Do More Reading

For the past few weeks, I've been polishing up on some of my reading. Not a bad idea, really. I mean, I do write crime fiction, suspense fiction, and on occasion scary stuff. So why let the old wheels get rusty?

I was once talking to a fellow about being a writer, and that writers needed to be well read. This is a common fundamental with almost all writers the world over, and not just writers do this; carpenters, painters, engineers and architects spend huge amounts of time studying their craft. They see what others have done, they see how others have done it, and they gain insight, inspiration and confidence. Writers should be the most starving people in the world for books to read. I mean it. We should be so ravenous for literature that we'll read the fucking phone book out of necessity, but when it comes right down to it, we don't put in as much effort into the other half of our craft as we try to do with the scribble part of it.

I am reading a book (well several actually) called, What's A Ghoul To Do? It is written by Victoria Laurie, and it's the first in a series of Ghost Hunter Mysteries. Since most of my novels involve murder or death in some way, then I gravitate toward the crime novel genre; books by James Patterson, Mo Hayder and Stuart MacBride, just to name a few. This book, What's A Ghoul To Do? is a good example of a staple novel. By staple, I mean, a novel that is intended to provide entertainment to the masses. You aren't going to find overly elaborate and exhaustive narrative, no compelling dialogue and character interchange. You will find a few of my pet beefs grammatically, but as a writer, this is where we are to spend our time.

Video games have become such a back burner thing that I probably spend less than four hours a week on my console, and that's probably way too generous an amount.

Now this next part will probably step on a few toes, but then I'm more or less repeating the resounding echo of many great writers and authors over the past several decades. No matter what you learn in school or college, there is no better framework for a good writer than to be a great reader.

"But, Mr Devere, does that include fan-fiction? There's this really great writer that's written this two hundred thousand word fic about Will Robinson and Luna!"

Sorry. That's not really what I mean. Granted there are some immaculate fan-fiction stories out there, and they are upper-tier English literature, for the most part I'd have to shake my head and tell you, "No. Don't do that." Reading a lot of fan-fiction as a substitution for a book is a big gamble, and can end up like two apprentices teaching each other. Unless you know for sure that the person you are reading is very good at the craft, you are only going to be as good as the people that instruct you. And, each book that you read is one more small layer of instruction. If you want to gorge on fan-fiction and I can't talk you out of it; then go for the writers that remind you of those kids that were top in your class at school. Those smart kids that everyone would go to at the end of the period and beg to help with homework. Don't go for the popularity, that'll get you no where.

"What about the classics?"

Go for it. I must've read two hundred books that predate 1900s era literature before I ever started writing. Not because I was trying to go for some record breaking feat, but because I lived in a rural area with no cable TV, and I learned that a book was a more lengthy and rewarding form of entertainment. So if the classics are what you are into. Then hot-damn jump up high, and slap someone's momma, you are on the right track. Famous author Dean Koontz mainly sticks to reading classics for reasons that involve character creation. He's commented that modern characters are and I paraphrase like method actors. The writers are trying too hard sometimes, and it comes off as having no realized depth. "No Freudean villains."

There is nothing wrong with reading a cheap book. Take for example the Ghost Hunter Mystery. It smacks of romance, endless amounts of wit; comes complete with almost every cliche, including a token homosexual for the hot chick, and introduces some silly escapist scenarios. Is this sort of book beneath me? Certainly not. If you are under the belief that only masterpieces should be worth your perusing, then you will be waiting a long time for the next one to be judged such. Also, it doesn't hurt to take your editor glasses off, and take your scrutiny and put it in the bottom drawer. When you read a book, be a reader; absorb this shit. Don't let typos fuck with your head, because that's not the writer; I know... it's the copy editors. Grrr! Learn to relax, chillax, and enjoy your craft.

Now, if you are in the mood for some reading material. Then check out what's on my shelf at Goodreads, look me up there, or you can find my link in my user page.

Ta...