When you can't find the voice to write, or the words to type, look to others. Being a writer also means being a reader. Reading other material on a regular basis can sometimes give you that extra inspiration you need.
As you read some blogs, you start to feel like you could be lifelong friends with people you have never met in real life. You begin to hear their voice. Hearing the voice in others can inspire you to listen to your own voice, which leads to forming the words to piece together your writing.
Reading great novels can also lead to inspiration. Often after I read a good book, I end up rushing to find a pen to jot down all these thoughts that are spewing out of my brain. There are so many people with creative minds who can push the creative button in your own mind. As the creative mind sleeps, a great book can awaken it! Once again being a writer means being a reader.
Since I have started the challenging road down my teaching career path, I am learning so much more about reading and writing. Ideas and concepts that I never even knew existed. How hard can it be for an avid reader and writer to teach these subjects to 8 and 9 year olds, right? As I have learned, pretty flippin hard!! Did you know that there are six traits to writing? Yep, there are actually processes for reading and writing! Lots of them!! Well, duh! Of course there are reading and writing processes, you may be saying. Yes, I know this. But, do YOU know what they are? I sure didn't.
Now as a reader, I find even more enjoyment out of discovering all the great traits in a piece of writing. I am starting to "see" the processes! I even have found inspiration from picture books! Not only have I found inspiration, but I have read picture books that have brought tears to my eyes. Real tears. From a picture book! Check it out yourself. Patricia Polacco is an AMAZING writer! She writes picture books for children and I absolutely love them (and some WILL make you cry!)
So, next time you are trying to find your voice or your words and ideas, pick up a novel, read a blog, an article, or a even a children's picture book! To be a writer, you MUST be a reader. They truly do complement each other! Now, go, put down that computer and read! Read! Read! Read!
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There are reading and writing processes. We all are inspired by someone.
Therapist :*