The Importance of Reading

As a young child, we learn words before we learn to write then. We learn how to spell then, read them, and then we learn how to put them together to make a sentence. Then groups of sentences. As a writer, we must start somewhere. We need to learn words and how to use them. We need to learn what works for us. The best way to learn how to do this is by reading.

We can learn from those writers that came before us by reading their words. Seeing their sentences. seeing their paragraphs. As we read, we learn what works and what doesn't by seeing our own reactions to what occurs in another writer's work. We know what we like, so we can then use that to our own advantage in our writing so that others will enjoy it.

To help yourself become the writer you want to be, you must read the work of others. If you like writing romance, then read those authors known for writing a good romance novel such as Nora Roberts and Danielle Steele. If horror is your thing, then read the masters of horror such as King and Koontz. Read their work, and as you do analyze it. What do you like about the writing style? Is their a certain way the writer chooses his words or writes their sentences? How do they describe things? what kind of dialogue do they write? In time, answering these questions will come as second nature to you. you won't even realize you are doing it.

However, don't only read books in your genre. you must also read books that discuss the craft of writing. That discuss plot, characters, description. These books as well as those that talk about the business side of the industry are also important. Build your writer's library with books on style and writing technique as well as books in your genre. A writer without shelves full of books is not much of a writer at all.

This week's market and contest of the week are:

Market of the Week
Website: http://www.weeonesmag.com
Email: submissions@weeonesmag.com
Address: 1321 Ridge Rd., Baltimore, MD 21228
What do they publish: Fiction and nonfiction.
Payment: 03 cents per word for articles and stories. Poems to 150 words will be paid $5. Photos-$3 and artwork between $10 and $20 depending on the size.

Contest of the Week
The Best Humor Contest
Website: http://thewritingparent.com/contests.html
Mail entry to: Send by mail to: Klocke Publishing Best Humor Contest 127 Bishop Rd. NW Cartersville, GA 30121-7324 Or e-mail to mailto:agklocke@klockepresents.com (Contest Entry in subject line)

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