Is Reading Really Fundamental to Growing as a Writer?
Welcome, Guest Blogger Joanne Troppello! Here's what Joanne has to say about reading as a writer. And take a look at her inspirational book, MR. SHIPLEY'S GOVERNESS, described below.
I have always loved to read ever since I was a little girl when I first discovered books. Reading fueled my appetite to learn to write and the rest is history—well, almost. For a while I was focusing so much on writing my current WIP’s that I didn’t read any new books for over six months. Of course, that’s not beneficial to my writing and I finally realized that.
I recently started doing some book reviews and that has whet my appetite again to reading and why I love it so much. It’s also reminded me how much (as a writer) I need to read other books, both fiction and non-fiction.
Reading how other authors write is beneficial to sharpening your own writing skills. If you’re looking closely enough, you’ll see what works for other authors and what doesn’t. Your skills will be honed. That’s the point, right—we should always want to do what is necessary to sharpen our skillset and write better novels. At least that’s my goal.
I know with my first book, I did not know what I was doing other than basic grammar skills and that I really, really wanted to be an author. However, wanting to be a real author and truly being one—two totally different stories. Being a successful author takes hard work and determination and you always need to take the good with the bad. Are you able to handle constructive criticism from editors, publishers, book reviewers and even readers…without getting offended? It takes me time to process the criticism, but usually I can get a handle on it and use that to make my writing better.
Now that my second novel has been published and I’m working on my third and fourth, I’m excited that I’m still learning more on how to write better and get a truly polished novel that readers are waiting with bated breath to read. Starting to read other books again has truly assisted in that journey.
There are different levels of writing and I want to strive to make it to the highest level that I can write. Reading more books can open your mind to those different levels of writing skills and you can compare that to your own set of skills and figure out where you need to improve. Obviously, your end goal is not to copy another author’s work. That would be plagiarism and wrong! My point is that reading good, quality work can inspire you to see where your writing skills are lacking and open up your eyes to see where you can improve.
I recently received a Kindle and let’s just say that I LOVE it!! I never thought I would enjoy reading on an eReader since I was an advocate for print books, but after my mom got one (and she was more against the eReader than I was)…she convinced me that I would love it. I’ve only had the Kindle for a month and I’ve fallen in love—I’ve been kindle-fied!
So, just curious what other people think on the subject of eBooks vs. print books. Do you think print books will become obsolete? If you have an eReader, which kind and what do you like about it?
Bio: Joanne Troppello is an author of mystery and inspirational romance novels. Her second novel, Mr. Shipley’s Governess, was recently released by Wild Horse Press. She is at work on her next novel, a romantic suspense. She is married and loves spending time with her husband and family. Blog: http://joannetroppello.weebly.com/blo...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoanneTroppello
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joanne.kerzma...
Book Blurb: MR. SHIPLEY'S GOVERNESS
Sophie Baird is looking for a way to escape the painful reality of her parents' deaths. Unable to live in their home any longer, she takes a job as a live-in tutor to Anastasia Shipley to remove herself from her painful memories and the feeling that God has abandoned her.
Anastasia has an illness that has prevented her from ever attending school and makes her father, Sebastian, over protective.
When Sophie first meets Sebastian, she cannot deny the intense attraction she feels toward him. When an unexpected romance begins between them, she starts to rebuild her relationship with God, with the help of a certain little girl.
Purchase Link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...
I have always loved to read ever since I was a little girl when I first discovered books. Reading fueled my appetite to learn to write and the rest is history—well, almost. For a while I was focusing so much on writing my current WIP’s that I didn’t read any new books for over six months. Of course, that’s not beneficial to my writing and I finally realized that.
I recently started doing some book reviews and that has whet my appetite again to reading and why I love it so much. It’s also reminded me how much (as a writer) I need to read other books, both fiction and non-fiction.
Reading how other authors write is beneficial to sharpening your own writing skills. If you’re looking closely enough, you’ll see what works for other authors and what doesn’t. Your skills will be honed. That’s the point, right—we should always want to do what is necessary to sharpen our skillset and write better novels. At least that’s my goal.
I know with my first book, I did not know what I was doing other than basic grammar skills and that I really, really wanted to be an author. However, wanting to be a real author and truly being one—two totally different stories. Being a successful author takes hard work and determination and you always need to take the good with the bad. Are you able to handle constructive criticism from editors, publishers, book reviewers and even readers…without getting offended? It takes me time to process the criticism, but usually I can get a handle on it and use that to make my writing better.
Now that my second novel has been published and I’m working on my third and fourth, I’m excited that I’m still learning more on how to write better and get a truly polished novel that readers are waiting with bated breath to read. Starting to read other books again has truly assisted in that journey.
There are different levels of writing and I want to strive to make it to the highest level that I can write. Reading more books can open your mind to those different levels of writing skills and you can compare that to your own set of skills and figure out where you need to improve. Obviously, your end goal is not to copy another author’s work. That would be plagiarism and wrong! My point is that reading good, quality work can inspire you to see where your writing skills are lacking and open up your eyes to see where you can improve.
I recently received a Kindle and let’s just say that I LOVE it!! I never thought I would enjoy reading on an eReader since I was an advocate for print books, but after my mom got one (and she was more against the eReader than I was)…she convinced me that I would love it. I’ve only had the Kindle for a month and I’ve fallen in love—I’ve been kindle-fied!
So, just curious what other people think on the subject of eBooks vs. print books. Do you think print books will become obsolete? If you have an eReader, which kind and what do you like about it?
Bio: Joanne Troppello is an author of mystery and inspirational romance novels. Her second novel, Mr. Shipley’s Governess, was recently released by Wild Horse Press. She is at work on her next novel, a romantic suspense. She is married and loves spending time with her husband and family. Blog: http://joannetroppello.weebly.com/blo...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoanneTroppello
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joanne.kerzma...
Book Blurb: MR. SHIPLEY'S GOVERNESS
Sophie Baird is looking for a way to escape the painful reality of her parents' deaths. Unable to live in their home any longer, she takes a job as a live-in tutor to Anastasia Shipley to remove herself from her painful memories and the feeling that God has abandoned her.
Anastasia has an illness that has prevented her from ever attending school and makes her father, Sebastian, over protective.
When Sophie first meets Sebastian, she cannot deny the intense attraction she feels toward him. When an unexpected romance begins between them, she starts to rebuild her relationship with God, with the help of a certain little girl.
Purchase Link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...
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