tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post136194438700575534..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: Reading & WritingNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-87574805001504267052010-01-03T18:16:47.236-08:002010-01-03T18:16:47.236-08:00Everything in this post is RIGHT ON!Everything in this post is RIGHT ON!Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-74211414034252268862009-04-09T18:54:00.000-07:002009-04-09T18:54:00.000-07:00This happened to me too. I went through a period w...This happened to me too. I went through a period where I stopped reading fiction very much any more. In my case, it wasn't a conscious decision, so much as a time crunch. I read a lot of non-fiction (a LOT of non-fiction) but forgot to read for pure pleasure.<BR/><BR/>For a while, when I was really struggling with internalizing the rules of writing, I wasn't even *capable* of reading for pleasure. I would start critiquing the number of adverbs in the chapter. Ugh.<BR/><BR/>Fortunately that passed. I am consciously trying to read more fiction -- my own favored genres, but other genres as well.Tara Mayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095632631554776002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-19466863340292111942009-04-09T07:56:00.000-07:002009-04-09T07:56:00.000-07:00I think it's important to read too. I'm almost al...I think it's important to read too. I'm almost always reading a book at some point during the day. I have them stashed all over the house. I'm happy to say most of the time reading them is encouraging. It makes me realize that they're nothing extraordinary about a lot of them. I've read a ton of unpublished authors that were just as good or better. But there is the occasional intimidating book that makes me feel like I'm never going to get it right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-34976207013461173712009-04-09T05:40:00.001-07:002009-04-09T05:40:00.001-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Carrie Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893023777471521703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-63366700311851617722009-04-09T05:40:00.000-07:002009-04-09T05:40:00.000-07:00Oh yeah. I think you've got to read while you're w...Oh yeah. I think you've got to read while you're writing; those people who write in genres that they don't even LIKE to read completely foozle me.Carrie Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893023777471521703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-88449182735968248092009-04-08T20:35:00.000-07:002009-04-08T20:35:00.000-07:00i don't like to read asian fantasy (the few that i...i don't like to read asian fantasy (the few that is out there) while i wrote my debut. in fact, to this day, i still have a couple on my shelf i have yet to read--afraid it'd influence or discourage me. other books that are not so closely related, i'm not as leery of. =) great post, natalie! also the dissertation on english language. very difficult to learn indeed!cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175698109176599954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-68800850036792873152009-04-08T20:01:00.000-07:002009-04-08T20:01:00.000-07:00Excellent advice, thank you! Now to just put it in...Excellent advice, thank you! Now to just put it into action...Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-9047238702078792952009-04-08T18:02:00.000-07:002009-04-08T18:02:00.000-07:00I have to read while I write. For all the reasons ...I have to read while I write. For all the reasons you mentioned, and because reading good stories inspires and motivates me to write my own (reading <A HREF="http://adamheine.blogspot.com/2009/03/commercial-bestsellers.html" REL="nofollow">bad ones</A>, not so much).<BR/><BR/>And I always find that whatever I'm reading tends to seep into my writing somehow. It's good, but potentially dangerous. It forces me to be careful about what I'm reading and when.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-13751146815201952902009-04-08T17:42:00.000-07:002009-04-08T17:42:00.000-07:00Hey! Just letting you know that there's a little s...Hey! Just letting you know that there's a little something-something for you over at my blog! :)<BR/>http://astheplotthickens.blogspot.com/2009/04/woohoo-again.htmlJenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12670094635770401053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55437250823244214322009-04-08T16:43:00.000-07:002009-04-08T16:43:00.000-07:00I think the forces are sending me signs to get bac...I think the forces are sending me signs to get back into reading. Alas, time is very short...Sara Raaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01196505323463444186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-36224276366026254952009-04-08T14:49:00.000-07:002009-04-08T14:49:00.000-07:00It's funny that you posted this today. I think I w...It's funny that you posted this today. I think I write better when I'm also reading. And lately I haven't been reading any books. So today I went to the teen section and checked out three new releases. Yea! I'm excited. It is not only educating, but such a good way to relax and enjoy. I lately got so caught up with writing a book that I hadn't made time to enjoy a book.Jessie Oliveroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232456334069794107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-84905288522365474582009-04-08T12:50:00.000-07:002009-04-08T12:50:00.000-07:00I totally agree! Like I could stop reading if I tr...I totally agree! Like I could stop reading if I tried. You have to know I always have some book I'm reading. Some of the ones I've read lately, though, have really helped me with my writing (the good ones and the bad).lotusgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663641163048764869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-39594179699347588222009-04-08T11:49:00.000-07:002009-04-08T11:49:00.000-07:00Amen, sister. :)P.S. SQUEE!!!!! (I'm still grinni...Amen, sister. :)<BR/><BR/>P.S. SQUEE!!!!! (I'm still grinning)Renee Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08170818341212519937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-86082445329825167422009-04-08T10:41:00.000-07:002009-04-08T10:41:00.000-07:00I read The Graveyard Book on Sunday and I thought ...I read The Graveyard Book on Sunday and I thought it was amazing. It was so well written I almost didn't feel like I was reading it - more like absorbing it by osmosis.<BR/><BR/>I find that I <I>need</I> to read when my writing gets stuck. It enthuses me, inspires me and educates me as well as entertains me. And now I can claim that I'm doing important research for my writing every time I pick up a book. It's a win/win situation.JaneyVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04951739945670483199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-13462892479787972582009-04-08T10:24:00.000-07:002009-04-08T10:24:00.000-07:00Exactly, Dominique! I once read three YA's in a ro...Exactly, Dominique! I once read three YA's in a row with red-headed protagonists. (Blonds seem to get the shaft, taking on the brat roll still, sigh.) Then there was a run of "copper-haired" love interests. Also the "stick thin" bff. Funny how we inadvertently fall into patterns.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-73173281468052284752009-04-08T10:19:00.000-07:002009-04-08T10:19:00.000-07:00I have to agree. I think reading other good write...I have to agree. I think reading other good writers in your genre shows what works and doesn't work. If you pick up a book and think 'oh god, this style makes me want to gag,' then you can make sure not to make the same mistakes in your own writing. Plus, without accidentally borrowing ideas, you can see if you have accidentally fallen into a tired plot that needs some tweaking to be revitalized.Kelsey (Dominique) Ridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10646757546422013401noreply@blogger.com