USA!! USA!!
Wow. Still not over that miracle goal at basically the last possible second. So excited!!
Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
For today’s You Tell Me, a question and hopefully conversation starter: do you spend more time writing or do you spend more time reading?
And is one or the other better or more important?
Be honest!
Right now, it's writing, but only because I am hellbent on finishing my first draft. Most of the year, I spend more time reading. And wished I spent more time than that instead of wasting time on the internet or watching TV.
If I have to give up one or the other, I'll forego on the reading time in order to write. But I read during the commercial breaks of my fav TV shows, waiting in line at the store, for twenty minutes before bed.
I can do the "little drink" when it comes to reading, but when I write I need an undivided block of time.
I find it really interesting that reading is winning the poll but most of the commenters are claiming writing.
For me, it's reading, although if I'm in the middle of a project, it's probably pretty close. I'm a pretty slow-but-steady writer; a little bit each day/week/whatever really adds up.
I didn't vote in the poll because after pondering this I decided it's a pretty even split.
At first, I was just thinking about reading books, and in that case, I spend more time writing, but when I factored in the time I spend reading little snippets of things on the internet, I realized it's more of a balance.
Thanks for making me think about this.
Reading is essential to being a good writer. To write a good novel, you have to understand the moving parts of a plot. You have to learn how to surprise readers while still having the plot develop in an organic way. You have to learn how to forge an emotional bond between your characters and the reader.
There's no way to learn these things except to see them done well. There's no way to learn what good writing sounds like and feels like except to read good books. If you aren't well-read, you're probably missing an important part of the toolkit.
Writing.
I'm a faster reader than I am writer, so I've got to spend more time writing or I'd never get anything done.
Writing for now because I'm in the middle of my first draft.
When I start sending queries I have a stack in my TBR pile.
It might be a while before I get to them.
Do you count giving critiques as reading? If so, I'd have to say I read and write equally. If not, then I write more than I read.
Way more time writing BUT it's only been that way for the past year or so. My hope is that once all the stories in my head are down on paper, I'll read more and write less. My husband, who sits next to me late at night watching The Daily Show while I frantically type all the stuff that's been screaming in my head all day, may disagree.
Yeah, I know, the KBrown barb might have been a bit harsh, but there's just something about that guy that screams 'tool' to me. Great game, though. Loved listening to the end on the radio… something more visceral about that than watching it on the tube.
And that wimbledon match is still going on (47-46 5th set). Wow.
If I have uninterrupted time and a computer, I'm writing. If I'm doing something that requires my eyes (like walking to work, crossing busy streets), I'm planning my next scene. If I have uninterrupted time and no computer (brushing my teeth, on the subway, at the doctor's office, etc), I'm reading. And if a book's ambushed me and won't let me stop, then I'll also read, but I'll read standing up, cuz that way it feels like I'm just-gonna-read-one-more-page-I-swear-and-then-I'll-do-the-dishes-okay-maybe-a-few-more-pages-oh-crap-it's-midnight-already?
Most of the time, I spend way more time writing. When I pick a book, though, I breeze through it at incredible speed, leaving all writing aside.
The problem I have is that I only read during summer. Whenever classes start, I end up putting novels aside, but I'll still write every day.
I'm not sure why I do this. I've tried to read more, but it'll still take me two-three months to finish a single book. Whereas during summer, there's something wrong when I need more than a week!
If we're counting things like newspapers, blogs, email, etc, I'd be hard-pressed to name anyone who writes more than they read.
Even if we're just counting books, though, I definitely read more than I write. I check a lot of stuff out of the library these days, which has really diversified my reading habits. When I'm buying, it's usually fantasy, sf, and YA novels. But since the library's free, I've been picking up all kinds of things.
When I'm in writing mode, I don't do a lot of reading. When I am not writing, I read.
Writing, definitely. I love reading, too, but the writing is so consuming and *takes* so much time! Plus, there's blogging to do, too. Reading is definitely right behind writing, probably about equivalent with sleeping!
A great day for US futbol. One to remember.
I spend more time reading, but when I write (it goes it spurts) it dominates everything.
How much fun they are goes in this order:
1) Writing – like a manic high at times.
2) Reading – from very fun to life changing – depending on the book
3) Re-reading a draft – first time is best
4)
5)
6)
7) Revising – yuck.
8) Line editing – just tedious.
9)
10) Querying – gawd.
