What you read while you write

What you read while you write...

Everything I've ever read or heard about being a writer has told me two fundamental truths: To be a writer you must write and to be a writer you must read. A lot. I wholeheartedly agree with those statements. There is no substitute.

This week, I've been reading Robert's Rules of Writing by Robert Masello. His approach to 101 writing rules seems to be a bit off the traditionally beaten path. I'd like to focus on one of his rules: #14 "Stop Reading". Now, before you take that thought too far, let me explain what he means by that statement. It's not a call to cease all reading, but a warning of how other writers' words and ideas can fill your mind and hijack your story. It's about avoiding works similar to your own while you work on it, to leave your mind free from any accidental influence.

I've seen it in my own work. Even while reading Mistborn recently, I found myself thinking that a specific plot device or character type could go well in my work in progress. It wasn't so much that Brandon Sanderson was taking over my story as I was handing it to him and saying: Please, make it better for me. It does not work that way, nor should it. My story is mine to craft.

Masello does make a suggestion (it's not like writers could easily cut themselves off, nor should we. Reading is what motivates and inspires many writers). He suggests selecting works far different from that which you are writing. Non-fiction presents a great opportunity for me, or perhaps some thriller fiction or literary. Just stay away from Fantasy while I'm writing one.

So, in that spirit, I've picked up 7 Habits of Highly Effective People as well as a book on Ancient Rome. Not to worry, I'm not planning a chapter by chapter dissection of either. What I am planning, however, is to figure out how I'm supposed to survive without reading my favorite genre while I work on my book. Maybe it'll help me work harder on my book and get it done sooner.

What about you? Do you limit what you read while you write?

Jameson