Time to Write, Time to Read

In the past, I was hesitant to read other books whenever I had a slice of free time available to me. For one thing, I didn't have a Kindle; they hadn't been invented yet. Once they were, I still found myself reluctant to exploit the tech world of literature. I believed that if I read a ton of books, I might accidentally copy an idea, or my thoughts would be overly influenced by the novel I was reading. Could I lose my own voice? And people would think I was fake?

Mistake.

Now I read endlessly. It is the best research an aspiring writer can tap into. Especially with a Kindle, one author mentions another author, you type the name in the query, and viola, you have more books to love. You get to see what's relevant, how grammar is used, how plotlines progress, and there are so many other benefits that I could go on for hours, but you get the story. Reading books is the best kind of research. 

 As for copying? I don't worry about that anymore. For one, every story has already been done, guaranteed. It's the way you tell it that matters. You just have to be sure to tell it. 

 Another crucial benefit I discovered was confirmed while reading Hemingway's A Moveable Feast - the advantage of easily falling asleep by reading before bed. I have a preference for writing after dinner and carrying on into the wee hours of the night. This is when my mind gets churning; while others are bedding down, I'm gearing up. But writing this way comes with a price. At two AM, I am wired and absolutely cannot fall asleep. I tried drinking herbal tea and meditating, but nothing worked. My story kept telling itself. 

 Then I tried reading before bed. That was the solution. Although it keeps me awake a little longer than I should be, it's the only way I've found to chill down. When reading someone else's words, you can think about their story instead of the one you're writing. I find that sometimes in the middle of the night, my story will still creep back into my head, wanting an audience with me. Still, for the most part, I sleep better and get to bed at a reasonable time. That way, I am refreshed when I wake and can write better. 

 Make the time, it matters.