Wednesday, March 3, 2021

what I read

 

Yes! It is another meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group - click the name to go to the signup sheet. We meet the first Wednesday of every month and boys oh boys (girls oh girls) do we have fun!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the March 3 posting of the IWSG are Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose!

March 3 question - Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?



I read voraciously and across all genres. Reading is my refuge and abiding habit. I am likewise motivated widely in what I choose to read :

1. What do I have on hand? In December I get lots of new books as it is both Christmas and my birthday. I`ve read 24 books so far this year - mostly fiction, but some dharma books (on Buddhist topics) and a couple of memoirs I think. Besides gifts I`ve been reading borrows from pals - we are all big readers and so the books fly around our households - and online from the library. I`ve also ordered a few online that I wanted to own. 

2. What I need in terms of distraction, healing, soothing etc... reading is my therapy and so I`m careful of what I take in. If I`m having a hard time sleeping then I don`t read disturbing books (too much violence or general sadness) in the evening. If I`m sad I usually read books I`ve read before or at least authors that I like and that I know will uplift me. 

3. Books for bookclub - so that is only about ten a year and one of those I will have chosen so not a biggy. But our bookclub is also a great source of referrals for books so there is that.

4. Books for the writing craft- (I originally said for my writing but I think reading widely is the best thing any writer can do besides writing!) I have  many books that I keep close by for different stages of my writing. The last two years I was revising and editing so I was very heavily into Susan Bell's The Artful Edit. Love that book! Now I'm onto a new project and am rereading old favourites like Write for Your Life by Joseph Sestito and On Writer's Block by Victoria Nelson, as well as the constant joy of Bird by Bird by Anne Lammott, Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg and On Writing by Stephen King.

5. Books for information - I quilt, draw, meditate, garden, and cook so read many books that aid these disciplines. 


In this time of pandemic and social unrest I do read more than ever and I was always a big reader. I'm mostly retired and so have more time, and because I finished two massive projects in the fall of last year I've been slightly unmoored and reading has been even more of a refuge. I'm also staying off all screens on Sundays which gives me plenty of time to sink into good books. 

Is reading a refuge for you? I look forward to seeking out my fellow writers and seeing what they say on this topic...

Here is a photo from a retreat I went on with some pals down the shore...we walked and talked and cooked and read...



Here is a link to another blog of mine where I talk about my winter doldrums and how it 
affected my writing http://janmorrisonsojourner.blogspot.com

9 comments:

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Beautiful photo...and chilly-looking!

I liked finding out more about how you decide what to read. Reading is definitely therapy and refuge.

Liza said...

I didn't answer this month's question on my blog this month, but where would I be without books? Mostly, I read women's fiction, but occasional memoir, or biography. I will read mystery or suspense if recommended, and other books that intrigue me or are suggested to me by friends. Jan, in answer to your question on my blog, I would love keep each other going by reporting in. I couldn't find an email link on your profile, but there should be one on mine.

Bish Denham said...

My habit/addiction is having to read every night before I go to sleep. Doesn't matter how tired I am and even if it's only a page or two, I have to read. I, too, read just about anything, except horror. We share reading books on the dharma, which are always calming.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You are a voracious reader. I've read a ton of book publishing and marketing books and need to catch up on the latest ones.

Margot Kinberg said...

I'm the same way, Jan! I read as much as I possibly can, and I honestly think it helps me to be a better writer. It nourishes me, too, especially in these uncertain times. I admire the fact that you read all sorts of different writing and different genres, too. I don't confine myself entirely to crime fiction (although that's what I mostly read), but I ought to read more non-fiction and other kinds of fiction than I do...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

No one needs disturbing right before going to sleep.
A beach retreat in winter sounds perfect.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Reading is my refuge too. I keep saying that I need to read more books on craft. Maybe this will be the year that I do it.

Nick Wilford said...

That's great you have so many types of books to turn to for different areas of life. 24 books already this year is a lot. I wish I read faster!

Jefftown said...

Goodd blog post