Wasted time was part of my dismay. If I'd spent half the time I spent reading about writing actually writing, I would have accomplished a lot more. I never believed the other people buying and reading the same books were writing as much as they could, either.
Despite my suspicions, I was absolutely addicted to these how-to guides and never quite lost the hope that once I read the book, I would suddenly be my generation's F. Scott Fitzgerald, drinking champagne and splashing in fountains.
In addition to taking up a lot of my time, most of the books weren't advising much more than "you have so much to say so just be free and forget the evil naysayers and don't worry about spelling and write what you know but change it a little and whatever you do don't stop don't stop don't stop just write." Some ended with a chapter on agents and publishers. Others droned about colons and clauses. Many devoted an entire page to a five-line exercise. Most included inspirational quotes -- always italicized -- by Henry Miller and Anais Nin.
My favorite writers on writing? Natalie Goldberg, Brenda Ueland, and Stephen King. They say it all, and they say it well.
Yes, writers should read. But, mostly, they should write. Just like the damn books say.
