If you want to break it down into particulars, there are many things that go into becoming a writer, but at the most basic level, you only need to do two things: Read and write. So on this cool and sunny Sunday morning (at least where I am), I offer you two stories that address the question of reading, and how important it is to a writer’s development. Three guesses which of these I find more disturbing.
Writers Who Don’t Read – A growing trend, apparently. I don’t pretend to understand.
Across the Digital Divide – Seanan McGuire on why it is so important that books continue to be made available in print form. Eloquent and so very true.
I’m flabbergasted by the first and saddened by the second.
I think most writers who don’t like to read… won’t be published anyway, so I don’t care so much. Let them spin their wheels trying to succeed at a job they won’t research.
As for the ebook question–if all print books were destroyed tomorrow, I, myself, would have to decide between food, clothing, and books. That would kill me. I read over 100 books a year and will never make enough to purchase everything I read. So yeah. Print books and libraries rock.