To Read or Not to Read
One of the fun things about writing is that there is so much advice given, much of it conflicting. One thing I’ve learned though is there is no “right” way to write. You have to do what works for you.
I’m always struck by writers who say they never read in their genre when they are working on a manuscript, for fear of losing their own voice or inadvertently pinching an idea. How could I give up reading when I’m completely addicted?
Then, this happened to me on the very same day. I had slaved over a love scene for most of the week I was on vacation. My young couple just couldn’t seem to get it on, contrary to their raging teen hormones. At last they cooperated with me, and here is one line I wrote about their union: (warning, not precisely PG) The press of his shirt button on her bare breast had left an imperfect circle and he sealed the mark with his tongue.
I was so relieved to be done with this scene that I rewarded myself with Elizabeth Hoyt’s To Taste Temptation. Right there on page 232: She felt the press of the cold metal buttons of his waistcoat on her bare breasts as he leaned into her.
If anybody sees Elizabeth, tell her I wrote it before I read it!
I often come across names I’ve picked or scenes I’ve written that are identical to things in books. Has this happened to you? Do you avoid reading while you’re writing?
Posted in The Inclined
May 4th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Maggie, great topic. While I’m writing I like to read books in the same period that I write so I don’t mess up my voice, by going to contemporary or some such–so all romance and historical fiction are a go. When I’m editing, I cannot read romance—none at all. When I need inspiration, I pull out Rothgar, reading his book always makes me want to write, strange as that is.
I think things like that can’t be helped, when you are writing. The only thing I noticed with my wirting, was the same backstory with another author. I had to stop read that particular series in fear of accidentally pilfering something. Which is ludicrous because she’s contemporary para and I’m historical para…weird eh?
May 4th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Great blog, Maggie. I don’t stop reading but this has happened to me. Amazing how we believe we’ve had such an original thought and invariably find it’s been done a dozen times before. Sort of like trying to write a song. There are only so many notes to work with. It’s nearly impossible to arrange them in a way that has never been done before. But that doesn’t stop us from trying.
May 4th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Yeah, Tiff, since I write mostly historicals I suppose I should read contemps…but I just don’t like them as much…except for contemps written by my writing friends!
Terrio, so true about the music. I’m always catching bars that sound a whole lot like something else. What’s the “sampling” rule? I know Elizabeth Hoyt won’t sue me.
May 4th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Hi, Maggie! I read somewhere once that all ideas are like electrical impulses in the air–just waiting for someone to “plug into” them. The author claimed that is why so many people come up with practically the same idea at the same time; they all had just “plugged into” the universe simultaneously. Radical idea, but one I was reminded of when we were all writing about Patience and Damien. Someone commented on my second chapter that the writing was good, but the premise was getting old! (It wasn’t old to me!) I was amazed that so many of us had very similar “themes” on that chapter. What do you think? Are we all just part of the unconscious collective? (”We are Borg.”) Even if so, keep writing, Maggie. We all like your voice.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:16 am
I had the same thing happen to me as AprilsMom. One comment I got on one of my fanlit submisions was something to the effect of “oh, shades of (some title I can’t remember) from Julia Quinn”. And I was like Huh? because I’d never read the book.
I do tend to read my old favorites when I’m heavy into writing new, because reading new authors during a time of first creativity can disorient me. Or I have a short attention span!
May 5th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Oh, this is like a min-FanLit reunion, LOL. Hi, AprilsMom and thanks for the compliment! I know after a while everything blurs together. Shelley below wrote a list of most of the “standard” romance plots, and I know we’ve all read them. It’s freaky to think we’re all part of some giant mind. I’m just glad it’s not mine, LOL. You’d all be sorry.
Gillian, when I’m writing I deliberately seek out new authors to see what’s selling. Of course I realize they got their break two years ago, so I’m always a bit behind…the story of my life. And sometimes my favorite authors depress me because they’re untouchably good.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Great blog, Maggie. I do the same thing when I write… I read new authors or “new” books to see what’s going on. Since most of what I read is historical, it doesn’t work too well with my contemporaries; I just can’t read contemporaries when I write.
Do not read SEP when you’re writing a contemp… it depressed the hell out of me for a week. But then I had the same reaction when I read a historical… No winning whatsoever. LOL
May 7th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I keep reading, no matter what genre I’m writing in at the time. I think there’s only a limited number of ideas around and often it’s word choice and voice, and the execution of the ideas that make each book different.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Ely, that’s why I like to read the bad books you send me. They make me feel better, LOL.
Shelley, I can’t stop reading either (even the bad stuff, see above).