The Writer's Pulse

Image: wili_hybrid

You’ve heard it before: the first line of your story should be the best. It should be intriguing, maybe even poetic. Even in news writing, you’ll want your first paragraphs, or lead, to reach out and grab your readers before they move on to the next story. Read the rest of this entry »

Image: kyknoord

I think there’s a point in every aspiring writer’s life when he or she finally “gets it.” Not in the sense of a sudden, crystalizing moment or an epiphany, but a gradual realization of who they are. Read the rest of this entry »

Kill Chuck?

So, apparently there’s a small group of fans out there who are unhappy with the current storyline of Chuck. They’re suggesting, as “fans” of the show, that we boycott the series until the writers give them the story they want.

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I’m trying to get through The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien’s creation myth of Middle Earth and the history of the elves. It’s not a long book, really, but it’s very dry. In my opinion, of course.

It’s the first book on my Spring/Summer reading list, though, and I will get through it. I promise you that.

Of course, when I say list I actually mean big stack of books.

But that’s not what I’m here to talk about.

Why reading will improve your writing

Reading is a very important activity. It keeps your mind sharp and helps you form a repository of styles and words and ideas. It doesn’t matter if it’s a book or a newspaper or a magazine, just the simple act of reading will increase your general knowledge and slow the aging process.

As a writer, reading is one of your most important tools. And I’m not just talking about the great literary classics or the best newspapers or the high-minded scholarly journals.

Reading works of all kinds — the good, the bad, the unfortunate — will allow you to see what’s out there, what works and what doesn’t, and how other authors handle certain aspects of the craft.

It’s also useful to read genres outside your area of interest. For instance, I tend to dislike high-fantasy: the kinds of stories that do have elves and dwarves and hand-drawn maps on page two. They’re not my style, but from time to time I’ll pick one up and see what all the fuss is about.

Sometimes I’ll enjoy a good fantasy (Harry Potter comes to mind. I scoffed at the idea of reading a kid’s book at first, only to realize later that they’re actually pretty entertaining). Other times I won’t, but at least I’ll have ventured into foreign territory and enlightened myself to a different style of writing and storytelling, and I’ll be better off for it.

It’s not always about reading the best-written stuff you can find, or even the stuff you like. It’s about expanding your horizons and increasing your wealth of knowledge.

So read. Read everything. Read your cereal box in the morning, if that’s what it takes. Read your favorite blogs, check the news on your cellphone, but also don’t forget to pick up a good, old-fashioned paperback from time to time.

Feel the pages at your fingertips. It’s a very different experience than anything you’ll get digitally (even from those Kindle things).

How often do you read (especially print publications)? What have you been reading lately?

Will this ever take off? You tell me.

Sam Banerjee has launched a new website to explain his revolutionary printing style, which is designed to reduce eye strain and help dyslexic readers:

In the ZigZagText printing style, alternate lines of text in a document are reversed. In the first line, the words go from left to right, and in the second line they go from right to left, and so on. I believe this makes the document easier to read, because your eye does not have to jump from the right side of the page all the way back to the left after reading each line. This printing style is also thought to be especially helpful for some dyslexic readers, who often lose their place in a document.

Still curious? Here’s an example of the Zig Zag Text format in action:

> The road grew worse and worse. . . . They drove into the wood. Here
water ,in deeply sank wheels the ,round turn to room no was there <
> splashed and gurgled through them, and sharp twigs struck them in the
.face <

Benerjee is looking for publishers and authors willing to use this new format.

What do you think? Great new idea? Weird?