Reading Is Writing

OK, ok. I know the saying is "all writing is re-writing", but that's for later - after you've actually written something down! For many (most?) writers, writing starts with reading. Maybe it's research into the background of your subject, or learning the ins and outs of dramatic screenwriting. Or even figuring out how your documentary should be set up. At the very least, reading can teach you how writing should be done: what works and why.

If you write books, read books. If you write screenplays, read screenplays. Even BAD ones. You'll get an even better idea of WHY something is bad after reading plenty of good ones.



When I'm in my dramatic screenplay mode, I can't get enough of William C. Martell's articles in Scr(i)pt magazine, or Ron Suppa and Karl Iglesias in CreativeScreenwritng. It always amazes me how, as I read these trades, the tips always seem to resonate with the story I am creating. Most times, I'll find something that gives me a better direction - or ANY direction - if I'm at a crossroads in the story.

If I'm working on a documentary project, there's nothing like reading Realscreen magazine and sitting in front of a few doc films. Some classic that may touch a chord, or maybe something entirely out of my expertise that will give me an idea on how to change up a stagnant scene. But the filmmaker stories and industry updates in Realscreen really help me the most.

After years of reading AIVF's Independent and IDA's Documentary, the folks up in Toronto have taken Realscreen from virtually nowhere and pretty much blown the others out of the proverbial water in my opinion. It's the one magazine I really care about anymore in the factual programming arena.

I was always an avid reader growing up thanks to my father. Now I know why I was always tops in English class and Creative Writing...you read enough good stories, you learn how to TELL a story. Structure, pacing, character development are all the things we learn subconsciously when we read. Now I make a conscious effort to follow all these as I read.

Read to write, then write for a good read.