First! There have been many great suggestions about opening up the process by which one can have their page critiqued on the blog so that it is not quite as dependent on being in the right time zone and clicking the refresh button seven thousand times and argh will Nathan just post already I’ve been staring at this screen so long WHEN I LOOK AWAY I STILL SEE ORANGE!!!!!
While you have to admit that seeing everything in the color orange is rather awesome, I am going to try out a new system this week. If you’d like to have your page critiqued on the blog on Monday, you now have an opportunity to nominate your page at your leisure in the Forums. All you have to do is paste your page in this thread, and next Monday I’ll use a random number generator to pick the winning page for critique.
Democracy in action!!! Or, you know, luck. Which is just as good, I’m told.
Transition!
The reading habits of writers is something that always fascinates me. While I think it’s a given that a good writer needs to also be a good and widely-read reader, what types of books are necessary to read?
And especially: do you read in the genre you write? Is this necessary? Is it helpful? Or is it more helpful to read in other genres to see what other people are doing?
What sayeth you? And credit goes to my wife for thinking of this topic. (Whoops! Also Mira posted this question in the Forums a few months back. Synchronicity!)
Having eclectic tastes, I become interested in a book on its own merits. I'm not tied to fantasy and historical fiction, the genres in which I write. However, I often will choose books from those genres. I like biographies and autobiographies also.
Yes but not when I am writing in that particular genre for fear of lifting something or emanating something that doesn't fit with my own story. But for the most part, I read anything in any genre as long as the writing is done well and the story is interesting
Currently writing in Fantasy and Woman's Fiction.
Yes, but. . . I read not just fantasy fiction; I read historical fiction, regional fiction, women's fiction, you name it. If it has fiction in its category, it's fair game. Although I have to admit I'm branching out and have read a fair number of nonfiction books recently. I figure exposing myself to other's writing styles can only help improve what I'm writing.
I tend to read a variety of genres, but my main concentration is within the genres of my own writing (literary and women's fiction). I have to understand what is selling and why. Why I personally like a story and why I don't. It's all research for me (albeit a fun topic!). Plus, you can't disappoint fans of a particular genre by not meeting their expectations. You can't call your work one thing only for your readers to catch you in your bluff.
I also read some of the best-sellers simply because they're best-sellers and I want to know what made one author's book better than another. (And yes, I'm aware that best-seller can mean number of shipped books. Which is probably why some of them, in my opinion, were not very good and I would never in my remaining years write such dribble.)
I'm not really sure. The only thing that's always consistent with me is, whether I'm reading or writing it, it has to have dragons. I mostly read fantasy, but I've also read sci-fi (with dragons) and historical fantasy (with dragons).
For the most part, I also write fantasy, but sometimes I find myself writing something I don't necessarily enjoy reading, like soft sci-fi or books in first person. I usually hate reading a novel written in first person, but I love writing it.
So to answer the topic, yes, but both what I read and what I write are often unpredictable.
How could you not read books in the genre you're writing in? It would be like fixing a car with bubble gum and skipping ropes (although I had a boyfriend once who tried that, I don't recommend it). You need to be armed with the proper tools of the trade and immersing yourself within the realm of your work only strengthens your ability to create the best you can!
Quite simply, yes.
I love my genre, and for over 20 years now. I have to write it, it's where my imagination flies. But I also love to read classics, bestsellers, anything recommended that I like the sound of and I always try to read the Booker Prize winner.
I write in the genre that I also read in, though i don't limit myself to just that. I try out other genres just for the sake of studying the way it was written. Afterall, I think there's always room for variation no matter which genre you usually write in.
E. D
Yes and no. My work is part fantasy/thriller, but I read more literary novels than anything. But I think it's good for a writer to read in a variety of genres; that way, they can take from each genre any ideas and inspirations they get from the material and apply that to their own writing, which will make it richer and more diverse. A melding of genres is always cool!
I read big time in the genre I'm writing in. Most big sellers in the genre I've read 3 or 4 or more times.
Outside of the genre, I read a lot of the literary classics, or any fiction that is really strongly recommended.
I read many different genres. What is interesting though is most of what I read I would hate to write. I've tried. Suddenly it just becomes a chore.
But I have recently started writing YA again, a genre I used to love. So I have really gotten into the genre to see what is out there, how my story is different, how it is the same, and who will like it.
Some writers don't seem to need to read in the genre they write, but I find it very important. Without such knowledge I'd have no idea what has been done to death, what's been done but I could still get away with…and what might actually be different.
