Mixing Reading and Writing
While I’ve been working on this novel, I’ve been reading as well. On the train, before sleep and when I’m too tired to concentrate on writing. I’ve read Libba Bray, Mark Henry, Holly Black and Lisa Lutz. By the way, all of those authors are amazing.
This was working out just fine until a couple of weeks ago.
When I’m reading, I get really drawn into the story. So drawn in that I started feeling like it was affecting the style of my writing. And I’ve realized that some small components of my style have shifted over the course of this WIP. I think part of that has to do with the array of books I’ve read during all of this. I’m almost certainly going to need some strong editing skills in getting the narrator’s style to match throughout the book.
So, I basically stopped reading. Or not reading much. Eeek! I’m glad I’m nearing completion because it’s hard for me to go very long without reading something. I just don’t want to sound like another author, let alone five or six of them.
Do you read while you are working on a novel? Do you feel like it affects your style? If you do read, how do you get past this? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Comments
I have the same problem, JenWriter. I decided that my reading is STILL my hobby…if it affects small portions of the first draft, that’s okay…I will edit and pull that back together. So I still read during the first draft.
However, when I edit (and am planning the big first edit on 22 May) I will NOT read. Then my book deserves all my attention.
HTH!
Yes and Yes. I am not advocating any form a plagiarism. I was an English teacher, I know plagiarism = stealing, career ending before it ever begins, wrongness. But influence is a good thing. For me, I not only read because I might suffer from physical withdraw symptoms if I stop, I honestly believe it makes me a better writer. What I do to try and keep things on track is reimmerse myself in the characters. I do thought exercises, most of which I never bother to pen to paper. I imagine my characters in completely different settings and see how the react to things. I have them dialog with other characters and with themselves. Basically I try and let the characters remind me of who they are, kind of like you talked about here.
Oops here = http://blog.jenwriter.com/2008/04/25/those-pesky-characters/
I’ve noticed that if I get hooked on a favorite author, I start “talking” like they do, sure. But if I keep reading a variety of authors and genres my mind doesn’t get a chance to settle on any one of them and subconsciously mimic their voice. In fact, I’ll start to copy people, too, in my everyday spech and mannerisms if I hang around them too much!
I think the second draft will shine quite a bright light on those moments that don’t ring true as your own voice when you see them after some time has passed.
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