Being a Reader

Interestingly, (Is that even a word? If it isn’t, my misuse of it is staggering.) I received a book by UPS today that I never intended to read, because until today, I hadn’t even heard of it.

Let me explain. Most people who know me at all, know that I am not just a serious reader, I am a compulsive book collecter. Most of my friends and family joke about it, except of course when they are helping me move, or storing the books that don’t fit into my apartment, or when they go to a bookstore with me. Then it can be uncomfortable for them. Otherwise, we joke about it. Really. Even in my brief bio on Twitter, I have admitted to being a “mad book-collector.” This has helped me make the acquaintance of other book people, which was part of my intent. So, there are some publishing people that I have hooked up with on Twitter, and they were talking about a new book, sort of a mystery-thriller, which I expressed interest in, and they offered to send me a review copy which I eagerly accepted. I love review copies.

So, finally, last Friday, I got a notice from UPS that they had attempted delivery of a package, which I knew had to be the book. The notice said that they would attempt another delivery today, Monday. When I woke up, I checked outside the door, thinking that even though I hadn’t heard anyone, they may have been there and gone. And just outside my door, beside the newspaper but tucked slightly under the rug, was a very flat envelope. For a moment, I didn’t think it was a book. But it was marked as a book, so I brought it inside, sat down at the kitchen table, and pulled the tab to see what I had.

It was a book, only it wasn’t the book I had been expecting. This book was also published by Little, Brown and Co., which published the novel I had been expecting. The name of the book I received is “This Year You Write Your Novel,” and it was written by Walter Mosley, author of over 25 novels of his own, including “Devil In A Blue Dress,” which was also made into a film starring Denzel Washington.

What could I do? I am sometimes a prisoner of my curiosity, so I had to sit there and read. And it was so easy to read, and so well written, that although I had no intention of writing a novel, let alone writing a novel in a year, I couldn’t put it down.

In the introduction, Mosley says, “Writing a novel is not nearly as difficult as some people would make it out to be. Anyone who communicates verbally, or by sign, is a writer of sorts. Any manager, mother, counselor, teacher, or guy who hangs out on the corner telling tall tales is a writer-in-waiting.”

A writer-in-waiting? I love that. And although Mosley does go through all the laws of writing fiction, ie narrative, plot, character development, etc., as most books on writing do, he does it in such an easygoing, conversational way that you don’t start hyperventilating just trying to imagine how to start such an endeavor. And a big plus is that there aren’t a bunch of exercises to do in each chapter, or at all, really.

The main lesson is, if you want to write a novel, start writing. Write at a regular time, and write for a set period of time every day. But first, you should probably read Walter Mosley’s book. It is encouraging, interesting and, oh yes. It is just over 100 pages including the introduction and summation, and is well worth the investment of a couple hours. You may find yourself reaching for it during the writing of your novel, just for a little encouragement.