I try to limit how many books I read in a month though. If I read too much I can see myself start to slip into a style that isn't mine, and I think that is dangerous. So, although I read in my genre I try to be careful as well.
I do like to read in the genre I write in to see what's out there, what works, who got away with what plot twists and wondering "now why didn't I think of that", etc but there are times it's hard to read in *writer mode* because then I find myself wondering how so and so got away with so many adverbs or this could have used a bit more editing…and then reading isn't fun. That's when I usually switch to something completely different so I can just get lost in a story.
I read young adult extensively partly because I write it and partly because I teach young adults. I also read widely beyond that because the craft of writing can be taught in any genre and I am creatively inspired by reading beyond what I write.
I read extensively in what I write. At least I did until I started writing my historical novel set in 1929 in Los Angeles. It became difficult to find a huge number of books set in the same time frame. But I love what I read and can't imagine trying to write something else. Why would I? If I was doing it because I thought another genre would sell more I doubt I'd do a very good job of it. I don't understand people writing something they don't love.
Must add, thanks, Nathan, for giving us another option to have a page crit done. You try to please your guests, and this is one of the reasons the blog has such a warm, welcoming atmosphere, I think.
I read across all genres, but I find that if I am reading in the genre that I am writing, that I can sustain better character voices for longer. Of course, I read across genre to figure out how to do stuff right. I wouldn't read Lord of the Rings to learn how to get a love scene right.
I'm writing in a wide variety of genres as I explore, but I haven't written in any genre I don't read. I also haven't written in every genre (not even counting non-fiction) that I read. Either I don't have the knack/experience for some of them, or no tale set in those I haven't has come to me. Ultimately, I read for story. I don't need to have a specific set of conventions met as long as the book has a solid story.
I'm currently writing comedy. I don't find many comedy books funny so I don't read many of them. I do like other genre's with witty dialogue though. Does that count?
When I wrote horror, I read thrillers and suspense but true horror was too much for me to read but not to read.
Tirz
And I freakin' love the orange! Who else has an orange blog?
Synchronicity indeed. Yesterday I started drafting a blog post about how I'm taking a break from YA contemporary fantasy. I love the genre, and that's what I'm writing now, BUT I think there's such a thing as over-saturation. And I think I've hit that point.
Got any recommendations for…any other genre?
yes, i agree with everyone. finding a subject to write with is difficult as well, i've tried MANY short stories and experimented on the kind of things i like to write about, and others that i dont care much for. its a great learning experiment.
Yes, I most definitely read in the genre I write. My love of a good story and history are in historical fiction, which is mostly what I write. I'd say about three quarters of what I read is historical fiction, with an occasional fantasy thrown in there.
I think it's important that you read extensively in the genre you're writing in so you know what works and what doesn't. I've also found that it helps me see what the current trends are too.
Trying to read a bit more fantasy (with a historical aspect of course) since my next few story ideas have fantasy elements.
I read everything. I don't consider genre when I'm choosing a book. I have favorite authors in all genres and a list of recommendations from friends. When I'm looking for something to read, I usually check the list and pick the next one.
I write stories I enjoy, and the same goes for stories I read, so yeah, pretty much. I'd say I probably read a bit more widely than I write, however.
The exception would be that I'll avoid books even remotely similar to what I'm writing at the moment in order to avoid being influenced by them.
I read in the genre I write, but it's more that I write in the genre I read. I simply LIKE that genre, so it goes both ways. 😀 However, I read outside of my genre, too. After all, I was a reader before I became a writer.
Yes, but I read across ALL genres, except Horror and Erotica.
I notice I tend to be a lot more picky with the genre I write in, Young Adult. I also tend to be more defensive about it and the readership.
I've found it extremely helpful to also read and listen to what the readership has to say about the books they love and why they love them. And also to hang out with them and enjoy being in their company in real life.
Yes and no. Right now I'm working on a YA dystopia and I'm reading about 10 books a month. About 7 of those are YA and about 4 dystopias (although not all YA). I'm working with MPOVs, so I've picked up a few books with MPOVs too, both in and out of my genre. Sometimes I get my best writing technique tips from unexpected places. Everything I read seems to influence me whether it's pacing, character development, POVs, description, what have you. It's important to read in your genre, but it's important to spread out too.
Transition! (That got a laugh out of me.)
