Allison Symes's Blog - Posts Tagged "reading-moods"
Reading Moods
I don't know about you but my reading moods tend to be one genre at a time, then I switch to another for a while and so on.
At the moment my reading list is mainly history (non-fiction), but almost inevitably when I want a change from that, I'll go to something almost diametrically opposed to it. (Probably humorous fiction, knowing me and then it'll the usual crime fest with appropriate body count etc!).
I see all of this as immersing myself well and truly in the world of books and that does have benefits to my fiction. Ideas cross-pollinate, influences that lead to good story ideas can come from almost anywhere (so reading widely really means just casting your imagination's net out that bit further, which is rarely a bad thing!).
So whatever you are reading enjoy it! Who knows what ideas it might inspire in you for your own writing? (All I know is you've got to be open to the prospect of ideas coming in!).
At the moment my reading list is mainly history (non-fiction), but almost inevitably when I want a change from that, I'll go to something almost diametrically opposed to it. (Probably humorous fiction, knowing me and then it'll the usual crime fest with appropriate body count etc!).
I see all of this as immersing myself well and truly in the world of books and that does have benefits to my fiction. Ideas cross-pollinate, influences that lead to good story ideas can come from almost anywhere (so reading widely really means just casting your imagination's net out that bit further, which is rarely a bad thing!).
So whatever you are reading enjoy it! Who knows what ideas it might inspire in you for your own writing? (All I know is you've got to be open to the prospect of ideas coming in!).
Reading Moods
Does your mood change what you were planning on reading?
When life is especially grim, I will often turn to humorous works for sheer escapism. Indeed, I think humorous writing has a major role to play here. Funnily enough, the cosier end of the crime market can have a similar effect.
I have to be in a reasonably upbeat mood to begin with to cope with anything grim reading wise. That decision is backed by the fact I only have so much time in which to read so I want to make sure I enjoy what I do read!
For non-fiction, if I’m reading history (as I currently am with 1000 Years of Annoying the French by Stephen Clark), I find mood matters less.
Regardless of mood, whatever I read, I want to “zip” along and finish my reading session feeling I could have carried on reading all night if it wasn’t for the need to get some sleep!
So over to you then. Do you find you have to be in the right mood to read at all? (Not a problem with me - I will read, it is just a question of what I read).
Do you find your mood dictates what you read (as it can do for me)? Or is it a question of working your way through your To Be Read pile methodically?
When life is especially grim, I will often turn to humorous works for sheer escapism. Indeed, I think humorous writing has a major role to play here. Funnily enough, the cosier end of the crime market can have a similar effect.
I have to be in a reasonably upbeat mood to begin with to cope with anything grim reading wise. That decision is backed by the fact I only have so much time in which to read so I want to make sure I enjoy what I do read!
For non-fiction, if I’m reading history (as I currently am with 1000 Years of Annoying the French by Stephen Clark), I find mood matters less.
Regardless of mood, whatever I read, I want to “zip” along and finish my reading session feeling I could have carried on reading all night if it wasn’t for the need to get some sleep!
So over to you then. Do you find you have to be in the right mood to read at all? (Not a problem with me - I will read, it is just a question of what I read).
Do you find your mood dictates what you read (as it can do for me)? Or is it a question of working your way through your To Be Read pile methodically?
Reading Moods
I have various reading moods. Sometimes I want a huge novel to read. I want the complete epic story and that’s that.
Sometimes I want quick satisfying reads, which is where short stories and flash fiction come in. Mind you, it helps I write the latter two fiction forms. It does mean I’m biased but in the best possible way of course!
I deliberately mix up the word count lengths I read to as I want a variety of tales to enjoy. I also mix up the genres I read.
So for a while, I will read crime, then move on to something else and so on. I often use the short fiction forms as my reading material between reading the novels. I like to see them as appetizers!
I rarely read dystopian works on the grounds the news is gloomy enough but I love lighthearted reads, especially during the summer months. Wodehouse is ideal here I think.
Sometimes I want quick satisfying reads, which is where short stories and flash fiction come in. Mind you, it helps I write the latter two fiction forms. It does mean I’m biased but in the best possible way of course!
I deliberately mix up the word count lengths I read to as I want a variety of tales to enjoy. I also mix up the genres I read.
So for a while, I will read crime, then move on to something else and so on. I often use the short fiction forms as my reading material between reading the novels. I like to see them as appetizers!
I rarely read dystopian works on the grounds the news is gloomy enough but I love lighthearted reads, especially during the summer months. Wodehouse is ideal here I think.
