Writing 101: Of Books and Men

I love to read and nothing makes me feel more secure in the idea that I can improve my writing than by reading. I prefer reading the classics, such as authors Hemingway and Carroll and many others of this time. Recently though I've been busy reading of mice and men, which I admit right now I've not read before.

So don't tell me the ending... maybe then my writing will see an improvement.

I think the biggest thing that books allow people to do is to transport them from reality, at least for a while. Now, the journey might be to improve their mind, to find something new or to simply enjoy the time in peace and quite.

I believe people need books, and books need us. Writers are important, not in the subjects of religion or of politics, it's a minefield of bitterness and anger there, but in the arts, the how to do something, how to better oneself.

This is one of the main reason that men and books are linked and have been linked for a long time. We can write some wonderful things.

Books are a simple way of networking and, book clubs are a part of networking, it is easy to say "have you read this book?" to a person than it is to talk about certain subjects. In my family the subject of money and how to make it is a taboo subject. It is probably true with most of the readers who write on this subject.

Yet...

Read a book about money or how to make money or how to improve your finances and recommend it to friends and family this is not bad. You can sit and talk about how the author made money or how the wrote the book, and there can be a decent discussion. You are not exactly having a discussion on making money, but rather on what the author wrote.

In an around about way we can discuss the taboo subject by discussing the ideas the author is giving in a published book. Many will learn from it, and they also learn that there are many differing views on money, religion or finances or whatever the difficult subject is.

One rule: No Personal Attacks.

A personal attack will only escalate and this will result not in improvement of a writer, but rather is the "soul destroying" of a writer. Writers, like actors are sensitive people, or they are perfectionists who do not need to be told they are hacks.

Often this is why people will look down on aself-published book thinking that it is not as god as teh next. This is not true, rather it is if you do not edit your writing before self-publishing that readers will have teh most problems with. Self-publishers need to be aware of this, and this will avoid personal attacks. (The one exception is when you use a vanity press to self-publish... then peopel will wonder why you spent as much money as you did)

Of books, and men... funny thing this book idea is.

We as writers want our writing to live on. This is at the heart of the reason why we publish our work, and why we are "slaves" to the editing process. The reason is that our books give us a sort of immortality to the author, and then to the reader.

At the same time, we do not know what will work for some readers, and we are at the mercy of traditional publishers. With the advent of more choice in the publishing industry one must make their work as professional as possible even when self-publishing.

The best thing about books is you learn to expand your mind, for me there is always the question of interest, yes I do enjoy the classics, but I also read fiction, some fantasy and historical biographies. Also finance and politics and history.

You are probably asking why so much? Why read so much, you're a writer, and writers write and that is how they create money for themselves.

I believe that reading books improves the writing of an author and increases the ability to network and to market their books. Yes, Publishing a book is simple, but what if it's be done before?

This can create a problem. By reading a book and improving your writing you can connect with your fellow man. You Can Connect with them on subjects you never believed you could. Of course if you have a strong view on something, books should allow you to understand that others might take an different view. It will either way expand your horizons.

Of Books and Men, a rather unique combination.