Meng Jin: “Read Anything You Can Get Your Hands On”

I’ve learned more from other books than an MFA program or writing workshops

Wake Up and Write is an advice column from Moms Don’t Have Time to Write. Today, we have Meng Jin — Kundiman Fellow and author of the debut novel, Little Gods— who shared writing advice on the podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, hosted by Zibby Owens.

“Read anything you can get your hands on.”

“I did an MFA. I’ve taken a bunch of creative writing workshops. Definitely, I’ve learned more from other books, books that I love and go back to and try to figure out how they’re working and doing something, trying to copy that. Read anything you can get your hands on. Find out what you love.

Also, don’t be afraid to do the thing that’s failing. If it’s failing, it’s probably because it’s harder to do and more interesting.”