To read or not to read while writing

We've all heard it: Virtually any author interviewed in any magazine, newspaper, or blog says that the two most important things aspiring authors can do is write every day and read voraciously.

The writing part takes discipline and then some, but the reading comes naturally, eagerly even. If you're a writer, it goes without saying that you love to read, probably from a young age. But when you're writing your own original work for publication, do you read while writing?

In recent years, there's been quite a few highly publicized cases of big name and/or big dollar authors plagarizing the works of others. Each case that appears in the news asks the same question: Did they do it accidently or on purpose? Writers are sponges, we soak up the world around us, ponder it, and some of that comes out in our prose. And while we read, we absorb.

The following is from an interview with John Grisham last week on cnn.com: But he doesn't read a lot when he's writing. "We all want to read good books, and so you read a good book by a really good writer and I catch myself inadvertently imitating him or her. And so you think, 'Well, I wouldn't use that word, I wouldn't do that sentence that way.' I read a lot when I'm not writing."

By necessity, that's what I do -- I read a lot when I'm not writing (which is a couple of precious weeks a year). During that time, I'm voracious. The simple truth is that I don't have time to read while I'm in the trenches of writing a book. My spare time is nearly zero. But at the same time, as a writer I feel like I'm starving myself if I'm writing and not reading; my creative well isn't being replenished. So what do I do? Grab those few precious minutes a day and read.

However, I'm vigiliant that while reading I'm feeding my creativity, not soaking up the words of others to put on my own page. But if your characters, plot, and voice are strong enough and embeded deeply enough, you won't be influenced by the work of others, but instead you will be inspired and refreshed. That's how it is with me. That's why I try to read while I'm writing, to keep my creative well of inspiration from running dry.

What are your thoughts? To read or not to read?

Coming up this week: "The final chapters of The Trouble With Demons -- Lisa plays connect the dots," and "Unlikely muse -- Andy the Greyhound."

Have yourselves a great Monday!
Lisa