On a sidenote, I really wish more agents were on goodreads. Checking out an agent's reading taste (both likes and dislikes) tells me just as much as their list of what they're looking for.
I'm a reader of the crime genre and a writer of the same.
But here's the kicker – I'm also a police officer and I'm afraid our job isn't as exciting as others let on. Perhaps this means the others are better writers, or maybe it means I'm bored with my job (even thought it does have its high points).
Being a crime writer has been a good gig as I now have a weekly column in a major newspaper with the added exposure, but with that comes access to all the new authors and I am humbled. Wow, can some of these people write and I think to myself, "You had better file your 'novel' away before you really embarrass yourself."
Ah well, all this simply raises the bar and I have to do better…besides, isn't challenge supposed to be a good thing?
I read what I like.
But the one I like most is what I write. I tried writing in a less favorite genre with my first book.
I liked my story, but in a critique group, someone who mostly read/wrote in that genre made mention that I was a little "off" on what is normally expected.
Pondering this I realized I didn't want to read so much of that genre to figure it out. I wanted to read extensively really only in my favorite. So, why not just stick with writing in my favorite genre especially since I'm going to have to read my own book a half dozen times or more.
I write multiple genres and read from all of them, but read many books outside of it. Science books help create SciFi/Fantasy scenarios; History and Politics help competent world-building. No matter what I read, though, I feel behind. There is always some speculative fiction god I've never heard of and am a fool for having missed.
It's odd perhaps, but I love to read a broader range than what I write, however I write in the genres that I love most.
Firstly, THANK YOU for the new page critique rule!! The time difference between us is almost 12 hours, so yeah… when you post, its 3-4 am here :S I stand a chance now!
I read whatever catches my attention… not necessarily the genre i write (which currently is limited to romance). I actually like writing other genre's, because it opens me up to other worlds (LOTR/HP is an amazing eg) and you can get inspiration from them right??
The more you read well-constructed fiction the easier it is to construct good prose, yourself. I love biographical/historical fiction. Always have. Always will. But I also love a wide range of other genres. I even read my first (and last, I hope) horror novel this week – I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER by Dan Wells. Excellently written – didn't care for the genre. But I'd met Dan and wanted to see why Europe is raving about his debut novel.
Back to your question – do I read in the genre that I'm currently writing? To an extent, yes. My WIP is fantasy. I've read Christopher Paolini's books. I've read the Harry Potter series. I've read the Twilight books. I've read some Sarah Hoyt. I've skimmed through some of Marion Zimmer Bradley's books about Avalon. I really enjoyed Brandon Sanderson's Warbreaker and there probably are other fantasy books I've read this past year – either trying to get a handle on what's being published in the genre at this time or because I was doing research for my own book. At the same time I've read several Dick Francis books, two or three John Grisham books and who knows what else. I don't keep track.
So, yes, I read in my genre but I also read in almost every other genre, too.
RE Page critique:
Are you going to just keep a full listing of the pages on that one thread, or will you create a new thread every week for the critique?
RE "You tell me":
I write in so many genres (I have perhaps five novels which I actively work on at any given time) that I don't think I could read in as many as I write. I can't do both with how little time I have on my hands. But I do read more often in my favourite genre to read and write in.
But I think it's important not to overload yourself with your genre. You can lose a lot of creativity. I don't imagine that Tolkien read hundreds of books on high fantasy before he wrote LotR. That's part of the reason why he was one of the first guys to come up with the subgenre. He had more creative license, because he wasn't constricting himself by "genre norms."
No. Can't stand it. If I liked it, I'd probably hang up the pen.
I also sleep with a garden gnome.
Growing up, I read anything I could get my hands on – one summer holiday I read a lot of Dickens because that was mainly what my grandparents had on the shelf.
But my favourite was always middle grade fantasy, and that's what I read & write now. I read some young adult too.
As others have said, I have to limit my reading while writing as it takes me out of my own world/characters heads. And I will read and read and do nothing else if given the opportunity.
I read to analyse as well as for pleasure. I also enjoy reading the dictionary, and spend an enormous amount of time reading about writing on the internet. Eg this blog !!
Yes. Knowing the genre means also knowing the pitfalls and also be in tune with what can be explored and what other ways you can contribute to it. As with writing, knowing the rules gives you the power to bend them and add something new, without it ending in a catastrophe.
Though I do believe that there should be diverse reading involved. The writer is never a constant, and it's part of the diverse reading that the writer can reinvent himself and forge into new directions.
