5 Books Every Aspiring Writer Should Read

CTTO: Grammarly

When it comes to giving aspiring writers advice, famous authors have suggested everything from imagining you’re dying (Anne Enright) to abstaining from alcohol, sex, and drugs (Colm Tóibín). The one pointer that nearly every personality seems to agree on, though, is that anyone dreaming of penning the next great novel should read, read, read.

And while the rule seems to be the more books the merrier, here are a few top recommendations for those counting on being the next F. Scott Fitzgerald, Maya Angelou, or Bret Easton Ellis.


Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande

Recommended by some of the best in the biz, including Man Booker Prize–winning author Hilary Mantel, Dorothea Brande’s 1930s meditation on the process of creative writing delves into what it takes to become a writer from the inside out. Neither a technical manual nor a reference book, Becoming a Writer is more aptly a friendly but blunt guide, alongside which beginners can explore the art of authorship, the discipline necessary to achieve a finished work, and the false belief that writers are born and not made.


Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales & Poems by Edgar Allan Poe

Though widely lauded as the inventor of the modern detective story, Edgar Allan Poe is also credited as being the first great American literary critic. This long-celebrated anthology offers up evidence of both, presenting aspiring writers with the opportunity to dissect the master craftsman’s essays on good writing and the “unity of effect” before devouring the very tales that brought his theories to life and bricked in (“Cask of Amontillado” anyone?) his place in literary history forever.


On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

If you’re an aspiring writer looking for an inspiring success story, some sort of experiential solidarity with one of the most bestselling authors of all time, and a handy textbook full of useful advice, Stephen King’s part-master-class, part- memoir is it. Readers not only get insight into how the famous storyteller became a writer and hurdled massive life challenges; they get a handy collection of tried-and-tested tips, from philosophical musings (The magic is in you) to grammatical lessons (Don’t use passive voice) to plot pointers (Leave out the boring parts and kill your darlings).


As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

One of the most important things to keep in mind as an aspiring writer is that, in fact, there’s no right way to write a story. A point that’s wonderfully illustrated by the great William Faulkner and his seminal work, As I Lay Dying . The celebrated novelist broke with convention to tell the tale of a poor Southern family’s quest to bury their matriarch, Addie Bundren, in the town of Jefferson through not one, not two, but fifteen different narrators. Faulkner brazenly pairs this technique with what was at the time a seldom-used narrative device called stream of consciousness writing. The result was a risky, out-on-a-limb work that, along with his other publications, would eventually earn him the Nobel Prize in Literature.


Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

As one character so wisely tells another in Japanese sensation Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84,

"When you introduce things that most readers have never seen before into a piece of fiction, you have to describe them with as much precision and in as much detail as possible. What you can eliminate from fiction is the description of things that most readers have seen."

Nowhere is this more vital than in speculative or science fiction, and arguably, few do it consistently better than Canadian author Margaret Atwood. While her Man Booker Prize–winning The Blind Assassin and Arthur C. Clarke Award–winning The Handmaid’s Tale are classics as much as primers in the art of constructing convincing settings, aspiring writers will find a formidable and incredibly inventive blueprint in the post-apocalyptic world of Oryx and Crake.

REFERENCE: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/5-books-every-aspiring-writer-should-read/

10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day

When was the last time you read a book, or a substantial magazine article? Do your daily reading habits center around tweets, Facebook updates, or the directions on your instant oatmeal packet? If you’re one of countless people who don’t make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out: reading has a significant number of benefits, and just a few benefits of reading are listed below.

1. Mental Stimulation

Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the progress of (or possibly even prevent) Alzheimer’s and Dementia, since keeping your brain active and engaged prevents it from losing power. Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy, so the phrase “use it or lose it” is particularly apt when it comes to your mind. Doing puzzles and playing games such as chess have also been found to be helpful with cognitive stimulation.

2. Stress Reduction

No matter how much stress you have at work, in your personal relationships, or countless other issues faced in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story. A well-written novel can transport you to other realms, while an engaging article will distract you and keep you in the present moment, letting tensions drain away and allowing you to relax.

3. Knowledge

Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when it might come in handy. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are to tackle any challenge you’ll ever face.

Additionally, here’s a bit of food for thought: should you ever find yourself in dire circumstances, remember that although you might lose everything else—your job, your possessions, your money, even your health—knowledge can never be taken from you.