Writing. For sure. I read before bed, but I write in solid blocks during the day. I am writing my Phd. however, so I am somewhat obliged. Once I'm finished with the thesis, then I'll be writing submissions, proposals, articles etc etc. I'm doomed.
Congrats to the USA. I was also very chuffed that England got through (and by 'chuffed' I mean leaping in the air, shouting, cheering!) All good.
Reading only. I'm always readiing. But I'm on vacation.
When I was in school, I did a bunch of writing. But I just finished that horrible 7 days a week, going until 10 at night schedule, and I'm on vacation.
So, the real answer is computer games.
And NAPS.
Although – I can feel the pressure starting – write, write, write. So, I'll pick up the pen soon.
But for just now, I'm on vacation.
In terms of how important reading is to the writer, I think it depends on the writer. Developing a skill is – I think – a very individualized sort of thing.
It's probably a tie.
It's funny most American don't give a rat's ass about soccer until it's the World Cup, unlike other sports.
Why is that?
Cumulatively, I probably read more than I write, but I’m trying to even it up a little.
Reading is an ingrained habit of long standing. I read when I walk from one place to another (peripheral vision is key), brush my teeth, , cook–pretty much anything but drive. I don’t even count it as multitasking anymore. I once lost a $20 bet that I couldn’t not read for an entire hour. I lost when I picked up a book—completely unaware—on my way to the bathroom.
It doesn’t help that I’m a librarian—I’m surrounded by the stuff!
I manage about three hours of writing time on weekdays, if the kids sleep as hoped (which rarely happens) and a little more on weekends. So far, experiments with writing and walking haven’t worked very well, but I’m trying to pick up the habit of jotting down notes and dialogue while I’m sitting in waiting rooms or at lunch.
The breakdown for me is about 60/40 Writing/Reading. (that's including reading blogs, etc. as well as books)
I'm always looking for books in the genres I write, so there is never a shortfall of reading material. Making myself write when there are other things to be done is the problem.
Writing seems to feed my spirit, and enables me to face all the other mundane things that life throws at us. I think we need to do both, with more emphasis on writing. That's one reason I blog — it keeps me writing.
I said writing, but would have picked 50/50 if it was an option. I write more during the work week, but reading catches up over the weekend since I have no social life.
It's interesting that the comments skew so much more toward writing than the survey itself. Does it mean the readers are too busy reading to write a comment?
I read during my free time when I take my kids places, at the kitchen table while I eat breakfast, and when I'm stuck in traffic and the highway becomes a freeway. I average a book a day, although I tend to reread things often.
I spend a little less time plotting my novels than reading. It's not actual writing time, but it's the time I think up possibilities and imagine new characters.
Actual butt-in-chair writing accounts for one or two hours a day. I can type 1000 words in 15-20 minutes, so a few hours of writing can equal a new chapter (or two on my best days). When I'm editing I can finish a few chapters in those few hours.
Reading dominates, particularly when I've hit a rough spot in my writing, or when I'm going through one of those phases in which I've developed an irrational fear of pens and paper.
I've also noticed the poll leans toward reading, while commenters generally spend more time writing.
This question seems to reinforce these roles. More writers will actually publish their comments, while the readers silently contemplate the message.
Very interesting.
Although I will admit I read to get out of writing way too often.
Sadly at the moment I think I spend more time reading than writing. I think part of that is because reading is easier to me than writing–that and I need to learn to manage my time better because I've GOT time to write; I just don't use it writing. Such is the life of a mom with a kid and a husband–no excuses though: definitely need better time management skills!
Which is more important? Oh, I think both are at different stages of your career/life. I personally need to write more than I read because I need to develop that whole writing practice thing. Once I'm writing on a regular basis more, reading can become important in learning what to do, what not to do, what's already been done, etc.
I'm usually reading more, but I want to be writing the same amount as well.
That game was frickin awesome. I'm particularly a happy camper because I live in France (paris banlieu) and if Algeria won, we wouldn't hear the end of it (LOTS of algerian immigrants 'round these parts) I'm going to get a jersey with Donovan's name on it. He rocks and the boys are doin us proud. They're classed number one in their group so hopefully they'll be pitched against one of the suckier teams next game and we'll have a chance at the quarter finals!
Lately I have balance and read in the evenings after my son goes to sleep and write in the wee hours of the morning (3:30-4:00) until he wakes up. I haven't always had this balance and feel pretty good about it. When I'm not reading my mind aches and when I'm not writing my heart/soul is amiss.
