the craft. the writers that inspire us to keep going and to quit.
I can’t stress enough the importance of reading as a writer. It’s why we have podcast episodes that deep dive books. It’s why we are currently reading James by Percival Everett for our summer reading series. We have older newsletters of the same moniker, reading only feeds your own writing practice.
I say this as I’ve been limiting my scrolling and replacing that time wasted with chugging through my TBR pile. I mean, if I’m going to keep buying books in support of authors and indie bookstores, I ought to actually start getting through them. I still have Barnes & Noble gift card money that is burning a hole in my pocket. But I say this to say that sometimes it can feel anti-intuitive to read while writing, but I have needed this time to be a voracious reader as it is only fueling the enthusiasm for my own writing.
I’m currently reading Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi, and when I tell you that reading Akwaeke simultaneously makes me want to go write and quit writing. Their language is top tier for me. I love how, often, the storylines aren’t even agreeable for me in this way, or like I don’t find allegiance with the characters, but it doesn’t even matter. Akwaeke could rewrite the ABCs and I would be like “give them the PULITZER!” There is something about their language that just leaves me reeling and wanting to be better as a writer and also thinking maybe I should never pick up a pen again.
Find those writers for yourself because while you can be afraid that all of a sudden you’re going to be trying to write like them, that’s not necessarily what happens. Sure, when we’re a lot more green, we start by imitating other writers. But eventually, through the ashes comes your own voice and approach after much practice. So, in reading Emezi, in no way do I think I’m about to write as beautifully as they do. BUT … I am going to take aspects of their approach and incorporate it where it fits into my own work. But my voice will always be mine. Fortunately, or unfortunately.
I read a lot and there are books I read that are great and enjoyable and then there are books that make me want to write better. Make sure you find your own mix when compiling your own TBR pile.
Reading such great books, even It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant, is sending me into this state of practice with my writing. I have this wonderful work in progress that I’m exploring, but after reading Elise’s book and then starting Akwaeke’s Little Rot, I’m almost doing some practice exercises with some of the scenes in my new work. Just a pen and a notepad and sitting in a scene. Literally closing my eyes and imagining how it all unfolds. Envisioning the characters in 3D, almost like that scene from American Fiction. (If you still haven’t seen that, please stream it now.)
I’ve been visiting and revisiting the same chapters without feeling this need to rush through to a finished draft. Partially because there’s still a lot I’m trying to figure out about the story in general. But the things that I know, it’s been nice to keep at them until they feel really good and polished. I drafted a lot during the month of June. I have a pile of 30,000 words now that need some sculpting and direction, but it’s happening piece by piece and reading truly keeps me going.
I’ve been reminded of how important it is to use all of the senses when it comes to description. What do the characters see, feel, hear, taste, touch? How do they interact with the objects within the scene? With Akwaeke’s work, I’m also thinking about stepping that vocabulary game up. I don’t know about you, but I’ve just been collecting good words in a notebook lately. Their personification is so onpoint. They said, “the rug soaked the floor.” THE RUG. I just would have never thought to put it that way.
What I feel like I’m constantly learning when I read is how to take my time, which I’ve talked about in this newsletter before. But I often get so bogged down thinking, “get to the point.” But the reader wants to be on the journey with the character. It’s okay to get into the details. To slow down a scene.
This season of my writing practice has been about slowing myself down. Allowing myself to think a lot more than I write. Not worrying as much about finishing fast enough to get onto submission. It is weird times in publishing anyway. It may sound strange after already publishing a book, but it’s like I want to make sure whatever is next is tight, well thought out, and showing immense growth in me as a writer.
I just love it so much. I TRULY love books. It’s uncanny really and I feel pretty nerdy about that fact. But there is nothing like cracking open a new book. Learning new words. Getting lost in the worlds of these fictional people. The bonus of that, knowing how much it opens me up as a writer myself. How it motivates me to finish a thing so that I can see it out in the world. Challenges me in what I’m conveying with my story and with these particular characters. Helps me explore why I write and who I’m writing these stories for.
I’ve been on a bit of a nonfiction run trying to teach myself things, but it’s been like coming home to get back to novels.
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