Comments on: Read Like A Writer, Write Like A Reader https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/ A Blog On Writing Sun, 22 Dec 2024 04:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Extemporaneous https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146244 Sat, 22 Aug 2020 17:55:12 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146244 My favourite way to read is when it takes effort to stay awake to the writing. When I need a virtual reminder that I’m not in, for example, 1940s Austria but instead alive in 2020s Canada. How has the author swept me so far from my reality? Answering that question is the ultimate experience for me, having to stop reading periodically to appreciate the story along with how the writer put it together!

]]> By: barbaralinnprobst https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146219 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 15:00:55 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146219 In reply to dholcomb1.

That's such a blessing, isn't it?

]]> By: dholcomb1 https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146218 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 05:09:27 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146218 I try to not evaluate unless it's just not there. Editing issues jump out at me. But most of the time, I'm able to focus on reading and just enjoy it.

denise

]]> By: Eldred Bird https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146217 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:17:53 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146217 In reply to barbaralinnprobst.

For me genre doesn't really seem to matter. I read outside of genre quite often just to broaden my horizons and learn new things. I've found that no matter what genre you write, there are elements of other genres present as well, like a romantic subplot in a mystery or thrill type action in a fantasy.

]]> By: barbaralinnprobst https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146216 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:26:07 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146216 In reply to ecellenb.

So glad you liked the post! Your experience seems to match that of most whom I spoke with = it's the quality of the book that determines whether writer-brain or reader-brain takes over! And yes, I read for pure pleasure myself! I can't imagine anyone wanting to be a writer who isn't also a reader, just as all the best cooks love to eat good food!

]]> By: ecellenb https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146215 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:14:03 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146215 I'm an eclectic reader. Reading those in my own genre does not cause me to go into evaluation mode, but a poorly written book pulls me right out.

I like to read first for fun and then once more my own education. There are many gifted writers in the world.

One of my joys in life is reading for pleasure. When I was flat broke and couldn't go anywhere books were my way out, vacation and otherwise.

Wonderful post!

]]> By: barbaralinnprobst https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146214 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 16:32:48 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146214 In reply to christopherlentzauthor.

"Ruined and revved up your joy"—love it! As you say, it's different on different days. I too have found myself watching films with "story eyes" to marvel at how the screenwriter did it. That's quite different from the way I used to watch films, which was more visual and emotional. And, for sure, narrative exists in so many forms, not just books 🙂

]]> By: barbaralinnprobst https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146213 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 16:28:39 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146213 In reply to Jenny Hansen.

I'm with you, in that my standards have changed. I've also found that I read more slowly than I used to, although my reading tends to accelerate as I get more deeply into the book—which I'm guessing is because my reader-brain has fully taken over!

]]> By: christopherlentzauthor https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146212 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 16:27:36 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146212 Since writing is just one of the forms of storytelling (films, songs, etc.), I find that becoming an author has heightened my engagement with ALL types of storytelling. Some days it's critical...other times it's a cracking-the-code observation...then it could be just to completely escape. My point: becoming storyteller has ruined and revved up my joy of stories being told to me.

]]> By: barbaralinnprobst https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/read-like-a-writer-write-like-a-reader/#comment-146211 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 16:26:59 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=40719#comment-146211 In reply to Ontyre Passages.

I love how you've contemplated this question with so much nuance! Personally, I would put a book own because of a couple of "flaws," but if they keep happening with nothing to make up for it, I don't see the point of investing more time. And books are "good" in different ways, so it might depend on my mood and why I'm reading right now. You also raise the question of reading one's own writing, which I didn't touch on, but could very well be included in our conversation! To me, after being away from a manuscript for a bit, I need to return to it as a reader and see how that works 🙂

]]>