An idea entered my brain today…and I thought I would share it. Yes, I do share most every idea that enters my mind, but that’s neither here nor there. So, this is the long and short of it: after the tons of hard work and intense writing sessions of November for NaNoWriMo, I propose an “I Read December”.
Isn’t it a little late in the month to be “starting” something?
Well, not for me. I’ve been delaying any editing…putting it off because of other things on my “to do” list and lack of time. My free time has actually gone to reading already. I have finished two novels this month. Both in one day each. I am a fast reader, I just rarely have the time to dedicate to my first passion. But I am prepared to throw myself wholly into it and give myself permission to not look at any of my manuscripts until January.
Are you not itching to get into editing mode?
A little bit. I am so excited about the next book in line to be published. And I’m excited about the novel I just finished during NaNoWriMo. But that book needs to “rest”. For those of you who haven’t heard of this process, let me expound on that idea. For a writer, it is important to step away from the manuscript between important phases in the life of the manuscript to let it “rest”. What we mean is really to let you give yourself some space from it. When you are “in” the work too much, you get so close to it that you can become blind to mistakes and weaknesses. Taking a step back for a couple of weeks or even a month can give you some better perspective on it when you go back to it.
So, what are you reading?
I just finished Melanie Dickerson’s “Silent Songbird”. It was wonderful, as have been all of her books. Her ability 
to write in deep point of view and engage the reader while keeping the work easy to read is amazing. Next I’m diving into something on craft. I think I’ll read “Revision & Self-Editing” by James Scott Bell. Because I think next month will be Edit-like-a-Crazy-Woman January.
What about you? Are you reading anything interesting?