On the Importance of being a Book Worm

       I've always been a huge book worm.  As a child in elementary school, I would read novels under my desk instead of paying attention to the lessons.  (Sometimes I got in trouble for it...  But I couldn't stop!)  You might say that I'm addicted to reading!  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I think that settling down with a good book is one of life's greatest joys.  And presumably, if you're reading this blog, you love to either read, write or both.  I was inspired to write this post by those who think that the two are seperable.

        You can read without writing, certainly.  But it doesn't work in reverse.  I'm often surprised by people who aspire to write novels who say to me (in response to me asking 'What do you like to read?') that they 'don't have time to read'.  That makes as much sense as an aspiring athlete saying that they hope to win a marathon in the future but 'don't have time to train'.  Well...good luck, because you're going to need it.  Reading is an important part of exercising your writing 'muscle'.

      Don't beleive me?  Imagine if you had never read a single novel.  All you had ever read were textbooks, phone books, restaurant menus and those sorts of things.  Do you think you could write a decent novel?  No way!  As you read, you learn how to write.  I'm not saying that you 'copy' anyone specific, but that the thousands of books you read over your lifetime all leave a little bit of themselves with you, and you glean an idea of just what a novel is and how to write one from them.  To write successfully, you need to continue reading. 

      If someone doesn't have time to read, then they don't have time to write (well, anyway).  I know what it's like to be busy and not have as much time as you'd like to spend reading, beleive me.  But making some time for it is vital to the success of your writing.  So sit down and enjoy a good book - it's important! : )

     What about you - if you write, how important is reading to your writing?  And if you read, does imagining 'not having time to read' make you feel as depressed as it does me?

Weekend Writing Plans vs. Sudden Tornado

   I had some very productive weekend writing plans, I really did.  But alas, Mother Nature decided to interfere with a sudden tornado.  This isn't something that normally occurs where I live, so we were all caught unaware.  And wouldn't you know?  It tore right through my neighborhood.  The damage is rather shocking, and there's no electricity to speak of, let alone internet.  Our part of town has been sectioned off by the police and is buzzing with the sounds of chainsaws and utility and Red Cross trucks.  Many houses and vehicles are damaged or destroyed...one house was even torn off its foundation and skidded down a hill!



A trampoline...torn from a fenced yard and thrown into an empty lot.

A view from my property...looks like this all around!

But you know that luck I blogged about a week or so ago?  It seems to be still running strong.  Our house and one of our cars were only minimally damaged.  And look, although our large old apple tree was uprooted and destroyed, not a single one of my beloved tulips was harmed! : )



      Now, I'll finally squeeze a little writing in!

The Luck of the Irish...or Not So Irish...

   Ok, so I'm not Irish.  But everybody is on St. Patrick's Day, right?  Well, I took that saying to heart this year and began a novella centered around Irish legend last month (March).  Last night, I completed it.  This would normally be a cause for celebration, but I've got to say, with the spectacular luck I've been having while writing this story, I'm not sure if I want it to end!  You see, I've been winning contests.
  
    Not only is it nice to get free stuff, but I just plain like the feeling of winning (I'm a competitive person)!  But back to the free stuff ...lately I've won: a book (in print), an e-book, some health/grooming product for my beloved horses, a free gutter guard system and installation for my house (yes, that is exciting, compared to cleaning gutters out, anyway!) and a bag of cough drops (uh, yeah...try not to get jealous over that last one! LOL).  It's been nice!

    Currently, I'm polishing the manuscript in preparation for submission to a certain publisher.  I hope my lucky streak lasts at least until the story is prepped, sent and accepted - after all, how could anyone turn down a story this lucky?