4. Vocabulary Expansion

This goes with the above topic: the more you read, the more words you gain exposure to, and they’ll inevitably make their way into your everyday vocabulary. Being articulate and well-spoken is of great help in any profession, and knowing that you can speak to higher-ups with self-confidence can be an enormous boost to your self-esteem. It could even aid in your career, as those who are well-read, well-spoken, and knowledgeable on a variety of topics tend to get promotions more quickly (and more often) than those with smaller vocabularies and lack of awareness of literature, scientific breakthroughs, and global events.

Reading books is also vital for learning new languages, as non-native speakers gain exposure to words used in context, which will ameliorate their own speaking and writing fluency.

5. Memory Improvement

When you read a book, you have to remember an assortment of characters, their backgrounds, ambitions, history, and nuances, as well as the various arcs and sub-plots that weave their way through every story. That’s a fair bit to remember, but brains are marvelous things and can remember these things with relative ease. Amazingly enough, every new memory you create forges new synapses (brain pathways)and strengthens existing ones, which assists in short-term memory recall as well as stabilizing moods. How cool is that?

6. Stronger Analytical Thinking Skills

Have you ever read an amazing mystery novel, and solved the mystery yourself before finishing the book? If so, you were able to put critical and analytical thinking to work by taking note of all the details provided and sorting them out to determine “whodunnit”.

That same ability to analyze details also comes in handy when it comes to critiquing the plot; determining whether it was a well-written piece, if the characters were properly developed, if the storyline ran smoothly, etc. Should you ever have an opportunity to discuss the book with others, you’ll be able to state your opinions clearly, as you’ve taken the time to really consider all the aspects involved.

7. Improved Focus and Concentration

In our internet-crazed world, attention is drawn in a million different directions at once as we multi-task through every day. In a single 5-minute span, the average person will divide their time between working on a task, checking email, chatting with a couple of people (via gchat, skype, etc.), keeping an eye on twitter, monitoring their smartphone, and interacting with co-workers. This type of ADD-like behaviour causes stress levels to rise, and lowers our productivity.

When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story—the rest of the world just falls away, and you can immerse yourself in every fine detail you’re absorbing. Try reading for 15-20 minutes before work (i.e. on your morning commute, if you take public transit), and you’ll be surprised at how much more focused you are once you get to the office.

8. Better Writing Skills

This goes hand-in-hand with the expansion of your vocabulary: exposure to published, well-written work has a noted effect on one’s own writing, as observing the cadence, fluidity, and writing styles of other authors will invariably influence your own work. In the same way that musicians influence one another, and painters use techniques established by previous masters, so do writers learn how to craft prose by reading the works of others.

9. Tranquility

In addition to the relaxation that accompanies reading a good book, it’s possible that the subject you read about can bring about immense inner peace and tranquility. Reading spiritual texts can lower blood pressure and bring about an immense sense of calm, while reading self-help books has been shown to help people suffering from certain mood disorders and mild mental illnesses.

10. Free Entertainment

Though many of us like to buy books so we can annotate them and dog-ear pages for future reference, they can be quite pricey. For low-budget entertainment, you can visit your local library and bask in the glory of the countless tomes available there for free. Libraries have books on every subject imaginable, and since they rotate their stock and constantly get new books, you’ll never run out of reading materials.

If you happen to live in an area that doesn’t have a local library, or if you’re mobility-impaired and can’t get to one easily, most libraries have their books available in PDF or ePub format so you can read them on your e-reader, iPad, or your computer screen. There are also many sources online where you can download free e-books, so go hunting for something new to read!

There’s a reading genre for every literate person on the planet, and whether your tastes lie in classical literature, poetry, fashion magazines, biographies, religious texts, young adult books, self-help guides, street lit, or romance novels, there’s something out there to capture your curiosity and imagination. Step away from your computer for a little while, crack open a book, and replenish your soul for a little while.


REFERENCE: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-benefits-reading-why-you-should-read-everyday.html?ref=pp

Uganda, where a book can cost a month’s salary

The hunt for a good book in Uganda's capital is not for the faint-hearted; in fact it feels like a black market.

People look for friends going on a foreign trip to help them buy books, which are either not available or too expensive in Kampala. One book which I have been wanting to read is Nothing Left To Steal by South African journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika. But it costs around 140,000 Ugandan shillings ($42, £29) in bookshops here - which can buy a week's worth of groceries for a family. On internet shopping sites the best-selling memoir goes for less than a third of that price but deliveries to Uganda are not straightforward. I did splurge once on a book by Guinea's revolutionary leader Ahmed Sekou Toure. It set me back $60 - the pan-Africanist in me got the better of me that day. Waitresses in downtown Kampala barely earn $60 in a month.

