Writing but not Reading:

For those of you expecting to see a featured author in this spot, just a note to let you know I've finished that series for the time being. I'm working on a new series with more directed questions and featuring only those authors whose work I have read. Watch this space.


Writing but not Reading:Most readers harbour nowish to write, perhaps feeling that the ability is a mix of gift andapplication they may not possess and happy to enjoy the fruits of others'efforts. But, and here lies the shame; many writers display no wish to read,justifying their attitude with the feeble excuse that they have no time: theyhave time only to write.The output of most ofthese non-reading writers is, at best, poor, and often unreadable for any discerningreader. The idea that a craft so complex can be properly learned withoutreference to those who've gone before is, to me, inexplicable. Would a reliableplumber or electrician consider himself a skilled artisan without the rigour ofa time-served apprenticeship? Would a painter exhibit his canvasses without atleast an initial study of the masters who preceded him? Would a fashiondesigner deck her models to propel her clothes along the catwalk without firstdemonstrating an interest in the garments worn by her potential customers? Of course, the answer toall these questions isn't a firm or unconditional 'no'. But we all know that anyonewho fails to learn from those who have preceded them is destined to repeattheir mistakes. It takes a certain type of arrogant ignorance to believe thatyou can perfect a skill alone and without instruction. Such ignorance isresponsible for poorly developed characters, plots that mirror the works ofothers, and the depiction of situations identical to those already well knownto readers. It's insulting to those who'll read your work not to be aware ofwhat's already been written in the genre. Of course it's not possible to readeverything: with too many books published every year, it would require moretime than is available to absorb all that's been written in our chosen genre.But it's quite possible and, I'd argue, essential, to glean an idea, a flavour,of what's already been done.Those who have no wish toread, but who would write, do their readers no favours by their cavalierattitude. They almost invariably produce work of a poor standard. Their refusalto sample other stories, far from ensuring uniqueness, generally results inpoor versions of tales already well told. How can a writer learn to constructsentences, to bend the rules of language effectively, to express an ideasuccinctly yet evocatively, if he's never exposed himself to the work ofothers? And those who believe themselves natural geniuses are, almost withoutexception, deluded fools who merely clog up the works with their poorly madepieces. They make it all the more difficult for the real artists to be heard,drowning the unique voices with their ill-devised and poorly-executedofferings.So, if you want to write, pleasemake sure you read. Read extensively within the area in which you wish toexcel, or risk mediocrity and unintented repetition. There; that's another irritationoff my chest.