Reading for Writing

Reading for Writing

I have always loved to read. It is definitely a prerequisite if you also wish to write anything of any level of quality. “Oh yes” I can hear you saying “Did it take you long to come up with this stunning revelation?” I know, I know any book or anything you hear said about learning, education and definitely writing starts off from the premise of you have to read (or at least listen to someone else reading) if you want to write. The three ‘R’s’ are fundamental – reading ,writing and ‘rithmetic are known as the basics for a good Victorian education eh? Of course, my argument becomes a little more difficult from here on in as I:

1. Am not a fan of mass Victorian Education principles for the modern age.
2. Realise that two of the ‘R’s’ actually start with another letter which is definitely not ‘R’.

Despite putting myself in a bit of a corner with this, I am going to push determinedly out of it and come out shouting for the need for anyone involved in writing for a living, or even for pleasure, to read lots.

There are different elements of advice about this. We should read books and articles in the style we wish to write in, we should read things that are not in the way we would write ourself, we should read avidly whilst we are writing, we shouldn’t read whilst in the writing process ourselves, we should read for research, we should read for pleasure – I mean, are there any actual rules I can follow?

As with all things which aren’t ‘rithmetic or science, there is very often no right or wrong way. The tombs which get on to the Booker Prize Long List often get there because they are written differently to the norm. For example ‘Lincoln in Bardo’ by George Saunders (2017 winner) is written in curious dialogue but for me, really works even though it is not something your English teacher would encourage. However, The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (2013 Winner of the Booker Prize) is written in a style that I am sure any of my English teachers would have marked as ‘utter bilge’ if I had submitted it as an essay piece to them. Why? Because it went on and on and on and on with no real purpose.

Already I can hear people rising up at me. They will tell me I am not intelligent enough to understand the subtleties and beauty of ‘The Luminaries’ or that I am pretentious because I like ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’. I have been considering this type of response particularly since I made a trip to Chatsworth House a few weeks ago. The current Duke and Duchess of Devonshire are renown for ‘Modern Art’ which has many visitors shaking their heads in horror at some of the pieces around the House and Gardens. This year, they have really gone for it as they have made ‘Living with Art We Love’ as their theme in the House and then put an outrageous exhibition called ‘Radical Horizons: The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth’ in the Park. Oh wow, these things are definitely not sixteenth century traditionalism.

So before I get too deep into the style of The Luminaries (going on and on) what has this all got to do with reading to help your writing skills. Well almost more than anything else that I saw on my recently visit to Chatsworth or my reading of the Booker Prize books, I learned that I need to read all sorts of things to open my eyes to the possibilities. I picked up a novel in the Gift Shop at Chatsworth which is called ‘The Keeper of Songs’ by Fiona Mountain. I wasn’t sure it was my kind of book as the back cover states it is a ‘doomed love story’ and I am not really into ‘Romance’ as a genre. Still, it was based at Chatsworth (what’s not to like) and I have just read a ‘Romcom’ called ‘Who’s That Girl’ by Mhiari McFarlane which was much better than its gaudy cover would suggest (yes I am a bit of a book cover snob!) so I decided to give it a go. I even have a signed copy.

Both of these books have taught me much about the craft of writing. One I enjoyed as well as learned about how a commercial writer puts something together, one I haven’t enjoyed because it isn’t put together that well. One used the back drop of Nottingham effectively and used the places around the city appropriately, you know when they actually fitted the story. Whereas, the Chatsworth one, well in my humble opinion had a great concept for a story which has been ruined by trying to fit Chatsworth House and Estate into it at all cost. How can a story which central theme is supposed to be about collecting old folk songs have the main protagonist as a modern day House Maid and hobby Blacksmith? The dates for certain things are wrong like, oh lets see, the 11^th Duke and Duchess’ 50^th Wedding Anniversary celebrations. This was apparently a deliberate act because if she had used the real dates she would have had to bring in the Foot and Mouth outbreak and she didn’t want to do this because we have just gone through a pandemic. What? I am shrugging my shoulders as I write this.

There are many other things about these books which either taught me or reminded me about good techniques when telling a story. I know, I know, we can sometimes bend the truth when we are writing fiction but not when so many people still remember the actual event and not just because you don’t want to bring something that was terrible for many rural communities at the time. I know, just mention it in passing or, its your story, you don’t even have to bring it in at all! Surely this is better than changing historical facts that are still within easily remembered timescales?

To conclude then, people who communicate, particularly in writing, really do need to be avid readers. If you don’t love reading, why would you want to write? I personally feel I need to read a wide range of books, fiction, non-fiction, blogs, magazines (I love ‘The Idler’ and ‘Slightly Foxed’) and poetry. I am not a big poetry person but it brings an understanding of rhythm and succinctness, unlike Twitter which is succinct but not always as rhythmical. I even feel happiest writing when I am surrounded by books. I wish I had a library like the one at Chatsworth but my comforting bookshelf sits there behind me today urging me to write and to get on reading the next book from my ‘To Read’ pile.

Read and Write, write and read. You deserve it!