Kind of.
Some of the stuff I've been writing is romance oriented, so….I've been reading that particular genre (of which was not touched by me in the preceeding 35+ years of my reading life), just so I could get a basic idea of what I'm getting myself into.
Beyond that, I now stick mostly to non-fiction, which the occasional fiction thrown (such as the aforementioned romance genre).
No wonder this blog is so popular. Really interesting question.
Regardless of what I’m working on, I shuffle down to the library once a month and pick up books from set categories.
This month it’s Caroline Bird’s ‘Watering Can’; Virginia Woolf: An Inner Life; ‘Tender is the Night’; ‘Les Liaisons dangereuses’; and ‘Playing the Game’ by the infamous Belle de Jour (it’s research *wink* for my writing, not a double life as a London call girl).
Currently, I'm writing what I most enjoy reading: women’s fiction aimed at twentysomethings that contains traces of the ‘literary’.
I wrote my first novel (RUSH) last year without thinking too much about what it would ‘be’ when it grew up. Was I influenced by ‘chick lit’ I’d read previously? Of course. But I was also influenced by Greek mythology, literary criticism, a class I took on Modernism, modern poetry, etc and these are in the novel as well. Random.
Question: I’ve always been curious about whether other writers start with a character, a setting, a concept or a plot-line. When ‘wool-gathering’ (Virginia Woolf), do you hear voices and conversations? Visualize a ‘scene’ or setting? See or hear the words you are about to write? What shape do your initial ideas take?
I read whatever I'm in the mood to read. It all informs.
I read everywhere. I write SF comedy, but read other fiction, history, philosophy, thrillers and, when I can't get to sleep, some literary fiction to help me doze off.
I write what I like to read, so I read what I write (southern/literary/women's fiction), but I read out of my "genre" as well. There are a few genres I normally do not read, but other than those few, I am pretty open.
I definitely read way more kids' novels than adult novels… but I find that sometimes when I'm reading in a kids genre close to something I'm writing, there's this voice in the back of my head, like a little critiquer/teacher, that is trying to dissect the story rather than enjoy it! So sometimes I have to reach for something far away from what I'm writing to just relax with a book.
Kathryn
Absolutely, you need to read widely in the genre you're writing in. Having said that, I think you also need to read widely. Period. I have a system. I'll choose books in this order: one kid's book (my genre), one classic, one book on writing, then one book just for me. Then I start the rotation again. I love all sorts of fantasy, so the 'for me' book is usually a fantasy.
Oh absolutely. I think it is imperative to read in the genre you're writing to get a feel for what kinds of things are "rules" and what's more like "guidelines". Each genre has them. And yeah, some of it you can break or bend, but you should know what the rule/guideline is you're bending or breaking and why you are bending/breaking it. I've heard a lot of writers swear they CAN'T read in the genre they're writing because they'll start sounding like whatever they are reading. This always kind of strikes me as someone who isn't yet secure in their voice or their story. And while I freely admit that I can't read something like a period piece (ah, Mr. Darcy) without winding up inserting stiffer, more formal language and words like "thither" (such a great word) when I write ANYTHING (because all of my work is contemporary), mostly, I've solidified who I am as a writer and can stick to my own voice. I think it's far more important to keep your finger on the pulse of what's being published, what's trendy, what's overdone, and most of all to figure out how what you're doing is DIFFERENT from what everybody else is doing.
Thanks, Nathan, for opening up the 250 first words contest so everyone has an equal chance at getting picked.
I read all genres now, but when I was younger, I stuck with horror/thrillers/suspense. Some of my favorite writers do not write in my genre. I recommend everyone branch out; great writing transcends genres.
Yes! I learn from every author I read, what works, what doesn't, what I wish I'd thought of first. Writers write, but if writers do not read in their genre, their journey will be longer and harder than it has to be.
I love good middle grade and YA fiction. I love to read it; I love to write it. I'm so lucky to have found what I love.
READ??!! Who the hell has time to read???
As a children's book author, I think it's vital to read extensively in one's own genre and occasionally in other genres (not only to be widely read and to learn, but so one's head won't explode).
It's important to know what's out there, to take in the rhythms of language, and to know what's possible. I think it's fairly impossible to write well without being an avid reader of the genre you wish to write for. It also helps a writer decide which genre they feel most to attached to. Although I love all sub-genres of kids' books, my true reading passion seems to lie with MG, and low-and-behold- that's the genre in which I'm mainly published.