This post fills a duel role. It is part of the A to Z blogging challenge, but as it’s also the first Wednesday of the month, it’s time for Alex Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writers Support Group (ISWG). A monthly blog hop where writers talk about their insecurities or shout from the rooftops about how great the writing life is. You can sign up to the IWSG Here.
Last week I saw a question asked on Twitter – do you read the genre you’re writing in, while you are currently writing?
My answer to that was an honest one. I do continue to read crime fiction as I write and British crime fiction at that (as well as others). A discussion then ensued and I noted that I had read some absolutely brilliant crime fiction books as I was writing and it did at times, make me go into a dark place and make me wonder what the hell I was doing in trying to compete in this market place where books this brilliant were being produced.
The author who asked the question stated she just couldn’t read in her own genre while writing because it knocked her confidence. I could fully understand that.
But what about looking at it differently?
As writers we are always told to read and the advice is to read heavily in our own genre. Instead of feeling belittled by the wonderful books already out there on the shelves, be they actual or virtual, can we be inspired by the work? I know I have felt the hopelessness but there have also been times the polar opposite, where I’ve been reading a fantastic book and I’ve felt so enthused by it and wanted to be there, being read by others, that I’ve stopped reading and opened my laptop and added more words to my own manuscript, even if I thought I’d finished on it for the day.
If you write, do you read in the genre you write in as you’re writing?
Does reading in your own genre inspire or knock your confidence? And if knocked, how do you overcome this? I’d love to know as it’s very much a swings and roundabouts game for me.
Annalisa Crawford says
There are a couple of writers I can’t read at all when I’m writing because their incredibly distinctive style rubs off onto my words, which is very bad!
Rebecca Bradley says
I think that’s a good point Annalisa. Noticing the authors that maybe impact on you rather than a whole genre. Thanks!
Margret Geraghty says
I used to write fiction for magazines and I always found that reading Jilly Cooper or P G Wodehouse beforehand put me in the right mood for creating metaphors and similes. My own writing was very different from theirs but I think it certainly helped me to write better. I can’t imagine how reading could knock one’s self-esteem – unless one was consciously trying to copy – say – Shakespeare. Interesting post π
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Margret. So you would read those authors for your own inspiration? For me, the knocking of self esteem is that there are some really cracking crime fiction novels out there that it sometimes feels that I will never be good enough. It’s looking at what else is on the shelves that you want to be sitting beside and are you good enough to sit beside it?
Thanks for stopping by!
MarinaSofia says
I think that if we are reading a certain author and start copying his/her style, then it will become obvious in the editing process, so I’m not too worried about that rubbing off. If anything, I would say, like Margret, that it forces me to up my game and write better.
However, it can be disheartening when you realise a certain plot line or character or setting has been done so much better by somebody else…
Rebecca Bradley says
I think that’s the fear isn’t it? Seeing a character you’re writing, being brought to life in a way you just aren’t doing it.
I remember reading about copying styles in the Stephen King Book, On Writing, but as you say, it can be found in the editing process.
I couldn’t not read crime while I wrote, I’d never read it!
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – What a good question! I do read heavily in my genre (crime fiction) for a lot of reasons. One is that I like to see what other writers are doing/have done. I learn a lot from that. It can be difficult though, especially when I read absolutely brilliant books. I know there are some writers whose equal I could never be and that’s hard. But I learn enough that most of the time it’s worth it. Besides, no matter what one does, there’s always someone better at it.
Rebecca Bradley says
Margot, I think that’s a good point, the learning, even if as a reader we feel they are that much better, we can learn from them. I couldn’t stop reading crime fiction. I enjoy it too much.
Julie Flanders says
Kind of a nemesis to me I have to admit. Every time I read something I think, I’ll never be able to write this well, I might as well throw in the towel, etc. And this isn’t even just with brilliant books, I end up doing it no matter what I read LOL.
Rebecca Bradley says
It is hard isn’t it. I have read some really good books recently and this has happened to me. It’s really shaken my confidence, but as seen in the above comments, we can learn from them. We have to keep writing and for me, I have to keep reading. And I couldn’t stop reading crime fiction as I was writing, it takes me so long to write, I’d never read it!
Danielle L. Zecher says
I think it would be difficult not to read in your own genre. I assume most of us write something we enjoy, and it just seems like we’d also be reading a genre we enjoy. It just seems like there’s going to be some overlap.
Rebecca Bradley says
That’s a good point Danielle. Why do we write what we write? Because it’s what we enjoy anyway. So no, for that reason as well, I couldn’t stop reading it.
Thanks for stopping by.
