The Reader

"Above all else, the writer has to be a good reader. The kind that sticks to academic texts and does not read what others write (and here I'm not just talking about books but also blogs, newspaper columns and so on) will never know his own qualities and defects.

So, before starting anything, look for people who are interested in sharing their experience through words. I'm not saying: "look for other writers". What I say is: find people with different skills, because writing is no different from any other activity that is done with enthusiasm.

Your allies will not necessarily be those that everyone looks on with admiration and says: "there's nobody better". It's very much the opposite: it's people who are not afraid of making mistakes, and yet they do make mistakes. That is why their work is not always recognized. But that's the type of people who change the world, and after many a mistake they manage to get something right that will make all the difference in their community.

These are people who cannot sit around waiting for things to happen before they decide on the best way to narrate them: they decide as they act, even knowing that this can be very risky.

Living close to these people is important for writers, because they need to understand that before putting anything down on paper, they should be free enough to change direction as their imagination wanders. When a sentence comes to an end, the writer should tell himself: "while I was writing I traveled a long road. Now I can finish this paragraph in the full awareness that I have risked enough and given the best of myself."

The best allies are those who don't think like the others. That's why, while you are looking for your companions (not always visible, because meetings between the reader and the writer are rare), trust your intuition and don't pay any attention to others' remarks. People always judge others using the model of their own limitations - and at times the opinion of the community is full of prejudices and fears.

Join those who have never said: "it's finished, I have to stop here". Because just as winter is followed by spring, nothing comes to an end: after reaching your objective, you have to start again, always using all that you have learnt on the way.

Join those who sing, tell stories, enjoy life and have happiness in their eyes. Because happiness is contagious and always manages to keep people from being paralyzed by depression, loneliness and troubles.

And tell your story, even if it's only for your family to read." Paolo Coehlo

Ook geïnteresseerd in een lezer, al was het je eigen Familie? ;-) Schrijf dan een gastcolumn! We zijn blij dat er van deze optie veel gebruik wordt gemaakt(!!), maar we zijn er van overtuigd dat er nog meer schrijvers-kwaliteiten zijn onder onze lezers...... Toch? Grijp dan je Kans, op weg naar The Reader, 'whoever it may be.....'

Zoals de opmerkzame lezer ziet is de lay-out van de gastcolumn 'iets' gewijzigd: ook bij gastcolumn passen we nu de 'lees verder' - optie toe. Aan de ene kant om de 'snelle bezoeker' veel koppen te kunnen laten snellen, aan de andere kant om Google 'een handje te helpen'.

Meer inspiratie?

Goed weekeinde!