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Reading non-stop, falling sick, reading, writing

I have been writing every few days this month, not as much as I would like, not by a long shot. Some people believe a little time away from writing is not such a bad thing, and I hope they are right.

But I have been reading a lot in bed, reading for pleasure, mind you, and been feeling a little guilty about it. At first, I was sick, then I was tending to the sick, so that was as good a reason as any to read for entertainment, and not enlightenment. Usually, my reading is a mix of the two.

I edited/proofread one of my pieces to be published in an upcoming anthology, and was surprised how much what I had read made me edit so much better. A less passive voice, more active/ varied verbs, sparing adjectives, adverbs only when needed. (The link is from an author who is busy eliminating adverbs!)I wonder if everyone feels that their reading affects their revision skills quite so directly.

I have been a tardy blogger, which is to say, I have not blogged at all. An an even tardier blog-visitor. (I found this useful post on writing and creativity though!)Hopefully that would change for the rest of the month.

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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2 Comments

  • Oh says:

    So glad you're feeling better and what a lovely thing to read to someone else you're taking care of. Who doesn't love to hear a story and a wonderful way to heal, by listening to a book being read. Far better than TV!!!

    As for being a tardy blogger, egads, we are all in that mode at one time or another. It happends. And time off allows one to return fresh and recharged.

    So glad you're back in the groove!

  • So You HAVE been writing, and self-editing, which is also very important.Some day you may be writing so much new fiction that you'll stray away from blogging more and more. But I know you'll continue to express yourself in words in fresh ways. All the best 🙂