Reading widely doesn’t mean reading Barbara Cartland and Mills & Boons. By all means read them if they hold appeal. If a writer is a great fan and plans to write in that genre then they would certainly need to read them as part of their market research.
Reading widely means reading a variety of authors from different eras, different genres and different countries.
Where to Begin?
Maybe try some heavy-weights. Shakespeare, for example. If the plays are too much to digest try reading the sonnets. Perhaps try some classics from Charles Dickens, Mary Shelley, Oscar Wilde, H G Wells, or Dostoyevsky. They have the reputation of being some of our greatest writers for a good reason and there is much to learn from them.
Also try modern novelists and read across genres. Perhaps Stephen King, both his horror novels and his fantasy, or Agatha Christie, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is groundbreaking, or the great story teller Isaac Asimov.
Consider the very popular novels as well. If they have stood the test of time then there is a readon. Pride and Prejudice and The Lord of the Rings consistently top lists of the best loved book of all time.
Another area to try is poetry. Poetry can cut through to your heart in a few words, stop you dead in tracks as you read, have the reader whispering "Yes, that’s exactly right".
Watch out for the novels written by writers from other countries. Reading widely in this area means not just writers from other countries where the dominant language is English, rather include writers from Japan, Chile, Poland, Tanzania, Berlin, Paris or Moscow.
Also remember to read widely across newspapers and magazines and publications from other cities and other countries. It can be fascinating and enlightening to read about other cultures, their customs, history, folklore.
These experiments in reading need not cost a lot. If you’re not already a member, join your local library. It means that while you’re experimenting with your reading choices you’re not taking a lot of financial risk.
Some Homework
Remember to ask yourself some questions about what you’ve read. Did you enjoy it? Why? Who was your favourite character? Why? Reflect on the story – is there any event you would change? How did you feel about the pace, setting and tone? What did you think of the ending? If you know someone else who has read the book, ask them the same questions to gain even more understanding. This is where a notebook or journal is important – you can not only keep details of what you’ve been reading but also your responses and other people’s.
It can help to keep a reading list that details novels you’ve heard or read about. Even rank them – gold star for ‘must read very soon’, silver star for ‘must read this year’, red star for ‘others’.
Carry some reading material with you everywhere so you don’t waste even a few minutes.
By doing a little analysis of what other writers have written helps a writer to understand their own writing and how to make it better.
For further fiction writing tips try Setting Writing Goals, Market Research for Writers and Write a Lot.
Lesley Munnichs - I am a part-time writer, an avid reader and haunt bookshops and libraries for anything interesting. I love people watching, rain, the ...
