Does Being a Writer Change Your Reading?

Three Ways My Reading Has Changed

1. What I read has changed. I don’t have as much time to read historical fiction as I used to have. All my life I’ve kept journals of the books I’ve read and I would compare years to see what my yearly count was.I still read for about 20 minutes before I turn out the light at night and I read during the day as time permits. Okay, that last part is just funny. Time permits? Not so much. These days, what I read might be edits from my editor, how-to-write books by writers who have gone before, writing magazines–I love The Writer and the Historical Novels Review!, or books in other genres by writers I’ve met in person or online.
2. How I read has changed.Plot. I was such a reader for plot I would forget the characters’ names and have to go back and check them out. Paragraphs of description were annoying and I became a great skimmer for the ‘good stuff.’ I preferred books that got to the details and wove in character, setting, themes, as needed and certainly not obtrusively. I still love to see how it will all turn out but I find myself looking at the writing differently. Rather than rushing through the story I am noticing just how the author wedged in that essential bit of backstory or just why he or she chose third person or first person. I see the plan behind the story like the framework of a house. I notice whether the framework is steel or wood timbers. And I learn for my own writing.
3. How I record what I’ve read has changed. As mentioned earlier, I was a great keeper of my reading record. Now I consider whether the author might be someone I’ll interview on this blog. Shall I do a review on Goodreads? I ask myself. Or will I just let the book and my reading of it quietly die? And I love this change as I’ve discovered amazing people through interviews, reviews, and contacting the author to tell them I had written about them. Just this past weekend I finished Barbara Kyle’s 4th book, The Queen’s Gamble, a great read. And now she has the 5th in The Thornleigh Series out so I’ll put it on my list as well. How did I meet Kyle? I found her writing course online a few years ago, took it, signed up for a couple of her workshops, and now I am a Kyle convert. Just this morning I found that she is speaking at Stratford’s Shakespearean Festival this summer and I’ve marked the date on my calendar.

How have your reading habits changed over the years? What has affected them, having children, working full time, change of jobs, change of circumstance or taste? Consider leaving a comment below.

 

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Coming Soon!

The Loyalist’s Wife by Elaine Cougler

 

5 Must Haves in Historical Fiction

 Today’s post is going to be very personal because of the nature of readers’ tastes, not just in historical fiction but in fiction in general; in fact, taste is a major component in non-fiction, as well, but that’s another subject.

These five ‘must haves’ then are purely my opinion. Your list might be much different from mine or it might even be a lot different. The important element in all this is to please ourselves as readers and hope that if we like our own historicals, others might like them, too.

My 5 Must Haves in Historical Fiction

1. An interesting period in history. This was easy for me to find for my historical series as the American Revolutionary War gave birth to two great countries and while we now have the longest undefended border in the world between Canada and the United States, in the period I’m illuminating, tension was the norm. Even after 1783.
2. Fictional characters who are believable, realistic, and imperfect. One of my favorite series is Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books partly because of the irrepressible Claire but also because of the imperfect but wonderful Jamie. He, especially, has become an icon in the reading world. If I can’t think of Gabaldon’s name, I’ll say, “You know, the books about Scotland and Jamie Fraser.” Immediately people know the books I mean.
3. Enough history that I learn things I didn’t know about the time period. I loved learning the historical facts about Henry VIII’s reign in all the books I’ve read on the subject. My favorite, which I will never forget, is Henry VIII, With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers by Margaret George. Of course we all have a fair idea of just who Henry was but this book showed me much more detail both in the real facts that I learned and in the fictional conversations between Henry and Somers.
4. An excellent polished writing style. Nothing quite delights me more when reading a fine book than to become aware of the consummate skill with words that the writer exemplifies. A few years ago our son gave my husband and me a wonderful dinner in Toronto which was a fundraiser for Pierre Berton’s childhood home which had become a writer’s retreat spot in the Yukon. Seated at every table were at least two Canadian authors with whom we could converse for the whole evening. One of ours was Lawrence Hill who told me he was working on a new book called The Book of Negroes. Because of the use of a word so denigrated in our society I was intrigued. When I bought and read the book a couple of years later, I was entranced. In the first few pages Hill’s use of language absolutely floored me. It was stunning. Add to that the actual existence of such a book in the slave trading times which are the subject matter and you have an unforgettable work. (Published as Someone Knows My Name in the U.S.)
5. A satisfying and believable ending. Diamond Ruby, by Joseph Wallace was recommended to me and, even though it is a little out of my usual norm of kings and queens and such, I am glad I read it. Wallace writes of the early 1900′s, detailing how Ruby’s life ends as she knows it and taking the reader along on her excruciating journey against the backdrop of organized crime, gangsters, Babe Ruth,and Jack Dempsey. I can’t say more without spoiling the ending but this is a fabulous book.

Consider leaving a comment with your must-haves in historical fiction. Or any good book. You might even name your all-time favorite if you can. I can’t. I love so many.

Download your free copy of 10 Ways to Improve Your Writing from the link in the side column!

Coming Soon!

The Loyalist’s Wife by Elaine Cougler

 

10 Things Writers Wonder About

Graphic by Ron Cougler

We writers are slaves to self-doubt, and why shouldn’t we be? There are about as many gurus out there telling us exactly how to be successful as there are writers hungry for the secret formula.

Along the road to publication are lots of potholes and bumpy stretches. We get passed by transport trucks and smart cars alike as we try to read the map, make the right turn, and keep up with the traffic.