Such a great discussion! According to the Clifton Strengths assessment my number one strength is Input, so I’m definitely a read more person. But I also have to watch out that I don’t fall into procrasti-reading mode.
Procrasti-reading is for REAL! But I have read some really great books that way ;-) Plus procrasti-reading has to be better overall than procrasti-cleaning!
A wonderful, thoughtful analysis. I think timing matters: When deep in the throes of writing something new, perhaps reading less (outside of necessary research) is healthier. Otherwise, reading a lot--across genres--is a necessary, healthy habit for any aspiring writer. I once met a man who told me he wanted to write essays. I asked him what essays he'd read, and he replied, "None." I don't think that strategy will work for him...
Some of my thoughts in this post come from similar conversations with and about writers who want to write something they don't read... [sigh] On the flip side, that just means there's a wonderful new avenue of books (and essays) ahead for them to enjoy!
I'm definitely in the read more camp - so many of my favorite authors / artists are always referencing other creatives whose work they love and then if I look closely I can see little bits and pieces of that inspiration in what they create. I think this is one of the joys of creativity - creating your own collage of all of the things that inspire you in the world but doing so in a way that it is a unique new thing all of its own.
Such a great discussion! According to the Clifton Strengths assessment my number one strength is Input, so I’m definitely a read more person. But I also have to watch out that I don’t fall into procrasti-reading mode.
Procrasti-reading is for REAL! But I have read some really great books that way ;-) Plus procrasti-reading has to be better overall than procrasti-cleaning!
A wonderful, thoughtful analysis. I think timing matters: When deep in the throes of writing something new, perhaps reading less (outside of necessary research) is healthier. Otherwise, reading a lot--across genres--is a necessary, healthy habit for any aspiring writer. I once met a man who told me he wanted to write essays. I asked him what essays he'd read, and he replied, "None." I don't think that strategy will work for him...
Some of my thoughts in this post come from similar conversations with and about writers who want to write something they don't read... [sigh] On the flip side, that just means there's a wonderful new avenue of books (and essays) ahead for them to enjoy!
I'm definitely in the read more camp - so many of my favorite authors / artists are always referencing other creatives whose work they love and then if I look closely I can see little bits and pieces of that inspiration in what they create. I think this is one of the joys of creativity - creating your own collage of all of the things that inspire you in the world but doing so in a way that it is a unique new thing all of its own.