In Others’ Words: Writing & Reading

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“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ~Stephen King (1947-), author

I’m an author and, yes, I’ve heard the “To be a good writer you need to read” admonition so many times I’ve lost count. Of course, I’m lousy at math, so losing count isn’t that difficult for me.

But even though I know I should read, read, read to improve my craft, some days (weeks, months) I just don’t.

Believe me, I have plenty of want-to. And I also have several different To Be Read piles, as well as a Kindle loaded with options. But there are only so many hours in the day — I know, tell you something you don’t know, right? — and too often I have to choose between writing or reading.

And so, I choose writing.

And then there are weeks like last week, when I read two books: Lisa Jordan’s Lakeside Family, Karen Witemeyer’s Short-Straw Bride and started Jody Hedlund’s Unending Devotion.

And yes, it was good to enjoy someone else’s writing for awhile. Yes, my work still waited for me when I emerged for another author’s storyworld. But it refreshed my own imagination to be the reader for a while, not the writer.

In Your Words: Writers, do you ever struggle with choosing between writing and reading? Readers (and writers), what are you reading right now?