Writer Jessamyn West makes a rather interesting statement in her Paris Review interview. “Sometimes I think a writer should make up his mind whether he’s going to be a writer or a reader,” says this prolific author. “There isn’t time for both.” But it’s not really that a writer shouldn’t spend his time reading other authors. It’s just that time, it seems, is never enough and soon we face the choice of focusing on one thing or accomplishing nothing.
For me, the dilemma is often whether to read more books or do some writing. Almost every morning, I find something I want to write about. But then I go to work and the hours pass and pretty soon it’s already evening. Then I find myself back at home again, but with my mind quickly tiring down, and the urge to rest my eyes wins so easily.
Books aside, I find it also embarrassing that I can’t even catch up with what’s happening on the blogs of people who visit my own. When I do get to read online, the choice often turns into a fight between posting a comment and reading more posts. And then there are also these images that have been sitting idly in my head, silent scenes that call out to me every so often, still waiting and expecting that someday they’ll find themselves in a page full of words. Sometimes I feel like I should just quit reading and blogging for a while and try to concentrate on writing a story of my own.
But, the fact is, I can’t. The best way for me to learn the art is to study the works of those who’ve done it well. I’ve never taken any formal writing class and I’ve barely learned anything about literature when I was in school. So what I lack in formal instruction, I must try to make up for in reading. Hence half the time it takes me to finish a book is usually spent scrutinizing the pages and pondering just what it is that makes a story work.
But, of course, learning this way leaves me with only limited insight. And while I like how this keeps my perspective fresh and free of popular opinion (which can work to my advantage when writing reviews), I also crave for the wisdom of others. Thus a good portion of what I read are also essays on writing. Reading what brilliant writers have to say about their craft gives me the kind of pleasure that a kid derives from discovering how a piece of machinery works. It’s wonderful, just like the rousing moment of enlightenment. And if there’s any form I could love better than fiction, it would be the essay.
So now I’ve decided to make the most of all these readings by starting a series which I’ll call Notes on Craft. Inspired by Emily’s remarkable musings in her Essay Mondays posts, this series will talk about what I’ve learned from some very interesting essays on the craft of writing.
To serve as my material are two of the most indisposable books on my shelf. The first one, entitled The Writer’s Notebook: Craft Essays from Tin House, is possibly the most satisfying and insightful collection of writing lectures published in recent years. It’s free of the “10 Rules of Writing” clichés that saturate many literary how-to books today. Creative writing is a creative process and so—as editor Lee Montgomery puts it—“writing by number” is just plain silly. What this book offers instead is an intimate look at those processes that helped famous writers produce their winning pieces. With discussions on the works of contemporary masters like Alice Munro and Haruki Murakami, The Writer’s Notebook is a must-read for anyone aspiring to write good fiction.
The second book, also published by Tin House, is entitled The Story About the Story: Great Writers Explore Great Literature. This book takes into account that the best critics are the writers themselves and assembles in one thick volume some of the most engaging literary reviews ever written—those of writers writing about writers. In these outstanding essays, celebrated authors like Virginia Woolf, Vladimir Nabokov, Frank O’Connor and Milan Kundera examine the works of other virtuosos like Salinger, Hemingway, Kafka and Dostoevsky—each one demonstrating in the process the very art of “creative criticism.”
Now, without a clear-cut plan on scope and format, I’ll start writing down my thoughts and just allow the series to take shape, much like how my own review process gradually evolved. Perhaps from time to time I’ll also try writing my own examinations of classic short stories—a form I profess to love better than the novel. I’m sure that writing this series will be a good learning experience for me. Hopefully, in turn, each post offers an enjoyable reading experience for all of you.
My day job as a writer makes it hard for me to switch gears and turn to creative writing when I get home. Never mind trying to fit in time to blog and comment on other blogs! I feel for you.
