“Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it.
Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.”
― William Faulkner
Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.”
― William Faulkner
Thought I’d keep track of the books I’m reading in 2012; so far, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (great book, perfect title and cover!); My Dad is a Birdman (by David Almond who also wrote the amazing Skellig – today’s Roald Dahl; I can only wish to have such an imagination), and Word Nerd (which won the Sask. Young Readers’ Choice Award last year). I went through the Newbery winners over the past couple of years, then requested them at the library. The books are pouring in, and I can’t read fast enough! I now have ten piled up in my writing room…The best writing advice I’ve ever been given is to read voraciously in the genre in which you’re writing. Figuring out how other writers do it well (or not:) is so helpful!
Used part of my GG money to buy myself a new (very old) desk on Kijiji. It’s made of oak and has a wonderful smell – not sure how old it is, but I feel like it may have been made in the late 1800s. Might be time to write some historical fiction…
Jan L. Coates - "What if...?" 
I agree Jan, reading is the best teacher. I just finished reading The Winter Pony by Iain Lawrence and blogged about it. When a book moves me, I know the writer did a great job. I love you new old desk! I would find it inspiring. Happy reading and writing.
Funny thing is – sometimes I find myself admiring and speculating about my desk to the point I can’t get any writing done! I think we’re having a West Coast winter here in the east – 11 degrees today!