Friday, September 24, 2010

to read or to write

What do you like more...

Reading
or
Writing?
I'm trying to remember what I liked to do most of those two when I was growing up, but I can't remember ever picking one over the other.
This year especially, my writing has been somewhat neglected, and I wonder:
Can reading distract you from writing?

What do you all think? How many of you are prospective authors, too, and do you ever worry about how long it will take you to 'finish that story'?
Never mind 3rd or 4th drafts - I'm just talking 1sts, here!
What do you like best about reading, and what do you like best about writing?

8 shout-outs!:

Alissa said...

I've always been a reader, and picked up writing later on. But I go through phases: for a while I want to read, then for a while I just want to write. That hurts my writing and prevents me from finishing anything because I always end up wanting to focus on reading again.

Tales of Whimsy said...

I don't write but I think reading inspires me to write sometimes :)

Anonymous said...

Oh, yeah - reading distracts me from writing ALL THE TIME :( I always tell myself it's because my blog keeps me really busy ... I *must* constantly be reading so that I'll have SOMETHING to review ... but the truth is that reading is just way easier than writing ... and whenever I sit there and ask myself what I should do next, 99% of the time I reach for a book.

My favourite thing about reading is the way I can lose myself in someone else's imagination ... but the best thing about writing is losing myself in MY OWN imagination ... writing what *I* would want to read, being able to create characters I'd love to read about, put them in interesting (to me) situations ... then wondering what other people would think of what I've written, what they'd expect to happen next, and completely going the other way! :)

Ashley @ Book Labyrinth said...

When I was younger I was really into writing, but since I've been out of high school I haven't done that much of it. I'm not sure why, but I guess it has to do with time. Right now I'm in a graduate program, and while it isn't difficult, it is very busy. I guess I don't really have time to plot out scenarios and characters, and I'm not really devoted enough to writing to make time for it. I do make time for reading and watching TV, though. I think that's because they're quite relaxing. Writing can be relaxing, but it's also stressful to try and figure out a plot and how to make things better. Delving into a novel is easy, and that's why I read things with "happy endings" for the most part. I don't like really, really sad or difficult books, because reading is my way I relax from all the other busy parts of my life.

Anonymous said...

I don't write. Well, just reviews but that's not the point.I dont do it and Idont know why but I just dont. *shruggs*

I love reading because I can lose myself in other worlds, meet people I'd never meet in other circumstances, be in otherwise impossible situations, and just simply not be where i am anymore. Most people say I'm "on the moon" but Im not. Im just not there

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

I don't think I love one more than the other. When I read, I immerse myself in a world of make-believe and let my mind become wrapped up in a story that plays out like a movie in my head. When I write, I become that main character, and I let my mind wander to places I might only otherwise dream of.

Either way, they let my imagination run wild, so I love both. Sometimes, I put too much pressure on myself when I write though - but I guess I could say the same when I'm reading a book I don't enjoy.

Dazzling Mage said...

I have yet to finish what I started to write. But can't stop starting new material. I think writing and reading goes hand in hand. I would have certainly not thought of writing if it weren't for the books that inspired me to pick up a pencil and start scribbling.

danya said...

I was always more into reading than writing, and that's still the case - although I think book blogging & reviewing has helped strengthen my writing skills, and I do still enjoy creative writing on the side :)

 
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