By Amanda Barratt
It’s always a delight to chat with
aspiring authors. With a smile, I always ask what kind of stories they love to
write, and listen attentively as they share their ideas. Invariably, the conversation
leads to me asking another question. “Are you familiar with the work of authors
who write in your genre?”
Usually, the answer is yes. But
sometimes, I receive a blank look. “No. Not really. I’m not much of a reader.”
The first time this happened, I was left
fumbling for words. A writer who’s not a
reader? To me, that’s equivalent to a director who never watches movies, or a chef
who never visits restaurants.
Writing workshops are amazing. Books on
the craft of writing are wonderful. But there’s no better way to learn the
delicate balance of plot and character, the subtleties of emotional resonance,
the rapid-fire play of wit-laced dialogue, than by reading the work of authors
who are masters of the craft.
Since the beginning stages of my writing
journey, I’ve spent twice as much time reading as I have attending workshops,
studying how-to books, and reading writing blogs. And I’ve gleaned twice as
much insight into the nuances of the craft. Not only do I read, I study. Usually,
I begin by reading a novel or work of nonfiction like any ordinary reader,
pausing now and then to study sentence structure, consider why that paragraph stirred
my heart. If, after finishing the last page, I know I’ve found a book that
raises the bar on craft, characters, and storytelling, I re-read it. This time,
I pay close attention to every scene, taking mental or sometimes actual notes
on what worked and what didn’t. Even in the best stories, there are weak links.
A line of dialogue that feels off, or a scene that doesn’t quite flow. I pause
and consider what the author could have done differently.
This critical
thinking is especially helpful to cultivate, and then utilize when I’m editing
my own work. Mostly, though, I focus on the positive. That unforgettable
character or memorable line of dialogue, a seamlessly woven theme that will
forever linger in my thoughts. The best books are experiences, and when I
discover a story that draws me in and paints a landscape of people and places
in vivid color, I know I’ve found one for my keeper shelf.
Our minds are
like sponges as we read, growing and absorbing. As we take the time to study
the craft of writing through the works of others, our own stories will become
all the richer.
The man who never
reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will
not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his
own. Charles Spurgeon
____________________________________________________________
ECPA best-selling author Amanda Barratt fell in love with writing in grade school when
she wrote her first story—a spinoff of Jane Eyre. Now, Amanda
writes romantic, historical fiction, penning stories of beauty and brokenness
set against the backdrop of bygone eras not so very different from our own. Her
novel My Dearest Dietrich: A Novel of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Lost Love released
from Kregel Publications in June 2019. She’s also the author of My
Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele’s Journey, as well as seven
novellas with Barbour Publishing. Two of her novellas have been finalists in
the FHL Reader’s Choice Awards. Amanda lives in the woods of Michigan with her
fabulous family, where she can be found reading way too many books, plotting
her next novel, and jotting down imaginary travel itineraries for her dream
vacation to Europe. Connect with her on Facebook and visit her online at
amandabarratt.net. Social Media Links: Website: www.amandabarratt.net Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandabarrattauthor Twitter:
www.twitter.com/amandambarratt
Reading is the best therapy indeed! Still, there is a huge fan following of book reading. Only the book lovers will know the level of satisfaction they get after reading their famous author’s book. Today, we see a sudden rise in the blogging industry in Pakistan, and people have started taking blog writing service in Pakistan because of the increasing demand.
ReplyDeleteI love Writing, As myself is also a writer asically I'm a thesis writers at Thesis writing services in Islamabad So i can say that, Writing is best the thing to Improve your skills in every sector it not just improve your writing skills only but you can also enhance your every kinds of knowledge reading as you can get so many information from the writing.
ReplyDeleteSome famous personalities also mention in their workshops and quotes about reading habit, what happens when you read books and importance of reading. When i help in instant assignment help UAE with that I must recommend them to improve your grammar and read some pages daily.
ReplyDeleteStudies show that reading for pleasure makes a big difference to student's educational performance. Likewise, evidence suggests that student who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who do not, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures.Since the beginning stages of my writing journey as i'm a writer at
ReplyDeletePakistan Assignment help , I’ve spent twice as much time reading as I have attending workshops, studying how-to books, and reading writing blogs
That’s true! Reading is the best strategy to become a creative writer. During my student life, I was really interested in reading and I always used to hire someone and Pay To Do My Assignment. So that I can get enough time to read more and more. Today, I am a creative writer, and it only happened because I read too much and gained more knowledge.
ReplyDeleteFortune Jackets Care for your Fashion Requirements. We Uphold the Premium Quality Custom Deigns Leather jackets. Visit My site Best Custom Leather Jackets Thanks.
ReplyDeletewe are offering cheap custom boxes with free shipping check our Custom Bakery boxes
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletereally beautiful Reading is, without a doubt, the best kind of rehabilitation! Even yet, there is a sizable fan base for book reading. Only book fans would understand the level of satisfaction they feel after reading a book by a famous author. I strongly advise them to work on their grammar and read a few pages every day. block of wounderfill
ReplyDeletesource: back end development services
I love the information you shared. I have already visited several blogs and they didn't provided me info like yours. I would to read more articles of yours but right now I looking for someone whom I can Pay To Do My Assignment on an urgent basis. Can anybody help my in finding a reliable and fast essay writing service?
ReplyDeletePLeasssssseeeee....
The best sort of therapy is without a doubt reading that is truly beautiful! There is a significant fan audience for reading books, thus even now I am offeringcustom website design. Only avid readers would comprehend how happy they are after finishing a book by a well-known author.
ReplyDeleteyour blog is great thanks for sharing cobra kai red jacket
ReplyDeleteReading increases your vocabulary and attentiveness. You are exposed to many writing styles through reading. You can unconsciously pick up syntax, grammar, style, and punctuation via reading. Reading aids in the subliminal assimilation of general norms, organisation, and document design.
ReplyDeleteI learned to write at the firm where I worked as a history assignment helper.