.
• Join our book group in the Members Room.
• Enter your best short pieces of fiction or non-fiction for the monthly competition on our new writing showcase, Bloc.
Reading as a writer
There’s no surer sign of a committed writer than a pile of dog-eared books by the bedside, on the desk or in the bag. We all have big demands on our time, but those who are serious about writing make time to read widely, particularly (but not exclusively) in the fields they would like to write in. If you need a goal to get you reading, start a weekly blog in which you review what you read, noting aspects that strike you as particularly successful, problematic or otherwise interesting in things that you’re reading, whether these are literary classics, blockbuster novels, classic screenplays or the backs of cereal packets. Forming a small reading group with other writers is also a good idea – discussing what you’ve read with others helps you to crystallise and articulate your own views.
Keep a notebook on you at all times
Some of your best ideas are likely to come when you’re away from your desk/screen, and it’s all too easy for them to evaporate without trace. Don’t let them slip away! Notebook jotting is a particularly good way to capture dialogue and idiom on public transport or in settings you don’t usually find yourself in, such as while travelling, passing through other people’s workplaces or in the playground.
Discipline
Writers who make a living from writing tend to develop discipline and a high degree of personal initiative, setting aside regular hours to work rather than waiting for inspiration to strike.
It doesn’t matter whether the best time for you is after the children are in bed, during your daily commute or early in the morning, what does matter is that the time you set aside for writing is regular – and that you overcome any urgent need to tidy your desk, house, make coffee or answer emails instead of writing.
Block out your writing times in a diary if it helps; set a plan of action for the week (including a number of words per day) and set deadlines. If you can only write for 20 minutes a day, don’t worry – having only a short daily period to write can concentrate your ideas and focus and counter procrastination.
Serious writers also tend to make time to keep up with what’s going on in the world of writing by listening to literary programmes on the radio, reading newspaper book reviews (Saturday’s Guardian is good for catching up), and by going to literary festivals, readings and book signings – great places to make contacts for your future career!
To find out more
• Read writing coach Louise McCarron on beating writer’s block.
• Look at the links to literary magazines & websites that profile authors and bookshops.
• Try a mini course in Finding inspiration.
• Have your work reviewed professionally.
• Read how Sarah Waters, Patrick Gale and Lynne Truss organise their writing days.
• Join our book group in the Members Room.
• Enter your best short pieces of fiction or non-fiction for the monthly competition on our new writing showcase, Bloc.
