Voracious

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Valerie Drake's artwork
If publication is your ultimate goal, the word voracious should be in your vocabulary.  The word not only means to consume or crave huge amounts of food, it also refers to someone who is exceedingly eager or avid, according to dictionary.com. My workshop attendance has so far been limited to a year long session on Saturdays, however, I have read hundreds of articles on writing. I’ve also read books on the craft and I’m a member of a writing workshop, which is the best thing I ever did to advance my writing career.

Writers who want to be published should not only write voraciously, they should be avid readers. Admittedly, I haven’t been reading as much as in the past, but I’ve been a reader as far back as I can remember, thanks to my mother who put me into school before I was three years old and encouraged me by buying books. I now do the same for my son.

Fact is, reading expands our horizons, knowledge and vocabulary and goes hand-in-hand with writing. I know there are writers who swear by conferences and I understand the value of these, although they are out of my reach. Are there any other ways that you feed your reading/writing habit?

Verbena leaves
There aren’t many foods I can think of that start with V.  We don’t eat a lot of veal here, but we do have vervain and verbena, which are herbs that we use to make tea. Verbena is reputedly good for the nervous system, for easing colic and cough, among other things.

Vervain is good for stress and nervous conditions. It also acts as a relaxant and is reputedly good for treating coughs, asthmatic and nerve conditions. Of course, unless you know what you’re doing, I wouldn’t recommend preparing and trying this stuff at home. These herbs and dried, packaged and sold in local supermarkets. 

Dried Vervain
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23 comments:

  1. Yes I do so agree with your point that writers must be voracious writers and readers. And voracious chocolate eaters...no! wait! that's not right :)

    I think I need some of your Vervain... Great post.

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  2. Reading voraciously--so important. I've always got 2-3 books going at once on my Nook.

    Love the info too on the herbs! It's hard for me to have an herb garden where I live--too hot. And I don't have a green thumb. At all.

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  3. Ohhh, I'm into herbs but I haven't heard of vervain. I'll be reading up on it!

    I'm definitely a voracious reader, and that includes craft books (of course applying what's read matters). I think the internet bridges the 'meetings' gap for those who can't attend. There are great online groups, writing sites, and forums to tap into.

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  4. Excellent advice about being voracious. I've never heard of verbena tea, but I love verbena flowers.

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  6. Lauracea, I believe chocolate is also good for whatever ails a writer. :)

    Liz, I also read way too many books at a time.

    Rula, glad you found something new here and yes, the internet resources have helped me tremendously as well.

    Carole, thanks!

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  7. Voracious is such a terrific word! Reading and writing voraciously certainly are very important. :)

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  8. Great word for 'V'! I can tend toward the voracious in my personality traits. I always take that as a plus. Writers should have voracious appetites for everything there is to experience in the world. Otherwise, how can we write about it?

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  9. I do agree that writers should be voracious readers. We should immerse ourselves in our wonderful vocabulary whenever we can. At the moment, my voracious appetite is concentrating on chocolate. It's an Easter thing...

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  10. Laura, yes, yes and yes.

    Julia, true, we should thirst for knowledge and new experiences. Otherwise, we become stagnant.

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  11. I have been reading a lot lately! I just love it. I wish I had the time and energy to read more.

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  12. Clarissa, can't think of a whole lot of other stuff that can beat reading a good book.

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  13. Hi JL! Just discovered your blog through the A-Z. Great advice on reading, I've always loved reading but I'm trying to do even more now, it helps so much. Great post!

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  14. Hey, Julie,

    Wonderful to meet you. Reading has been a life-long love affair for me. :)

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  15. thanks for the info about the vervain! i love learning new things

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  16. Voracious reader - check!
    Voracious writer - check!
    I'm set :D

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  17. Thanks for visiting, TF. Glad to share info anytime.

    Trisha, sounds like you're good to go indeed.

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  18. Love the look of your blog. Are those flowers new or did I miss them before? Gorgeous.

    Voracious. Reader and Writer. Good advice.

    Foods starting with V are a little tricky. I'm a fan of vanilla anything.

    Denise<3

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  19. Hey, Denise,

    Thanks. I've had the new paper for a bit over a week now. I love the flowers too. Vanilla! I love the smell and taste of it too.

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  20. relaxant, eh? I could use one of those about now... and you are SO RIGHT on needing to be voracious--I love the blog system, as the advice comes in bite-sized chunks instead of 9 course meals, but I have learned SO MUCH! And the reading and writing totally go hand-in-hand!

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  21. Hart, yeah, I like the fact that I get a tidbit here and there on writing as I visit blogs and 'talk' to other writers.

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  22. I LOVE the word 'voracious!' I am definitely a voracious writer and reader! Growing up, our home did not have a lot of books, but the newpspaper was always left on the kitchen table for everyone one to read! While rasing our sons, I made sure books were a BIG part of our home. They are both 'voracious' readers! :-)

    BTW... I love your enthusiasm!

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  23. Good job! I do the same for my son.

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