Reading is Fundamental

So I’m a writer, right? And writers, to perfect their craft, have to read.  Actually, nine times out of ten, writers become writers just because of how much they love to read.  I find myself wanting to write the stories I haven’t read yet, creating the characters I haven’t met yet…and the like. 

So I’m a reader, too.  And I read a lot. Not as much as my sister, who devours entire novels in a day. Honestly, no one reads like her.  But compared to the average person, I eat books for breakfast.  Because of this, it makes me sad when I hear people say things like “I don’t have time to read!” or “I can’t get into any books right now!” and other stuff like that.  Reading is a dying past-time, from my perspective, and I can’t understand why, especially with e-books and Kindles and stuff.  I don’t have tons of time on my hands — what with writing novels, freelance writing, raising two kids, keeping the house (mostly) clean, taking care of the dogs, and working on the occasional community theater production, etc. — but I squeeze it in.  Even if it’s only a few pages a day –  when the kids are at school, just before bed. Whenever.

Years ago, I was one of those people who didn’t have time to read. Or so I thought.  The first New Year’s resolution I ever kept was to read more – one book a month, to be exact.  That was in 2004.  I’ve read at least one book a month for the past 13 years thanks to that resolution.  Now, I’m reading more like one and a half to two books a month.  Right now, it’s August and I’ve just started my tenth book of the year.

So why do I do it? It’s the one thing I enjoy that doesn’t take up tons of time or require that I go anywhere or wear something special.  I can read a little or a lot, whenever I have the chance. With two kids at early school age, writing sometimes requires more brain power than I can scrape together. Still, I can't stop loving literature just because I've had to take a pause in my writing career.
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I’m glad I’ve rediscovered my love of books and I won’t be giving it up any time soon. And between my packed shelf of “Books to Read” and those ebooks on my tablet, I’m gonna be busy for many months to come.  But just think of all the inspiration – and enjoyment – it will bring me.