J.K. Rowling: Advice to Aspiring Writers

J.K. Rowling is often asked to give advice to aspiring writers, and her answer is always the same:

“Read as much as you possibly can. Nothing will help you as much as reading and you’ll go through a phase where you will imitate your favorite writers and that’s fine because that’s a learning experience too.”

Over a decade ago, I heard the same advice at a writer’s conference I attended. The presenter, the author of a dozen books, encouraged us to read 100 books of whatever kind we hoped to publish. Read 100 mysteries. 100 memoirs. 100 children’s books, 100 novels in the genre you want to write. A collective gasp filled the room. What? Writers are supposed to read??

However, I believe it is sound advice to aspiring writers. A writer who never reads books is like a musician who never listens to music. It just doesn’t make sense. If writers are serious about their craft, they will want to read the acclaimed writers in their field and learn from them. I know, I do.

Thoughts? Questions? As always, I’d love to hear from you.

——-

P.S. My novels, Seeking Sara Summers and The Secret Sense of Wildflower are available as AUDIO books on Audible, Amazon and iTunes. If you don’t want to read, you can always listen. 🙂

6 Comments

John Grabowski on October 29, 2013 at 2:26 pm

> A collective gasp filled the room. What? Writers are supposed to read??

Wow. Really? That’s disappointing.

Susan Gabriel on October 29, 2013 at 2:35 pm

That’s how I remember it, but maybe it was just the people around me. The author was quite a dynamic presenter, too.

Susan Bernhardt on October 29, 2013 at 9:41 pm

Good advice, Susan and J.K. Rowlings. I try and read as many mysteries as I can, since that is my genre, when I’m not writing, doing social media, and have free time from social activities. (I just read the article you put on FB about social media.)

Makes sense.

Susan Bernhardt
The Ginseng Conspiracy coming 1/14
http://www.susanbernhardt.com

Susan Gabriel on October 30, 2013 at 9:57 am

Good for you, Susan. I read a lot, too. I’m always looking for good novels and for an author I can learn something from.

Thanks for stopping by!
Susan

Mary on October 30, 2013 at 9:59 am

Hi Susan–I am not much of a writer but I am terrific at reading. Life without a book in hand is like living a life without chocolate. Seriously, reading is such a vital part of my daily activities, I don’t know how I would fill each day without a book or article to read. Books and chocolate=the good life.
Mary