Rachel Schieffelbein says
I read a lot of different genres, which often makes me want to write a bunch of different genres! Lol. But no, I don’t avoid reading the genre I’m writing. Sometimes it inspires me, but usually I just don’t compare.
Rebecca Bradley says
I’ve also been expanding my reading genres and yes, there is a part of me that wants to try something new! I need to build a solid base though, so crime fiction is what I’m sticking with – for the time being anyway π
Thanks for stopping by.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I continue reading my genre. How else am I to know if I’m doing something really wrong?
Rebecca Bradley says
Good point Alex! As always π
Diantha Jones (@DianthaJones) says
Definitely a nemesis and inspiration. I read my genre but its just so I can keep up with what’s happening. Nothing worse than an out of touch author!
B is for Boreas
Rebecca Bradley says
Exactly! We need to read within genre, but it can be hard going when you read that absolutely stunning book you wish you could have written!
Thanks for stopping by.
Jacqui Murray says
Love multi-tasking. It may the only way to get through a typical day anymore.
Rebecca Bradley says
Sometimes you need to rest though Jacqui!
Gene'O says
I lean more toward the inspiration side than the discouragement. The only fiction I spend any time on is fantasy, and the best fantasy makes me want to write more fiction.
Thanks for the stop-by, and best of luck with the challenge!
Rebecca Bradley says
I think that’s a great way to look at it. It’s how I try to look at it. Try to anyway.
Have a great month!
Elizabeth Hein says
I read in my own genre, as well as others. I get inspiration all over the place. Sometimes beautiful prose is intimidating but most of the time, I find it inspiring.
Rebecca Bradley says
That’s a good point, that reading in general is inspiring. Thanks Elizabeth. It’s probably why I just keep reading and reading while I’m writing anyway.
lilicasplace says
Hi Rebecca! Hoping all is well. Interesting question. I read many different genres because I’m interested in so many different things. Unfortunately, I haven’t found the genre I’m most comfortable writing. Aah, that’s what I need to figure out. My NaNo novel was a crime thriller, which I’m still editing. I’m working on two short stories now, one is a fantasy type and the other is horror. Who knows, I may end up doing romance! π The weirdest things inspire me. Anyway, have a wonderful evening, and I will ‘see’ you soon. Lily-Eva April IWSG Co-host
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Lily-Eva. If you write in different genres, I would imagine reading widely would just serve to encourage a widely inspired mind!
Kirsten says
I think you’re right to let great books inspire you rather than intimidate you. There is always that moment when I wonder what the heck I’m doing when I see how other writers’ words soar so much higher than mine ever will, but then I remind myself that every writer has to start somewhere. I’m just lower on the learning curve right now!
I read in and out of whatever genre I happen to be writing in. I used to avoid that, but then as it was just taking me too darn long to finish my book, and there were so many great books to read, I gave up.
Now I read whatever strikes my fancy. π
Rebecca Bradley says
Now that’s the best answer – I read whatever strikes my fancy! And that’s what reading is all about π
Kim Graff says
Absolutely. I think it’s vital to read your genre. I understand what you are saying though, and usually when I’m writing I don’t read a lot. I write pretty non-stop, then finish the first draft and then I do a reading binge. It’s true that other published books will be better than my just finished, or currently revising one, but that’s because they are FINISHED and have gone through a lot of hands to get to the state they are currently in. Every one of them was probably as messy as my WIP. At least that’s what I tell myself π
Besides, if you read and compare it to yourself, you take the joy out of reading.
Rebecca Bradley says
That’s a good point Kim about our first drafts and the books we read having gone through good set of hands to get to the place it is in. I’ll take that little nugget with me. Thank you π
D.A,Cairns says
I don’t purposefully read or write any particular genre, but I have had the thought when the two coincide, that is the reading and writing of the same genre: wow, this is good. How am I going to compete with this? I dismiss such notions by reminding myself that nobody writes like I write. I have a voice. I am unique. So in answer to your question…I am inspired by brilliant books, and I dream of others describing my work as brilliant.
Rebecca Bradley says
What a great answer, that you are inspired by brilliant books and dream of others describing your work as brilliant. I hope they do one day.
Carol Balawyder says
Hi Rebecca-
I do read my genre when I’m writing my own crime fiction. I like to study how the author “does it”. Of course, there is the danger, as you said, of comparing my writing to all those great writers out there and getting discouraged. I also like to read literary novels while writing to also study their sentences structures and language. Whether it’s reading in my genre or literary I do so for inspiration.
When I’m not writing I’ll read out of my genre or even in my genre simply for the pleasure but sometimes it’s hard to separate the reader from the writer and I get caught up in the analysis of the novel asking myself: now why did i like this book or not like it.
An interesting post. π Now I’m going back to Margot Kinberg’s post as she linked me here.