Part of one's development as a writer is to read, and not just in the genre one seeks to establish a presence and build a fortune within it. This is what's on my nightstand right now:
- Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. "Doc" Smith.
- Chariots of the Gods by Erich von Daniken.
- Primetime Propaganda by Ben Shapiro.
The first is, roughly, in my targeted fiction genre. The second is pure fodder for my imagination and an exercise for my analysis skills. The third is a non-fiction work whose structure and approach I want to analyze for use in my own non-fiction work, as it mixes first-hand inquiry (in Ben's case, including a lot of interviews) with analysis of the gathered information into a comprehensive thesis presented for a lay audience. That's the sort of thing that marks a Public Intellectual, something worthwhile (and necessary for a healthy free nation) and we need more of.
The purpose, besides being informed or entertained, is to see how they did what they did. Picking it apart, looking at how they put the work together, and learning both from their mistakes as well as their successes- that's the point of keeping up a regular reading habit as a writer. You do it as part of ongoing learning about the craft of writing, about what practices are best for which purposes, and so continue to hone your skill as you persist in your efforts.
So, that's what I'm reading and why. If you care to share yours, leave a comment below.
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