“Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.”
– American author, poet, and Nobel Prize laureate William Faulkner was born on this day in 1897 (died 1962).
I need to read more Faulkner.
Truth is I just need to read more.
If I want my work to be considered amongst those of other southern writers, I need to read more of them.
Of course, you’ve heard me whine about all that I have to do, so when to I have time to read?
Well, let’s not be indelicate, but every home has a…library. So, that’s a start.
But I’ve also got a lot of drive time to rehearsals and work. Books on tape. Or on CD. I did a free trial of Audible, but I just don’t need another subscription right now. Maybe someday.
And, I’m attached to enough electronic devices that I can turn to the Kindle.
All that to say, I don’t really have an excuse for not reading.
Allow me to whine just a tad more about the fact that I didn’t get my beach reading in this year.
But, that’s no excuse not to read.
As much as I love and use technology, I do regret that we have a generation that really doesn’t like to read. Movies are great. Books are just better.
I know that I need to read everything I can to be a better writer.
So, read.
Like Faulkner said, read everything. Take it all in.
That’s all for now.
I’ve got books waiting.
This design and more available in The Write Side Shop (click the pic).
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