Friday, October 21, 2011

Reading come Writing

Once was the time when I read every book (almost) I could get my hands on, as long as it took place somewhere else or some-when else. I read about dragons, space travel, mind reading, time travel, you name it, for the most part. There was very seldom when I didn't have a book open; I even had to restrict myself and make myself finish a book before I started another, and further, to wait until the next day before starting another book. It gave me a little time to digest one story before starting another one.

Being the Libran that I am, I loved books that were a series, but I hated getting the second of a series (or whichever) and not being able to find the others, so I refused to buy a book that was part of a series unless I could get all of them. That didn't apply to those books given to me, so I ultimately ended up with some of those odd books. Needless to say, I read them anyway, frustrating though it was.

When we moved out here, I had to give up my collection of books - we simply couldn't move them, and even if I'd managed to be able to bring them out here initially, at some point during the multiple times we've moved since, I'm certain that my collection would have had to be sacrificed somewhere along the line.

Since then, I've accumulated quite a few books; sadly, few of them are the kind I like - the long story that covers several books - and finding any remnants of any of my old collection is impossible. Another obstruction is the fact that I can't just go to a book store; I'm doing good to go through the book stands in Walmart or Fred Meyers or some other big store, if there's time. Another rather frustrating thing about my books is that they are mostly in boxes stashed either in the top of the woodshed or upstairs stuffed in a corner buried under other boxes or shoes or clothes or whatever else it stuffed up there. Space is at an extreme premium here in this little cabin in the middle of nowhere.

To satisfy my desire to read, I have, from time to time, jotted down a story. While I was working on the military base (before we moved out here), we were required to take three breaks during every work day. They were fairly boring breaks, though not really all that long - an hour all together. To fill the time, not long enough to enjoy a good read, I started writing a story, long hand, in a loose-leaf notebook. This notebook is the one book that came with me when I moved out here. This notebook was unfortunately one sacrifice because of one of our moves. Some items had to be left behind, and when I finally got the chance to retrieve the duffle, the notebook was gone. Sigh

Several years later, I decided to start another story in another notebook. The kids were both done with school and there was all this paper left over. One day, my son comes home with this little laptop computer. I'd never seen one before. It was really rather cool. He taught me how to use it and he taught me some things about Word, other things I learned along the way with occasional help from my son when he was home. Since then, I have worn out that poor little computer. My second PC started getting a hiccup in the music program and my son said it might be some kind of internal problem. So, since I've managed to write over twenty stories which I didn't want to lose, I now have my third computer, a MAC.

Yes, I said over twenty stories. They are all lengths and I've talked about them before in this blog. I have discovered the new way to read. I have satisfied my desire to read new books. If I can't go to a bookstore, I can create my own books. I can do it, and you know what, I love doing it. The new stories that evolve on my computer screen don't have a book trailer, they don't have any advertising yet, they don't even have a rumor friends can pass on. You can't get much newer than that.




12 comments:

Bob Scotney said...

I find it difficult to understand how someone can become a writer without reading widely themselves. This is an article worth sharing with everyone.

Anna L. Walls said...

Well Bob, I hope you helped spread it. I do what I can.

S.M. Carrière said...

I'd go insane without reading! I don't know how you manage it!

Anna L. Walls said...

By writing instead, haha

griefcase.blogspot.com said...

Oh, Anna, you strike a chord with your words. I, too, share in those words saying reading anything I can get my hands on, and moving with no place to take my books and leaving them behind. Everything you write strikes a chord. It is refreshing to learn that as a writer pursuing my craft, I am not alone.

Thank you for sharing. Keep writing.

Linda Della Donna
Author of "A Gift of Love, A Widow's Memoir."
www.bookorbust.blogspot.com

Roy Durham said...

Well Anna i love to read and over the year have manage to read a few story books over a wide range of subjects most of my main reading has been tech manuals and test reports. not the comfort reading that most people read. that is changing and i am reading and writing more fun reads . by the way do i detect the cries of a kindle in your post maybe not but hey i posted chapter eight and got a couple paragraphs written on nine. god bless and keep that pen moving.

Anna L. Walls said...

Thanks for stopping by Linda, and Roy. I do keep writing; it is like the blood that flows in my veins. haha

Roy, I have looked into a Kindle. It has much the same drawbacks as a regular book - the need for light for one, but it also has other drawbacks. It's outright price is one huge one, and buying things (books especially) on line is something I as yet can't do. I can in that I am capable, but until my husband and I are more confident about such things as identity theft and such, it is something we won't be doing yet. I do plan to get one of those credit cards we can pay into but that requires a trip to town.

Leah Griffith said...

Anna, you are the absolute most resourceful person I know. I imagine you writing as fast as possible so that you'll be done by bedtime...where you snuggle under your warm blankets and read the story you have just written...grinning with satisfaction while the universe smiles back at you.
You're an amazing lady Anna <3

Anna L. Walls said...

hahaha - Well, Leah, not quite, but close. I go to bed thinking about the scene I'm working on, trying to rehearse my way on past it and to the next scene, and when the fire is lit, there's nothing to stop me from getting up in the middle of the night and adding it to the story.

Jim Kipp said...

I love to read yes and work out. LOL

Anna L. Walls said...

Hello Jim. Thanks for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

My pleasure Anna