Thursday, June 25, 2009

Real Make-Believe

"Is Harry Potter a real story?" my 5-year-old asked, eyes bright. "Did this happen for real?"

I had to smile because not one hour before her question I had finished reading an entirely different book that when I was through had me in my garage hefting down a huge suitcase (filled with smaller suitcases) from the uppermost rafters as though I thought I had strength beyond reality. You see I had just read of a young woman who trained for months to become an excellent sword fighter. She had conditioned her body into the best shape imaginable. And so after reading the end of the book and closing the cover with a happy sigh I suddenly thought my body had been transformed. My body assured me otherwise as the suitcase came crashing down from the rafters narrowly missing my head. Apparently spending the last week reading didn't do anything to strengthen my muscles.

Last month I read of a man who lost fifty pounds riding his bike across the country and when I closed that book I felt the need to take up a cross-country bike trip. Don't worry, I resisted the urge. Instead, I plunged into another world that had me talking proper all week.

It's been a while since I've spent so much time reading. The last 2 years have been spent writing. But now, as thoughts spill into my brain about how to make my manuscript better, I realize that books inspire me. They may not strengthen me physically, but my imagination is never stronger than it is when lost in the pages of an excellent book.

3 comments:

  1. Reading is one of my favorite ways to get writing inspiration on every level—to make my prose better, to make my scenes stronger, to come up with new plot twists. I wish I didn't have to choose between writing and reading sometimes!

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  2. Honestly, my favorite thing to do when I'm not writing, is reading. I read so many books, my husband thinks I'm crazy! I love it though. It gives me better ideas on how to make my story flow better, my scenes stronger, and I love finding interesting character traits and wonderful romantic scenes. I truly believe, that reading books help me write better, and hopefully the more I read, the better writer I will become.:)

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  3. I feel the same way when I read. I love to get so involved in the book that I get lost and blur the lines of reality. It's better that way I think, more enjoyable.

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