Want to write a book? Do you read them?

I teach at two senior centers. At the beginning of each course, I always ask what the students are reading.

The first time I did this, only one out of eight students responded that she read books. All the others looked sheepish, and admitted that the only thing they read was the daily newspaper. In teaching subsequent courses, I'm always amazed at how few of my would-be writers actually read anything.

In his memoir, On Writing, Stephen King relates an experience he says he's had more times than he cares to recall. After he's given a reading, someone approaches him and says,

"I've always wanted to write a book."

"What books have you read lately?" King asks.

The would-be author replies, "Oh, none. I don't have any time to read!"

King thinks, but doesn't have the heart to say, "Then you don't have time to write a book."

There are many, many reasons that those who want to write not just a book, but anything, must read, and read voraciously.

1) That is how you learn how it's done. It's how you internalize the words, rules, structure, strategies, tricks, and everything else that makes a piece of writing work.

2) You've got to ask yourself: If you don't read anyone else's writing, why expect them to read yours?

3) And of course, if you don't have time to read, you don't have time to write.

There's a huge world out there in books (and articles, essays, poems, and so on). Treat yourself to that world.