I think at some point in time, all writers have been avid readers, in some way or the other. It doesn’t matter what genre you write in – fiction, non-fiction, research papers – any kind of writing requires, to begin with, a thorough research of the extant material on the topic. And that knowledge comes only through reading.
Long ago, when I was just tinkering with the idea of starting a blog to improve my writing habit, I came across this quote by the Horror King – Stephen King (he was born to be a King, wasn’t he?) –
If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.
Simple as that.
He’s blunt about it but the King is right. Reading is the starting point of all writing; reading prepares your mind to write by providing you ideas on what you want to…
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Such an insightful post. Thanks for sharing/reblogging!
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Perfect…i agree to your point
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Thanks a lot 🙂
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Good thought and valid point!
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Thanks Gourav 🙂
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All arts needs real experience in the world, reading is a nice-to-have for a lot of matters of course. But how do you want to describe for example a desert when you have never been there?
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True we must experience something to write about it but this is especially where books help you. They help you gain a near-experience by not necessarily experiencing it. For example if I have to write about a drug addict, its not necessary that I become one first. I can read about what addiction does and then write about it for my character. And so I hope I’ve answered your question 🙂
Thanks for reading 🙂
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Do you think Hemingway set all day at home reading? In winter he liked to stay at Schruns in the Montafon valley near the Swiss-Austrian border. There he would stay a lot of evenings and nights drinking and gambling for money with ski-teachers earning back the money he paid to them during the day. So in one bar you will find a Hemingway-room and the people still have a special remembrance of him in this regard. Such is real life, you can read about it of course but I have already dined in this Hemingway-room and this is simply more inspiring and mind-blowing. Nice weekend
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First of all, sorry for the late reply. I was held up with work. Secondly, thank you for taking the time to engage in such a detailed discussion with me on this point. I agree, there is no substitute for experience. But when there is a dearth of expereince, reading fills the gap, won’t you agree? 😉
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Yes. A post well worth a read itself.
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Thanks a lot Simon 😊
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You’re welcome.
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When You read 1000 words, you can write 10 words. That’s the fact.
Nice Post.
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So true Sir. Thank you for reading 😊
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Nice one
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This is one of the things which should be kept in mind always. As it is said “If you want to become a good writer you have to be a good reader first. “…. Well written… 🙂
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Thanks a lot Ashish. Glad you agree.
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