I definitely spend more time reading than I do writing.
Generally, I write a thousand words a day when working on a novel. Sometimes, I do more than a thousand. Those are super special days.
However, I read during my hour lunch at work and I spend an hour or two every night reading before I fall asleep.
It truly depends on the stage of the WIP. Early in progress I may spend more time reading and researching while plot lines, concepts and characters jell; later, it's writing as long as my wee behind can tolerate my decrepit office chair.
At the moment, waiting for release day, I'm too twitchy to write, so I read.
Wow, just read some of the responses after posting my comment and found that I seem to be in the minority.
I certainly don't think reading more is detrimental to one's writing endeavors.
I said reading, but it's probably not quite true. I write for a living, but it's all user guides and requirements and so on. Writing for myself also takes a certain amount of research time. I do a lot of reading.
I say reading, but only because I read a lot of online articles while at work. (I work in digital media for a newspaper). At home I spend more time writing than reading, except for the occasional binge. I love to find a book that I get so into that I put everything else aside. I need one of those ever so often. I think you need a fairly even combination of both reading and writing to be a good writer. But that combination doesn't need to be a daily or even weekly combination.
Reading.
I read every day. And while it's always my goal to write every day, I don't.
I think they are equally important. When that new person says, "Oh, you're a writer? I always wanted to write," my answer is, "Then you need to read a lot and write a lot. It's just that easy and just that hard."
Writing but reading is close, only because I read so many blogs and whatnot online. Book reading has suffered.
I forgot to add. I love to read. Reading is far more important to me than writing. Writing is still a major motivator in my life but it does not, in any way, compare to the relationship I have with other people's books. I lose myself in books, I fall into fictional and non-fictional worlds. I educate myself and I entertain myself. All because other (marvellous) people managed to do what I have always failed at, and they did it magnificently.
(Currently absorbed in Aubrey/Maturin novels, supplimented with thesis-related reading)
Writing a little more, but I do a lot of reading as well. When I can't figure something out, I'll read a book and let my "multitasker" figure out what needs to happen next. It works both ways, when I'm sick of reading the book, I dive in for more writing.
Thanks to the revision process, I spend more time reading my writing than I do on the actual writing. Maybe if I took longer to write in the first place, that wouldn't be the case.
Whenever I read it makes me want to write. Especially when I start getting ideas or have mini epiphanies about something I've written thanks to something brilliant someone else has written. At least until I'm fully engrossed in a novel and drawn in to the point that I forget that anyone writes except this one person I'm reading, including me.
But in general, more writing for me.
I write three to five hours a day. I read about thirty minutes to an hour. This wasn't always the case, but I'm obsessed with the novel I'm working on.
I also find I don't enjoy books the same way I did ten or twenty years ago. If I'm not enthralled after the first fifty pages of a novel I put it down and move on.
I would like the ratio to be about equal, but I've got so much to write, my brain just won't let me spare the time to read as much as I'd like.
I treat reading like a leisure activity, but I know better. Reading is critical to writing well.
(I guess I've just got to write faster…)
I spend more time writing, but reading is super important too. Good books teach and inspire.
now that it's summer break, reading is what I'm up to most; once school's back in session/kids are out of the house, it's back to writing. So change my vote come Aug. 16~ :o)
Not that I'm trying to bang this point home, or anything… If someone told me I would never write a book, I would be angry, annoyed, probably slightly relieved, and I would ultimately move on. If someone told me I could never ever read another book…… Now that's a future not even worth considering.
I don't read nearly as much as I should. When it comes to new releases, I've resorted to reading about them instead of actually reading them. I can talk Twilight and Hunger Games like the best of 'em, despite never having handled either one.
I voted writing, because that's the "phase" I'm in right now. I switch back and forth every few months. Though right now, I need new glasses, and eyestrain is limiting the time I dedicate to reading. So I'm writing lots and reading less. That's a bit sad really, but it's the truth…
I answered writing, but it only wins by a very slight margin. I think they're equally important parts of a writer's life.
Reading. It's so much easier to pick up and put down a book than a computer. And it's easier to stop and start reading in the middle of a thought than to try to do it writing. Lately I've even started listening to books on cd, but usually only books I've already read so when the kids come in and start talking to me, I still know what's going on.
Such a hard question! Between writing blog posts, rough drafts, and editing, I spend a lot of time using Microsoft Word. I read a lot too, but if I clocked the hours, I think writing time would win.