I’m looking forward to this new series and hope you’ll help motivate me along the way. (No pressure, of course LOL)
Oh thanks Anna! It’s comforting to hear I’m not alone here
It’s so flattering to form some part of the inspiration for another series! And one so interesting, at that! I’ll be very much looking forward to your Notes on Craft posts, Mark David, and I’m already quite intrigued by your source material, especially the second book — such interesting pairings!
And oh yes, I do empathize with you about the difficulties of regulating one’s time — there just AREN’T enough hours in the day, my friend.
Very interesting post, Mark David. I have had the same concern: should I read, or should I write? Do I have to choose one or the other?
Although reading may take the place of writing, or vice versa, in order to be a great writer, you need to also be a great reader–and a great thinker.
The advice I keep hearing for aspiring writers is: read a lot, write a lot. That means as many hours each day as possible. Both are essential to the craft or profession.
Two writing books I recommend are The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and On Writing by Stephen King.
I believe in you, Mark David, and what you’ll write. Your skill is already so very powerful; what you write is clear, compelling, and interesting. I’ve always loved reading your blog, and I’ll enjoy seeing you work through this temporary conundrum: to read or to write?
@Emily: I’ve long been inspired by those posts of yours and now I decided to just announce my plans so I no longer have the option to back out, hehe... And because you said you’re intrigued by the second book, I’ve just posted my first Notes on Craft post that takes from that material: an essay by Woolf on Hemingway (and I know the mention of Woolf should interest you).
@Suko: You’re absolutely correct. All writers need to be well read. Thanks, for the recommendations by the way. I didn’t knew that Stephen King has a book on writing. He’s seems to be a favorite of yours, is he?
@Bellezza: Aww, you really know how to encourage someone. Thank you so much! I hope you all enjoy my first (and rather long) post for the series
Mark David, I’ve actually only read one novel by Stephen King, Duma Key. But because King’s such a successful, best-selling author, I picked up On Writing, which is an incredible book for writers of all abilities. Part autobiography and part writing guide, On Writing is an entertaining and informative book for aspiring writers. If you get a chance, please stop by my review: http://suko95.blogspot.com/2009/07/on-writing.html
Oh, my mistake
Thanks for the link! I loved your post. Just imagine, a memoir and a writing book in one? Now I definitely have to get that book 
I’ve been wanting to read King’s On Writing too since many people say it’s good. Both books you mentioned sound awesome!
Oh I particularly think you’ll enjoy The Writer’s Notebook. There’re plenty of amusing pieces there ... insightful essays that are quite cleverly written. It’s just a pity I won’t be able to share excerpts from it since those are all new original pieces by contemporary writers.
I’m enjoying your essays. To read or to write? I understand why many writers take themselves off to the countryside or to an isolated place nin order to write. No distractions, and of course, no full time other job.
Thanks Harvee! Oh, sometimes I also wish I had a nice little countryside cottage to retreat to if I wanted some peace and quiet
Hey Mark, I enjoyed reading your posts and I’m quite envious of your passion for reading. How I wish I could find the same pleasure in reading as much as I do in watching TV or listening to music. I often find reading books, medical or literary, a chore. But then again, I guess everyone has his/her own inclinations.
I see you have quite a following here. Cheers to you and your blog! May I get to see your work/s in Power Books, or better yet, in Amazon.com soon. Good luck and God bless you, your loved ones, and your endeavors.
Hey Arnel! How did you find this site? What’s it like being the resident doctor of a paradise island?
AJ tells me you’re planning a roadtrip this coming election day (seryoso kayo???). There’s a good chance that I’ll be free that day so I guess I’ll be able to join you. It’s been a very long time, my friend 
Oh by the way, Arnel, I would also find reading medical books a chore (if not incomprehensible). Do you remember that Biology was my least favorite science class in high school? Hehe... But I have to admit, I love watching those cool shows on Discovery about sports science and the human body
Hey Mark, Cabuj sent me the link. I was asking her what keeps you busy these days and she responded with a link to your blog. I must say, it’s a very classy site Mark, and the contents I sincerely enjoyed reading. I will read and comment more once I get my nose to cease bleeding bwhehehe. Work here is quite boring, we don’t get much action, the place is indeed as close to paradise as I envision, but no doctor can last here for long. It is the fanciest cage on earth. I plan to transfer to a more action-packed town, and work in a primary government hospital where the people are more needy and my services would be better appreciated.
