fiction files redux discussion

Shared Worlds asked some famous writers, editors, etc. to give writing advice by writing it on their hands and sending in a picture. Here is Neil Gaiman's:



And here is the link to everyone else:

http://www.wofford.edu/sharedworlds/h...

What really struck me was how much of the advice includes "read widely" or "read everything" or just "read." I don't think I know any writers who are not already avid readers, but I wondered if there are writers out there that don't read? As an avid reader myself, would I find the work of a writer who is not a reader to be lacking in some way? Would I even know the difference?

If you are looking to find writers that don't read much, or read within very narrow parameters, simply attend a writing workshop or two at your local community center, library, or community college, you'll meet plenty of them. There are plenty of on-line writing groups to find them in as well. And the answers to your final two questions are yes and yes.

I dont read but I dont write