Writers who Read, Write Better!

Doesn’t that statement sound like a no brainer? It should. But it’s easy for writers to get sidetracked by their own projects. Let’s face it, all of that writing, revising, and submitting is time consuming. (Not to mention networking and promoting). Phew you’re exhausted already right?

But wait . . . subconciously you know that the fastest way to achieve success is to study success.  Think of all those books that hit the New York Times Best Seller list. I know there are more than a couple that you want to read. How can you find the time and stay motivated? Here’s a couple hints.

First, get the book! Sounds simple enough, but really, my multi-tasking, over-achieving, ball of ambition, when will you find time to browse the bookstore? How about right now.  I’ve found Barnes and Noble on-line to be a time saving genie. I don’t even have to get the baby in and out of the car seat. Click on the used and out of print tab for some great deals and hard to find discoveries. I generally go the used route myself and often have books delivered to my door for a fraction of buying them at the store.

OK, so you have a stack of books ready to read, how do you get them out of the procrastination pile? Get some book buddies. Fitness gurus have been on to this secret for years–teaming up with others keeps you motivated. I know, I know. Your life is already too complicated. Again, use the Internet. You’re already here. Do a search for book forums (I’ve stumbled on a few of them).  By joining an on-line discussion, you can post at you’re convenience, even if it’s midnight or 5am.

Since I am interested in female authors and the representation of women in literature, I joined a book forum that is currently reading works by Hispanic women. Not only does it keep me motivated, the interactive discussions challenge my own perception of an author’s work.

Large or small, size does not matter.  Large groups will often have a variety of view points, but the larger number of posts can get overwhelming and hard to navigate. Small groups may have a more limited perspective, but may also have more continuity and are easier to track. 

Finally, remember your objective. Find successful books in your genre and try to read more than you write. Pay special attention to the technical aspects: structure, voice, characterization. Really dissecting a good book is the best writing lesson you’ll get all year.