I am planning the trip to Tagaytay, and I do hope you can come with us. It seems like it has been eons since we last had a get together. The seats will be limited, unless Paul or some other friend could drive his/her vehicle to ferry more people to Tagaytay. Grabe! A drop of fresh blood is dripping from my left nostril as I finish this comment (wipes).
Oh thank you, thank you for the compliments! (marunong ka nang mambola ngayon ha!) Reading just happens to be my hobby these days, but other than that I haven’t been doing any new stuff really. Two years ago while sitting at a coffee shop, I just noticed that everyone had a book and I felt illiterate at the thought that it was only me who wasn’t reading anything, hehe. And that’s how it started.
I understand your craving for “action”
You’re a young doctor, anyway, and I’m sure you’re eager to put everything you’ve learned into practice and help those who are more in need. Maybe when the time comes that you’re ready to retire, you can get back to that fancy “cage” of an island, hehe. Are you looking for a job like that of Dr. House? 
Haha, well I actually like reading our medical books, but it’s only because I really need to read, and I have no choice but to read, understand, integrate and remember what I read. I don’t like the act of reading per se, but I like the results I gain out of it, how it expands my knowledge and how I can eventually practice the knowledge for my patients.
I wish I can include reading as my hobby, that I actually find bliss on this act of seeing words and imagining the context they convey as they are put together. But I can’t, for I only read when I need to, or when I have nothing else left to do. I hope to develop reading as a hobby, though. Since I got in this cage called El Nido, I was able to read more things outside my field and pass my idle time with reading every section of the newspaper, which I often read aloud to amuse myself even further. I also borrowed a compilation of short stories of George RR Martin, Dream-Songs, and I got to read a few of his earlier works. I must admit, I preferred reading his narrations more than his actual short stories. I plan to read more on it when I get bored haha. But for as long as I can watch TV, or listen to music, or browse the web, reading might remain at the bottom of my to do list, at least for now. (“,)
Yeah I read the “about” section of your blog site, how the scenario from that gloomy afternoon paved the way for this rather eloquent change. Hindi ako nambobola, in fact I recommended your blog to a very dear friend of mine, I know she will appreciate this, and para masabi nya na I have quite a promising writer as a friend. She is a young doctor too, the one I am hoping to work with in the more needy town of Palawan come mid June. Hope to see you on May10, will be looking forward to seeing all of you.
In case you didn’t notice, my friend, you just told your own story in a rather writer-like fashion. Spare, and yet expressive... Which reminds me, you might want to try Anton Chekhov. He’s a doctor too
Promising writer? Ha, I do hope so. I’m starting to get bored at going to the office everyday. If I was a doctor, I would trade places with you so I can be “caged” in an island (with wifi) and just be reading books for a whole year. Then, of course, after a year I’d miss the city, lol!
See you guys in a few weeks
““Sometimes I think a writer should make up his mind whether he’s going to be a writer or a reader,” says this prolific author. “There isn’t time for both.” But it’s not really that a writer shouldn’t spend his time reading other authors. It’s just that time, it seems, is never enough and soon we face the choice of focusing on one thing or accomplishing nothing.”
You’ve explained the frustration between writing and reading down to a ‘T’. Even though I love blogging I’ve recently scaled down my posts so I can concentrate more on creative writing. There simply never is enough time. It feels like everybody else is reading faster than me, writing quicker more relevant things. Technology is supposed to make it a lot easier. I’m finding it only gives me a false sense of time, and as a result, a false sense of my capabilities.
I think slowing down and weeding out what feeds you and what confuses you is the best way to go.
“It feels like everybody else is reading faster than me”—I feel that everyday, and so I just learned to stop getting frustrated by that fact, haha! Yes, let’s stick to what feeds us