Justine Larbalestier

reading, writing, eating, drinking, sport

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Wee explanation

Of the current poll on whether you write more than you read. I came across a claim by a published writer (who I will not name) that they write more than they read. I was incredulous. Even if you were to count every jotted note, every letter, every form filled in, it still seems extraordinarily unlikely that would outweigh all the reading. Think of all the cereal packets, instructions, words on tickets, buses, clothing labels. We read every second of every day even if you never open a book.

This writer, however, was specifically talking about books, not even newspapers and magazines. They claimed that they wrote more books than they read by a large margin. This was because a) they wrote a great deal and b) they tried to read as little as possible so that it would not overly influence their writing.

Reader, I boggled. I boggle still.

Books—fiction, non-fiction—are the biggest influence on my own writing. Reading as little as possible is my idea of hell.

I don’t imagine the people who who checked “yes” to the question were talking just of books, but I’d be dead interested if any of you would like to explain what you meant in the comments. Ta!

Posted by Justine at 13:46, 29 April 2008 under Publishing business, Reading | 15 Comments »

Comments

  1. Kelly Says:

    Does that mean they don’t do any research for the books they write? Almost every writer I know reads quite a bit to prepare for writing their books, even for SF/F books (sometimes more so than non-SF/F).

    April 29th, 2008 at 2:00 PM

  2. JS Bangs Says:

    I suspect that part of the issue is whether you’re counting words or hours. You’d have to be both prolific and a complete non-reader to write more words than you read in a day. OTOH it’s not hard to spend more hours writing than reading in a given day, since writing is so much more time-consuming.

    April 29th, 2008 at 2:22 PM

  3. Dave Hogg Says:

    I write for a living, I do freelance stuff, I have an online journal that I update constantly and I’m 35,000 words into a novel. And it’s still not even close.

    What a terrible life that would be.

    April 29th, 2008 at 3:58 PM

  4. Mahek Says:

    Well, when you are writing a novel, it is helpful to read the other books in the same market so you know your competition. And I find it is easier because then you know what not to write so chances are, you won’t plagiarise.

    I read more than I write. Although that is mostly because I’m studying English Literature in school and the amount of reading we so is ridiculous. I read Oliver Twist THREE times and then wrote my essay on it. I definately read more than I write.

    I remember when I used to hate writing stories. I prefered song lyrics in those days. When I say in those days, I actually mean a few years ago. I’m not that old!

    Uh, this post is a little longer than I had thought it would have been! Oops :^)

    April 29th, 2008 at 4:54 PM

  5. Hillary! Says:

    How depressing! I would never want to write more than I read. But, then again, I am a reader! I read a book every two to three days. And I enjoy them! I admire the art. I would never DREAM of defiling the industry I adore.

    April 29th, 2008 at 6:11 PM

  6. sara z. Says:

    Was it James Patterson, perchance?

    April 29th, 2008 at 8:37 PM

  7. Gabrielle Says:

    Whoa. That’s… Interesting. I don’t think I could ever do it. I read dozens of books. The number of books I write is very much closer to zero. Gosh. It’s just… Shocking. I’m having trouble talking (typing?) about this. I thought every writer got the love of writing from reading. How could they just practically stop doing it?

    April 29th, 2008 at 11:33 PM

  8. Kate McCaffrey Says:

    Okay, okay, at the risk of becoming the salmon swimming upstream I have to confess…. since becoming a published author i definitely read less than i used to and prolly a lot less than I now write. Put away the crucifixion nails (anyone???) and let me elaborate…what with book promotion, writing articles for any school- library journal that approaches me (to shamelessly plug my books), enrolment in a Masters Course (tho truthfully that is suspended at the mo’), a part time English teaching position (with the truckloads of marking that entails), a blog (which i neglect all the time), two children, a partner and six chickens- I mean come on- how many hours are there in a day??? Sounds like a right whinge- instead of a justification- but I apologise these are the reasons why- why I tell you- I read less than I write!

    April 30th, 2008 at 5:28 AM

  9. sara z. Says:

    Kate, I definitely read less than I used to, and if you’re talking hours of the day I spend less time reading than I do writing. But I get the impression that the author J is citing claims to write a greater volume of words than he reads. And not only that, but AVOIDS reading because it would somehow hurt his writing. That’s the part that makes you go, wha?

    April 30th, 2008 at 9:48 AM

  10. 10. Justine Says:

    Kate McCaffrey: That makes perfect sense. I’m relieved to hear that there is an explanation that makes sense! You have no need to apologise!

    That said the writer in question has no children and is a full-time well-paid writer. That’s why it boggled my mind.

    Sara Z: Yup, that’s it exactly. The writer was boastful about it not mournful! (Though I did not say the writer was a he! Nor am I saying that they’re a she.)

    April 30th, 2008 at 11:22 AM

  11. sara z. Says:

    He/She/It/Patterson/Whomever :)
    (I like to pick on him, just because. I probably shouldn’t, as he is with my publisher and it’s very possible we’ll one day meet.)

    April 30th, 2008 at 11:32 AM

  12. niki Says:

    I don’t know – I haven’t picked up a book in ages due to my horrible job – and I text a lot – I think it could be possible to write more than you read in this age of IM’ing texting and emailing :)

    April 30th, 2008 at 11:42 AM

  13. niki Says:

    Although..you would be reading as much as you IM or text as long as people are responding to you ….which is not always my case ;)

    April 30th, 2008 at 11:45 AM

  14. ariel cooke Says:

    What a blowhard. It’s like saying “I talk more than I listen.”

    April 30th, 2008 at 8:59 PM

  15. Ray Davis Says:

    I was trying to be fair and thought, “Well, some very good writers are very slow readers and it’s difficult to meet contracts….”

    But then I remembered that all of the very slow readers I know are also very slow writers, so the heck with that. Elvis listened to many more records than he recorded. Q.E.D.

    May 3rd, 2008 at 5:19 PM

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