What are You Reading?

Reading to an author is like air to a humans, or water to fish.
Without it–reading–we run dry.

As I draw towards launching my latest novel into the world–last edits being applied to this work–my thoughts turn to choosing my next project.

Manifesting the transition from this work I am about to working on my next project summons within me the need to read.

Why?

Because the words of other writers–those with more experience and expertise–and working to tell their stories along side mine, energizes those aspects within me.

The energy of their words electrifies my need and compulsion to return to once again return to the beginning of the beginning and settle on–consider how I will craft the opening of this next work.

It’s difficult leaving an accomplishment and starting from scratch, setting one’s self back at ground zero.

But that is what we do as writers.

We write a story, detail our heart’s delight, shape, craft, refine, and edit it into clean, clear and entertaining and thoughtful fashion—then let it go, only to turn around and begin the process all over.

What holds us stead through all these shifts and turns, the transitions and resolutions of our characters’ multifaceted dilemmas are always the words and characters–the action and dialogue of those characters crafted by authors. Seeing, witnessing the artistry of these writers, our colleagues of present time and yore sustains us.

Reading.

It keeps ups writing, believing and hoping–crafting, mining the hearts of our stories and the soul of our hearts that hold the stories we have yet to tell.

Without reading we cannot write.

What are you reading?