Library books by motorbike

It is in this environment that Rosey Sembatya has decided to start the Malaika Children's Mobile Library. "My sister has four children now and I've been finding it very difficult to buy them books because they're quite expensive," she says. "So I sat back and thought maybe there is need to create something that can make story books accessible and available at a quite cheap price."

The library is in the spare room of a two-bedroom house she rents.
There are a couple of hundred books stacked on shelves and a long desk.
From here motorbike taxis, known as boda bodas, whizz around the capital delivering a week's worth of reading for children. Ms Sembatya used up her savings to start the library and says she tries to keep the cost down. For a $30 annual fee, each child can borrow three books a week.
She wants schemes like hers to stop reading being regarded as a purely middle-class luxury.
"It is because it has a cost implication. Yet it shouldn't be. Once one has a child they need to learn, they need to read."

But Uganda does have a fairly robust publishing industry. Fountain Publishers is one of the biggest in East Africa, but like most companies here its focus is on academic writing. Its main production office is at Makerere University, the country's main higher institute of learning. "Our biggest sellers are the curriculum books. Schools and students cannot afford to go away minus curriculum books," Harrison Kiggundu, the firm's senior marketing officer, told me. They are then loath to spend extra money on other books. "It has had a great impact on bringing down the reading culture," he says. But it is not only about price. Getting Ugandans reading for pleasure is the challenge. As Mr Kiggundu says, after years of cramming textbooks many people do not want to open another book after their studies.

Changing attitudes

With the advent of social media and the wider availability of the internet, Ugandans are reading snippets on their phones, laptops or tablets rather than picking up a novel. But there are people willing to invest in reading.

At one of the new upmarket malls in Kampala, Christina Kakeeto opened up Bookpoint a few years ago. The bookshop's shelves are stacked with international bestsellers, classics and popular African novels - it could be in London or New York. A civil engineer, Ms Kakeeto gave up her career to start this venture and says she tries to keep prices close to those on international markets - though these are too high for many Ugandans. But she says as some Ugandans get wealthier, they are willing to buy books especially for their children. This is also happening with parents who are not necessarily readers themselves as they were not read to as children. "I'm encouraged that they are teaching their children to read. The cost remains a challenge," she tells me.

'More confident'

Beverley Nambozo and her husband are an example of parents trying to make sure their children grow up with a healthy habit for reading. Their daughters, Zion aged seven and four-year-old Raziela, are signed up to the Malaika Children's Mobile Library. As a poet Ms Nambozo knows the value of words and she is adamant that reading for fun will give her girls a brighter future. "Having these creative books with children reading, you just see how they are learning more about themselves, about their environment, improving on their vocabulary and becoming confident as well," she says.
So Uganda appears caught in a Catch-22 situation. People seem to read more when they have the money and know the value of reading for personal success. But to make decent money, it helps to be educated and able to read.

More on: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36230245

The Book Stop Project Proves Filipinos Are Readers

The Book Stop Project commenced on Apr. 23 at the Ayala Triangle Gardens revealed that Filipinos have the affinity for books.

There was an airline joke I heard when I was young saying that you can easily spot Filipinos in a plane as they are the ones sleeping or talking non-stop to their kababayan, while other passengers are reading. However, this seems not to be the case based on the show up at the recently concluded Dia del Libro or International Book Day last Saturday.

The Book Stop is one of the main attractions at the event. It is a non-profit 3×4 meter pop-up library designed by WTA Architecture & Design Studio that allows book lovers to donate, borrow, or swap books. Even the design and interior of the library allows readers to mingle and discuss about books. The goal of the project is to “reinvent, reinvigorate, and reestablish the library in Filipino society.”

The Book Stop will be at Ayala Triangle Gardens until May 9. Share ideas, one book at a time.

Filipinos are Bibliophiles, too.

While other nations mock us that we do not even read a magazine or newspaper every morning. Filipinos are bookworms, too. How can we read during our commute when it is like a battlefield to get to work?

However, I can attest that my generation (Generation Y) and the millennials are voracious readers. During my high school and college years, we all wait with pins and needles for the release of the new Harry Potter books. Meanwhile, we also diligently read Paulo Coelho and Bob Ong books like a bible.

