ROW 80 Check In: Reading and Writing Go Hand in Hand
I'm thrilled with my A Round of Words in 80 Days progress. I adjusted my goals to allow for a family vacation. I knew I wouldn't enjoy my time away if I was pressuring myself to write 750 words a day. When my six-year-old asked me to put my computer away because she hated it, I knew it was time for a change. Focus and balance are two things I struggle with, and adjusting my goals allowed me to be productive and enjoy my family. Win, win.
My goal from Sunday through Tuesday this week was to read two books, write reviews, and continue to blog daily. I'm thrilled to say I accomplished all of these. My review of Elin Hilderbrand's The Beach Club can be found at my Mom in Love with Fiction blog. And, I completed my review for Call Me When you Land by Michael Schiavone (scheduled for a September 2011 release) for Rebecca's Reads. It should be posted shortly. Starting today, I'm back to my original goals (750 words a day on my WIP, blogging daily, etc.).
Image from http://www.dreamstime.com/This goal shift reaffirmed my belief that reading makes me a better writer. Both of the books I read this weekend provided tips for my own writing. The Beach Club reminded me the importance of setting and description. Nantucket became a character in her novel. I even asked my husband to take me there someday. That's powerful.
Schiavone's book was a lesson in character development. He slowly revealed the depth of his main character's pain. Too much, too soon and I don't think I would have liked the character. But with the slow reveal, I wanted to both shake and hug her. Memorable characters are key to good story.
Better said:
"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." ~Charles W. Eliot
Now, I'm off to find out how my fellow ROW 80 buddies are doing. Who knows, maybe I'll learn a few things from reading about their experiences so far this week.
How does reading make you a better writer? Or, for my non-writer friends, how does a great book affect you?
My goal from Sunday through Tuesday this week was to read two books, write reviews, and continue to blog daily. I'm thrilled to say I accomplished all of these. My review of Elin Hilderbrand's The Beach Club can be found at my Mom in Love with Fiction blog. And, I completed my review for Call Me When you Land by Michael Schiavone (scheduled for a September 2011 release) for Rebecca's Reads. It should be posted shortly. Starting today, I'm back to my original goals (750 words a day on my WIP, blogging daily, etc.).
Image from http://www.dreamstime.com/This goal shift reaffirmed my belief that reading makes me a better writer. Both of the books I read this weekend provided tips for my own writing. The Beach Club reminded me the importance of setting and description. Nantucket became a character in her novel. I even asked my husband to take me there someday. That's powerful. Schiavone's book was a lesson in character development. He slowly revealed the depth of his main character's pain. Too much, too soon and I don't think I would have liked the character. But with the slow reveal, I wanted to both shake and hug her. Memorable characters are key to good story.
Better said:
"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." ~Charles W. Eliot
Now, I'm off to find out how my fellow ROW 80 buddies are doing. Who knows, maybe I'll learn a few things from reading about their experiences so far this week.
How does reading make you a better writer? Or, for my non-writer friends, how does a great book affect you?
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