Dana
asked
Jo Baker:
Hi Jo, I can't imagine not having books to read in my life. I have thoroughly enjoyed Longbourn and The Telling. Do you have time to read other novelists' work and if so what sort of books do you enjoy reading?
Jo Baker
Oh I read ALL the time. And i usually have about half a dozen books on the go. I don't think you can really be a writer if you don't read. I'm currently on tour and I don't have a kindle, so I have been lugging books around with me and have a sore shoulder from the weight. I really need to catch up with the 21st Century.
You need to feed yourself, as a writer. It's not as simple as keeping up with what your peers are up to. You need to gather resources, and as widely as possible. I read all sorts; I often get crushes on other writers and just read everything they have ever written, and then just move onto someone else (so fickle!) I read fiction and non fiction, history and biography, all sorts. I also like reading genre fiction (sci-fi, detective fiction, that kind of thing). i think 'Literary Fiction' tends to treat plot as a bit by-the-bye; I'm fascinated by plot and I LOVE seeing it done well. i have massive admiration for that.
You need to feed yourself, as a writer. It's not as simple as keeping up with what your peers are up to. You need to gather resources, and as widely as possible. I read all sorts; I often get crushes on other writers and just read everything they have ever written, and then just move onto someone else (so fickle!) I read fiction and non fiction, history and biography, all sorts. I also like reading genre fiction (sci-fi, detective fiction, that kind of thing). i think 'Literary Fiction' tends to treat plot as a bit by-the-bye; I'm fascinated by plot and I LOVE seeing it done well. i have massive admiration for that.
More Answered Questions
Mary Lou
asked
Jo Baker:
I find your books very interesting. I'd like to ask an add-on question to one of the others, about what inspires you to write. Do you do a lot of research when you choose a topic or do you just start writing and then look up facts to make the story accurate for its time period?
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