The 3 R’s

When I was growing up, I remember people (usually adults) talking about everyone having to learn the 3 R's. It was supposedly reading, riting (writing) and rithmetic (arithmetic). It is plain to see someone left out spelling... In my world today, the 3r's transpose to reading, writing, and more reading. It took eight years from start to finish on The Prophecy as I had to shelve it several times for extended periods. Life got in the way. I have always been an avid reader and would usually have a novel or two around somewhere that I was reading. But when I started back on my own novel, in earnest, I quit reading for nearly a year out of a two and a half year period. I can't really tell you why. I've tried to figure it out myself and have no answer. It was about the time I started working with my editor/mentor and found myself comma-tosed and battling dangling modifiers. Oh....it was an ugly battle, not for the faint of heart. That story would make for another good blog. Anyway, I do remember at one point picking up a novel and once again starting to read. Interestingly enough, it was as though I was reading through new eyes or maybe new comprehension. I found myself not only reading the words, as before, but analyzing the story as I paid closer attention to character development, how the author would set up the scene and his or her use of sub-plots. I can't say that it took me away from the story but I was certainly reading the book in a different light. The lesson for me? Keep reading. Even though I spend the majority of my free time writing, as I have two more novels to finish in the Dragon Tale Trilogy, I do take time to read. Often times it's at night before I go to bed, and then I finish my day - writing, reading and resting. Live long and prosper.