The Twilight Zone scene with Burgess Meredith sitting amongst the ruins of a city surrounded by a pile of books would probably be me. I was introduced to reading at an early age and really have never stopped. I once had a copy of Princess of Mars taken from me during a math class, probably wouldn’t have happened in English.
I actually consider reading to be the best learning tool for a writer. Seeing how others have turned a phrase and what you like about it can help you in your own writing. Now don’t just copy how another writes, find your own voice, but to quote Heinlein, “Stealing from one person is plagiarism, stealing from many is research.”
I have spent many days lost in my books and just as many telling stories, in the form of role playing games. All of this has helped to craft dialog and try to fill in scenes, I feel my weakest point is description.
My whole point here is reading what others have written can help in building your own skill as a writer, and its fun too.
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