Originally published March 25, 2011 • Updated May 5, 2025
I love writing. Whether or not I’m any good is subjective, but for me, writing is therapy, a place I can retreat into when life feels overwhelming. After a tough day at work or when events feel out of control, I can sit at my computer or pull out a notebook and lose myself in a world of my own making. Best of all, a productive writing session can feel like a mini vacation.
At times, though, writing can be emotionally intense. I’ve poured so much of myself onto the page that re-reading those scenes leaves me in tears. These deeply personal stories may never reach a reader’s hands simply because they carry too much of my heart. After tackling a challenging draft, I often need a few days to recharge before returning with fresh eyes.
Reading, I’ve discovered, is just as crucial as writing. In On Writing, Stephen King shares that he reads around 70–80 books a year, about two or three each week, alongside his own writing practice. Inspired by that, I set a simple challenge for myself: track every book I read each year, beginning with the first day of spring. Seeing the list grow reminds me to stay curious and keeps my creativity flowing.
If you’re a fellow writer looking to keep your literary cup full, here are a few evergreen tips:
- Set a realistic reading goal. Choose a number of books or pages that fits your schedule and stick to it.
- Keep a reading log. Use a spreadsheet, journal, or reading app to record titles, authors, and quick reflections.
- Mix up your genres. Balance fiction with nonfiction, memoirs with poetry, classics with contemporary work.
- Schedule daily reading time. Even 10–15 minutes each day can make a big difference.
- Reflect on what you read. Note what inspired you, what surprised you, and which techniques you might borrow for your own writing.
By regularly filling your literary cup with new ideas and voices, you’ll avoid burnout, spark fresh inspiration, and remember why crafting stories is such a joy.
JULI HOFFMAN 
Hi Julie,
Finally got caught up with your blog! I’m not going to comment on each post, even though I did read all of them! OH, and I do love me a good vampire story!
About the reading: When I first started writing, I found it difficult to read a lot. I felt like it was going to either influence me too much, or give me the feeling of being so inadequate a writer that I’d give up! (especially when reading my favorite authors).
However…I do now agree with your statement! And I like the way you put it too: “filling up my own literary cup”. I am challenging myself to read two books a month and one of them must be a “classic”. When I was not involved in writing, blogging, facebooking and twittering, I was able to read a lot more…but this is about all I will be able to fit in these days. And I am so glad I have forced myself to do this! I started reading Jane Eyre a few weeks back…and found I LOVE it! (Never thought I’d really like the “classics” this much!)
I am looking forward to reading your vampire novels! Will you be posting any excerpts? I’m thinking of posting a poem from my novel on the Writer’s Circle to see if anyone thinks it’s any good! *biting nails*
And now I must think about what my blog will be tomorrow…(I am only doing one a week for now)
Have a great weekend!
Sharon 🙂
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Thanks Sharon, I finished reading Jane Eyre a few weeks ago and was also surprised how much I enjoyed Charlotte Bronte’s story. I just started reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I’m really enjoying it so far.
I do plan on posting exerpts from my story soon, although “soon” is a fluid concept around my house. LOL I’m excited/nervous as I plan on launching the first book from my series this summer. The second one is already written, but needs editing. Outlines and excerpts have been written for six more books and I wrote a novella during 2010 NaNoWriMo based off of one of my minor charactes that’s also finished but needs editing.
The first book in The Williamson Vampires Series was actually finished last year, but after NaNoWriMo, I decided to take the first story in a slightly different direction. The ending is the same, and the begining changed only slightly, but the journey in the middle needed some major rewrites. I drug my feet at first, but I’m so glad I made the changes that I did. I think it’s difficult, as the writer, to look at your own work objectively and make major cuts/changes.
Have a great weekend!
Juli
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