I need to read more. BADLY!

Can’t precisely explain how badly, but assuming I have close to two hundred books in my collection and only enough space to house eighty, I have to determine which are worth keeping and discarding the rest to another fortunate soul who’ll find more value in them. And how else can I do that than reading through those two hundred towering books?Even though space is the most important reason, my creative bank account is another. With illustration I have developed a terrific library of both digital and book form to help curb my creative block. My writing lacks that. What I have for crafting stories has done wonders with forming a cohesive concepts and armature, but starting the drafting phase is a boss fight I’m not equip for. And I feel that reading more novels and short stories could combat that.

Reading more isn’t a new concept. I’ve first came about it reading BAKUMAN, a manga about two artists who try to start a career as Japanese Comic Artists (define as mangaka). Several story craft books has also mentioned it, but Brian McDonald’s Ink Spots resonated with me best. One of his chapters express how important mentorship is in developing your own artistic talent.

Do I have one? A real art mentor I could interact with, yes and soon to be two. Virtual mentor, and for comic writing, it’s Alan Moore hands down. I only have his Watchmen story as a reference point. Mind you I read that book at least once every year. For illustration I have too many to count but I gawk at Kim Jung Gi’s live artwork daily. I’m two books into his collection slowly saving for the other six.

Literary? There was a time I was inspired to read the works and essays of Ralph Waldo Ellison, but his intelligent way with words intimidated my small cranium. For the life of me I can’t remember the short story I read from my college Literature class, but afterwards I grabbed every book the public library had with his name on it. So yeah, I should try him again. He’s only published one novel during his lifetime and three other novels were published afterwards, collected from his notes for his unfinished second one. There are also four essay books I may have to borrow if they’re no longer being printed (I will force myself to get through Shadow and Act this time, notes in hand).

…Hmm!
The more I type the more insignificant the books pictured above becomes. I didn’t really have a plan prior to writing this other than getting something on my blog. Those books are recent purchases and checkouts that I’m enjoying.

One Year to a Writing Life by Susan M. Tiberghien is a book that aides you in exploring many styles of writing for month-long periods. I’ve only gotten through the first chapter and I’ve decided to go the original pace the writer intended. The book is short enough to read in a few day sitting, but again I need to start taking notes from the books I read since my memory is that of an eighty year old with brain damage.

Art Money Success by Maria Brophy compiles alternate avenues other artist could use to boost the profitability of their art. The book is written by someone with twenty years of experience from a husband who art niche is paintings on surf boards. Yes, that was more than enough to convince me to try this book out.

Ready Player One by Ernet Cline, the movie trailer! Also envy.

Finally, The Working Writer’s Guide to Comics and Graphic Novels by Nick Macari. The content of his articles convinced me. And he was very punctual in answering a question some time back. I owe him a review too.

So yeah! Off to a good start. I’m not thinking of how long it’s been since I last posted (self worth contained) and I have a few other mentions reserve for the next post. If by some miracle a person is reading this on the day it’s posted, you are a patient kid. Don’t make my mistake of waiting to start something out of doubt. Plan while you go.

Til next time!