When I started working and earn money to support my addiction, I was one of the many who scour the Young Adult section in FullyBooked and National Bookstore for new releases. Even with the advent of new technology, readers still buy real books. Many say that the feel and effect of real books are different from electronic ones.

https://kami.com.ph/6049-book-stop-project-proves-filipinos-readers.html

The Reading Habits of Ultra-Successful People

Want to know one habit ultra-successful people have in common? They read. A lot.

In fact, when Warren Buffett was once asked about the key to success, he pointed to a stack of nearby books and said, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.” Buffett takes this habit to the extreme — he read between 600 and 1000 pages per day when he was beginning his investing career, and still devotes about 80% of each day to reading.

And he’s not alone. Here are just a few top business leaders and entrepreneurs who make reading a major part of their daily lifestyle:

• Bill Gates reads about 50 books per year, which breaks down to 1 per week
• Mark Cuban reads more than 3 hours every day
• Elon Musk is an avid reader and when asked how he learned to build rockets, he said “I read books.”
• Mark Zuckerberg resolved to read a book every 2 weeks throughout 2015
• Oprah Winfrey selects one of her favorite books every month for her Book Club members to read and discus

And these aren’t just isolated examples. A study of 1200 wealthy people found that they all have reading as a pastime in common.

But successful people don’t just read anything. They are highly selective about what they read, opting to be educated over being entertained. They believe that books are a gateway to learning and knowledge.

In fact, there is a notable difference between the reading habits of the wealthy and the not-so-wealthy. According to Tom Corley, author of Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals, rich people (annual income of $160,000 or more and a liquid net worth of $3.2 million-plus) read for self-improvement, education, and success. Whereas poor people (annual income of $35,000 or less and a liquid net worth of $5,000 or less) read primarily to be entertained.

Successful people tend to choose educational books and publications over novels, tabloids, and magazines. And in particular they obsess over biographies and autobiographies of other successful people for guidance and inspiration.

There are many examples of successful people dropping out of school or foregoing a formal education, but it is clear that they never stop learning. And reading is a key part of their success.

If reading as a pathway to success isn’t enough to get you motivated, consider these health benefits of reading: Reading has been shown to help prevent stress, depression, and dementia, while enhancing confidence, empathy, decision-making, and overall life satisfaction.

Whether reading is already a way of life for you, or you’re just getting started, here are some book lists to consider:

• 9 of Warren Buffett’s Favorite Books
• 17 of Bill Gates’ Favorite Books
• Books Extremely Successful People Read (From President Obama to Bill Clinton to Sheryl Sandberg)
• 20 Books that the World’s most successful people read and recommend
• 25 Must-Read Books for Success

And here are a few lists of 2016 must-reads:

• 10 Must-Read Business Books for 2016 (Inc.)
• 16 Must-Read Business Books for 2016 (Forbes)
• 9 Business Books to Read in 2016 (Stanford)

READ MORE: https://medium.com/life-learning/the-reading-habits-of-ultra-successful-people-d565b26f15f5#.kkl093kjg

We Believe Books Change Minds

We Believe Books Renew Minds

We Believe Books Form Minds

We Believe Books Add Life

We Believe Books Shape Minds

Why You Should Read 50 Books This Year (And How To Do It)

If you want to get ahead in business, sit down and pick up a book. Warren Buffett spends 80% of his day reading. Bill Gates reads for an hour each night before going to bed. And Mark Cuban credits part of his success to the fact that he is willing to read more than anyone else. "Leaders are readers," says author and syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey, who reads at least one book a week and gives five of his favorite books to every new team member as part of the on boarding process. "It’s in my DNA to always want to grow as a leader. We want our team to always be learning and growing, too," he says.

"Reading forces me to stop thinking about my day-to-day life for long enough that I often find a new perspective." Business boils down to personal interactions, and exposure to new ideas challenges you and expands your understanding of viewpoints, says Joan Fallon, CEO of the biotech company Curemark, who reads a book a week. "Reading forces me to stop thinking about my day-to-day life for long enough that I often find a new perspective or a new way of thinking about something," she says. For example, Fallon says Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain gave her tips on how to work with introverts. "This understanding gives me the empathy to work with other introverts when I encounter them in a business, or even in social situations," she says.

Reading 50 to 60 books a year helps Ajit Singh, partner at the venture capital firm Artiman Ventures and consulting professor in the School of Medicine at Stanford University, be a better communicator. "Leadership requires storytelling; the story can be the vision of the company, or an acquisition plan, or an impending layoff," he says. "Telling a compelling story and listening with empathy have contributed much to my skills as a leader."

