Reading About Writers
Reading about writers we admire seems to be part of a writer’s makeup. Even reading about writers we’ve never heard of can be interesting. Each of us writers tries to be an individual yet we look for ideas, tips, validation in the lives of our fellow writers.
Somewhere my mother acquired a copy of “Yours, Isaac Asimov” and passed it on to me. It is a compilation of the letters he wrote back to his fans who were legion. These were winnowed down from some 40,000 letters and numerous postcards.
For those who don’t remember Isaac Asimov: He lived and wrote in Manhattan, New York City. Almost 500 books carried his name as author which isn’t that special. What is special is that these books spanned all ten major Dewey Decimal System categories. For me he is most remembered for his science fiction, especially his robots.
The book covers many subjects, some in very humorous fashion, including writing. Being a writer, these were of interest to me and perhaps to you.
There is the perpetual question of why a person chooses to write. “My secret is that I love to write – the mechanical act of it. I guess loving to write isn’t a common thing. So I must be the luckiest guy in the world.” He loved to write so much, he typed from 7:30 in the morning to 10:30 at night. That is dedication. I aspire to such dedication.
There is another side of writing: reading. “I like my own writing – another secret to prolificity, since I can’t wait till I write something so I can read it.” How many times does a writer finish a book, spending months editing and revising, then put the book aside never wanting to see it again? I hope I never get so tired of something that began and should continue as something special – my writing.
Another perpetual question is where a writer finds ideas to write about. “It is almost impossible to think of something no one has thought of before, but it is always possible to add different frills.” Readers of a particular genre know this as books in that genre have a certain format all of them follow. What sets each apart is how it is written.
“The idea is nothing, or virtually nothing, since all depends on how it is written. A poor idea well written is more likely to be accepted than a good idea poorly written.”
Reviews are considered so important today. All writers want those glowing reviews so more people will discover and purchase their books.
Then there is the bad review. Writers are cautioned to let it go, ignore it. I much prefer this approach: “Rotten reviews are the lot of the writer, and selling well is the best revenge.”
May all us writers achieve such revenge.
Somewhere my mother acquired a copy of “Yours, Isaac Asimov” and passed it on to me. It is a compilation of the letters he wrote back to his fans who were legion. These were winnowed down from some 40,000 letters and numerous postcards.
For those who don’t remember Isaac Asimov: He lived and wrote in Manhattan, New York City. Almost 500 books carried his name as author which isn’t that special. What is special is that these books spanned all ten major Dewey Decimal System categories. For me he is most remembered for his science fiction, especially his robots.
The book covers many subjects, some in very humorous fashion, including writing. Being a writer, these were of interest to me and perhaps to you.
There is the perpetual question of why a person chooses to write. “My secret is that I love to write – the mechanical act of it. I guess loving to write isn’t a common thing. So I must be the luckiest guy in the world.” He loved to write so much, he typed from 7:30 in the morning to 10:30 at night. That is dedication. I aspire to such dedication.
There is another side of writing: reading. “I like my own writing – another secret to prolificity, since I can’t wait till I write something so I can read it.” How many times does a writer finish a book, spending months editing and revising, then put the book aside never wanting to see it again? I hope I never get so tired of something that began and should continue as something special – my writing.
Another perpetual question is where a writer finds ideas to write about. “It is almost impossible to think of something no one has thought of before, but it is always possible to add different frills.” Readers of a particular genre know this as books in that genre have a certain format all of them follow. What sets each apart is how it is written.
“The idea is nothing, or virtually nothing, since all depends on how it is written. A poor idea well written is more likely to be accepted than a good idea poorly written.”
Reviews are considered so important today. All writers want those glowing reviews so more people will discover and purchase their books.
Then there is the bad review. Writers are cautioned to let it go, ignore it. I much prefer this approach: “Rotten reviews are the lot of the writer, and selling well is the best revenge.”
May all us writers achieve such revenge.
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