Reading as a Writer

[georginaK]

Do you read differently as a writer than you did as just a reader? I realize lots of us have done both the majority of our lives so it may be hard to separate. But as a frequent and dedicated writer (especially after immersing ourselves in the craft/revision aspects for so long)—sometimes it can be challenging to switch our writer and reader caps. I find myself marveling over how cleverly an author tackled plot so seamlessly, or criticizing how flat a character has been drawn. Instead of just enjoying the story! Your thoughts?

 

[E G Logan]

Absolutely!

It was bad enough developing a speed reading habit because of work, and I've had that now for many years. But now, as writer/editor, I find I analyse structure and method relentlessly. And it can't be switched off.

That means I still think: "Well, that was pretty good." But at the same time I also think: "Pity about the hero's best friend - so obviously a plot device" or "Those references back to events in the previous books were really clunky. They need to be there, but they don't need to smack you in the eye like that."

 

[Steve C]

I only started writing less than a year ago and the more I learned the more embarrassed I felt about my early attempts. However, as I grasped hold of a little bit of knowledge, here and there so the presence or lack of it in whatever I read became apparent. More in a negative way than a positive one I have to say. Without mentioning names I have been astounded at how much crap is sold by established authors and reading some of them again I now understand why I didn't think much of them in the first place. Yes, learning how to write has destroyed some of my pleasure in reading but heightened it in many ways.

 

[Carol Rose]

Being published has totally ruined reading for me. LOL! I pick everything apart now. But to be fair, I do the same with movies and TV shows.

 

[Paul Whybrow]

Since returning to creative writing six years ago, I enjoy reading differently to how I once did. Knowing how something's done is bound to interfere with anything as entertainment, be it reading a book, watching a film or a gymnastics competition.

I'm more critical of books that have been highly praised and which have won prizes, than reading the next story in a series I've known for 30 years, as with James Lee Burke, which feels more like catching up with old friends—the characters and the author.

One slight regret is that after writing my own crime novels for five years, I've yet to be surprised by whom the perpetrator is when reading detective stories. I've just read a tale of murder set in Sweden, called Dark Pines, which deserved its high praise. Author Will Dean knows what he's doing, but I guessed who the murderer was the second time they appeared, as they were the only character who was pleasant to the investigating reporter protagonist. As misdirection, it failed abysmally, but maybe a normal reader would have been hoodwinked.

The most surprising author I've enjoyed in the last year is Patrick deWitt, whose bizarre tales are entirely unpredictable, almost as if he decided what to write next on the roll of a dice.

 

[Steve C]

The most surprising author I've enjoyed in the last year is Patrick deWitt, whose bizarre tales are entirely unpredictable, almost as if he decided what to write next on the roll of a dice.

The roll of a dice can be transformative. The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart is a magical look into the possibilities life offers us and a great read. Like Richard Branson in the '70s (Meeting The Dice Man) I played the game for a while and had a ball.

 

[Susan]

I tend not to over-analyse until after I’ve finished a book or watched a TV show, unless the plot doesn’t take off or some aspect of the writing is heavy handed. I love reading as much as writing and don’t want to ever lose the joy of getting lost in a story. But sometimes I’ll analyse a book afterwards and notice that, though I enjoyed it, it wasn’t necessarily well-written. I think writing has made me better at noticing the difference between subjective and objective evaluation, which is useful as a writer.

 

[Nikky Lee]

More than ever these days, I deconstruct everything I read (much to my annoyance). It takes a long time for me to get drawn in enough to stop analysing and just enjoy it. However, I find that when I listen to audiobooks the writer in me subsides somewhat and I can enjoy the story as a story usually from the get-go. I guess it's because I'm quite visual, so when the words aren't in front of me I don't notice a weak sentence. Interestingly though, I still notice the good things. I'll hear a simile, metaphor or a piece of dialogue and think "wow, that's a really nice turn of phrase".

 

[georginaK]

Absolutely!

It was bad enough developing a speed reading habit because of work, and I've had that now for many years. But now, as writer/editor, I find I analyse structure and method relentlessly. And it can't be switched off.

That means I still think: "Well, that was pretty good." But at the same time I also think: "Pity about the hero's best friend - so obviously a plot device" or "Those references back to events in the previous books were really clunky. They need to be there, but they don't need to smack you in the eye like that."

Yes—the speed reading thing is awful (did that in grad school and it still lingers)

 

[georginaK]

Being published has totally ruined reading for me. LOL! I pick everything apart now. But to be fair, I do the same with movies and TV shows.

Me too!

 

[georginaK]

I tend not to over-analyse until after I’ve finished a book or watched a TV show, unless the plot doesn’t take off or some aspect of the writing is heavy handed. I love reading as much as writing and don’t want to ever lose the joy of getting lost in a story. But sometimes I’ll analyse a book afterwards and notice that, though I enjoyed it, it wasn’t necessarily well-written. I think writing has made me better at noticing the difference between subjective and objective evaluation, which is useful as a writer.

Yes—subjective versus objective evaluation is key. I still enjoy old favorites that may not be the best written books but I return to again and again.

 

[RK Wallis]

Interestingly, I find it easier to immerse if I'm listening, and if I find myself immersed, I know the writing must be good so I'll buy the Kindle too. I want to see how it works, and I'll listen and read at the same time.

If I just read, I can't help either admiring the plotting, blending of backstory, use of POV or those things like @Nmlee. Conversely, I notice the things that don't work too. But, I try to remember, the author put a lot of hours into the book (or they have wonderful talent) and try not to nitpick. But, I wasn't always that way!

For me, it's like I started as a plain reader (who had moments of huh?), then I changed to a reader who judged the bad (because as a writer, I suddenly understood why I'd had those huh? moments). Now, I'm becoming a reader who admires the good (I just skim over the confusing etc) because writing is such a mammoth task, I cut the writer some slack. Some of us weren't born to be Jane Austen's or (insert your favourite author here) of the world, and everyone is simply trying to do the best they can.