Read in order to write

I am in the middle of my second read of The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver. Despite the mixed reviews of this book, from "literary masterpiece" to "disappointing," it is one of my favorites, and it seems to me that no one can dispute this writer’s skill at turning out beautiful phrases. One of my favorite lines, which is repeated throughout the book is this: “The most important part of the story is the part you don’t know.”

Wheel-thrown pot by Gail M. Pfeifer
Photo by Gail M. Pfeifer

Why bring up reading in a blog on writing for nurses? Because writing well grows out of reading great writers. Think about the books you’ve read that have held your interest. What were their characteristics? Were they page-turners, were they written about a topic you are passionate about, or were they simply new information you really needed to know about? Try to remember, and perhaps reread those books, because that’s the kind of writing you can emulate as you begin to tell your nursing stories. And the most important part of your story is the part we don’t know. So tell us.