If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or tools to write. -Stephen King
I often tell my students to read like writers and write like readers. It's one of those meta things that makes them think a little more critically about their own literacy.
I've always heard that reading and writing are two sides of the same coin. It's a weighted coin, though. They're inextricably linked, to be sure. But, they’re not necessarily equal in correlation.
I've had many students who love reading and are excellent at it. These same students may or may not be great writers (at least not yet).
But, great writers are almost always passionate readers. In my experience, I've never had a talented writer who didn't love reading. This is one more reason that I strive to create an authentic community of readers in my classroom.
What's your experience?
Did you realize, because I did not until last semester, that readers who read a lot of fantasy are typically better readers and writers? The demands of the genre require quite a bit of its readers. The vocabulary, style, and structure of fantasy feeds the creativity required for creative writing. Made me rethink my lack of adoration for fantasy.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. Being a reader/writer provides ideas and being able to play with language. When I work with young writers, usually Kindergarten, I always begin with a story. It serves a springboard to writing.
ReplyDelete@ Tracy Mercier - So true! My strongest readers are almost always drawn to that genre. It requires more complexity in plot, a greater empathy for the character, the ability to decipher metaphor to make sense out of large themes and the mental capacity to imagine a whole world that is other-worldly.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely...
ReplyDeleteI was home schooled. I never took a formal grammar course. Instead, my mother made me write every day and I had to read every day. I went out to get my degree in English and studied at the University of Oxford in England. Right a lot and read a lot; you'll be a good reader and a good writer!
Reading certain types of books is important. I am not terribly impressed by the vocabulary used in many juvenile fiction series (there are exceptions, such as "A Series of Unfortunate Events"). Books with challenging vocabulary are more developmental in nature than those with juicy plots.
@Tracy
ReplyDeleteGreat comment. I had no idea about the fantasy thing. It makes sense. I do like fantasy though... :D I read usually read non -fiction, but when I do read fiction it is almost always fantasy.
Very, very interesting.
@jrsowash
ReplyDeleteOh, man! That is so incredibly true about vocabulary. The way I see it, reading is the fuel to writing's fire.
Your mom sounds like a very smart lady. Thanks for sharing.