What To Read

If you’re not sure where to start, get recommendations from friends or mentors. Gates shares his favorites on his blog throughout the year. Buffett shares his favorite picks in his annual letter to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway. Singh gets inspiration on what to read by talking to independent bookshop owners. "A latte and 15 minutes go a long way," he says, adding that he also checks out The New York Review of Books and Kirkus Reviews. You can also check your local library for recommendations or join a business book club. Last year, Mark Zuckerberg set a goal to read one book every two weeks, and he started A Year of Books page on Facebook as a virtual book club. He and followers discussed the choices and invited authors to participate via webcasts; by December, he had finished 23 books.

If you want to get ahead in business, sit down and pick up a book. Warren Buffett spends 80% of his day reading. Bill Gates reads for an hour each night before going to bed. And Mark Cuban credits part of his success to the fact that he is willing to read more than anyone else. "Leaders are readers," says author and syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey, who reads at least one book a week and gives five of his favorite books to every new team member as part of the onboarding process. "It’s in my DNA to always want to grow as a leader. We want our team to always be learning and growing, too," he says. Reading forces me to stop thinking about my day-to-day life for long enough that I often find a new perspective.

Business boils down to personal interactions, and exposure to new ideas challenges you and expands your understanding of viewpoints, says Joan Fallon, CEO of the biotech company Curemark, who reads a book a week. "Reading forces me to stop thinking about my day-to-day life for long enough that I often find a new perspective or a new way of thinking about something," she says.
For example, Fallon says Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain gave her tips on how to work with introverts. "This understanding gives me the empathy to work with other introverts when I encounter them in a business, or even in social situations," she says.

Reading 50 to 60 books a year helps Ajit Singh, partner at the venture capital firm Artiman Ventures and consulting professor in the School of Medicine at Stanford University, be a better communicator. "Leadership requires storytelling; the story can be the vision of the company, or an acquisition plan, or an impending layoff," he says. "Telling a compelling story and listening with empathy have contributed much to my skills as a leader."
What To Read

If you’re not sure where to start, get recommendations from friends or mentors. Gates shares his favorites on his blog throughout the year. Buffett shares his favorite picks in his annual letter to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway.
Singh gets inspiration on what to read by talking to independent bookshop owners. "A latte and 15 minutes go a long way," he says, adding that he also checks out The New York Review of Books and Kirkus Reviews.

You can also check your local library for recommendations or join a business book club. Last year, Mark Zuckerberg set a goal to read one book every two weeks, and he started A Year of Books page on Facebook as a virtual book club. He and followers discussed the choices and invited authors to participate via webcasts; by December, he had finished 23 books.

How To Do It

Finding the time to read needs to be a priority. "I wouldn’t recognize a Kardashian, and I don’t know who got kicked off the island," says Ramsey. "My suggestion for anyone who wants to be successful: turn off the TV and open a book. You can become an expert on just about anything just by reading and learning." Sam Thomas Davis, author of Unhooked: How to Break Bad Habits and Form Good Ones That Stick, reads one nonfiction book each week and says you have to make reading a habit instead of waiting until you’re in the mood. "Identify a constant trigger for when to read (like an existing habit) and commit to it," he writes in his blog. "I read for 30 minutes every morning, immediately after my wife goes to work. As soon as I’ve kissed her goodbye, I sit at my desk, set a timer for 30 minutes, and read without interruption. By scheduling when to read, you begin to look forward to it, and can enjoy it guilt-free." Reading on the road is another popular way leaders find time. Singh reads during flights. "During rush hour, I don’t drive; I take Uber and read in the backseat," he says.

If you want to get ahead in business, sit down and pick up a book. Warren Buffett spends 80% of his day reading. Bill Gates reads for an hour each night before going to bed. And Mark Cuban credits part of his success to the fact that he is willing to read more than anyone else. "Leaders are readers," says author and syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey, who reads at least one book a week and gives five of his favorite books to every new team member as part of the on boarding process. "It’s in my DNA to always want to grow as a leader. We want our team to always be learning and growing, too," he says.

Fallon also finds time during travels. "Every day there is time that is idle or spent traveling from one place to another," she says. "If those gaps are long, I can read a book; if they are shorter, I read an article. Everything I read adds value to my life: personally, professionally, emotionally, and on so many levels."