“Don’t write what you know,” the common wisdom goes. “Write what you’re interested in.”
What is your favorite type of book to read? Is that the type of book that you write?
9 thoughts on “Reader Friday: Do You Write What You Love to Read?”
I love to read both literary fiction and thrillers.
When I first started writing, I didn’t think I had it in me to write anything literary, or that I’d ever have it in me to do so, but I’ve found my voice, and I think I’m now capable of writing a literary thriller.
What do I mean by literary? (because people have different views about what literary writing is and is not.)
What I think it’s not: it’s not pretentious, it’s not boring or a slow read, it’s not ten-dollar words.
What it can be: it can be a page-turner, it can raise huge moral dilemmas, it can be clear (clarity is Rule #1 for me) and deep at the same time, it can teach us about ourselves via complex characters.
So that’s my goal: to write a literary thriller, or at least a damn fine thriller.
I like to read cozy mysteries and scifi romance, and yes, I write in those genres. I do not write historicals even though I love to read them because the research is too daunting.
Yes, I write what I read….sorta. I love historicals, but I don’t often find any with the scope of story I’m looking for–I prefer stories that are wide and sweeping–not Michener size, but more than Jack & Jill in breeches and petticoats. I want stories that examine not just the immediate issue at hand with the protag, but what’s going on in their town, region, nation, and even how those events are affected by what’s going on in other places of the world. But the research is gargantuan when you want to write stories like that, which is why I suspect there aren’t many out there.
I’m also in the same boat as Nancy—but in a different genre. I love to read thriller/suspense (love the late Vince Flynn) but I would never attempt to write books like that because I just do not feel I’d ever have access to the people I need for the research involved.
I’m curious, does anybody find it HARDER to write contemporary stories than historical? That’s how I feel. Somehow it feels harder to be authentic when writing stories set in recent decades. Maybe because each decade has its own unique stamp and it seems hard to keep those decades straight. You know, like having a reader write to you and say “They would never have said/worn that in 1985!”
The short answer would be – yes! I am greatly influenced by what I read and enjoy – I want to write, what I would like to read!
I was brought up on sci-fi and still love it. It is deeply rooted in me. I was never a big “high fantasy” person although I read and do read a lot of fantasy, most would be considered some variation of urban fantasy (before they even had a genre for it). It is in more recent years that I read thrillers, mysteries, cozy mysteries, and I’ve read some romance twists of these (although I don’t think I’d be good enough to pull off a good romance version). I read westerns, science, tech, etc. I read a lot of variety. I love to read. I always have.
I thought I would probably be writing in Sci-fi, but have spent more time with urban fantasy. You guys must all be rubbing off on me, it looks like my first big finish will be a southwest killer thriller. I manage to have a dead body in just about each book I’ve worked on, so, I might as well run with it. My WIP does bear on what I know (I am a southwestern/ Great Basin archaeologist by training, with some forensics background (people and critter bones and stuff). It is located where I love to be, doing what I like to do, and I know it will have some super twists (because I’m planning it – I’m a reforming pantser. Thanks JSB – I LOVE your new structure book – it is now officially my favorite on the subject! ). Killer Thrillers/Murder-Mysteries – I might be biased, but of all the things I’ve written I think they take a bit more work and imagination. Planning is more of a necessity to make it look unplanned and fun. I also may be a bit of a glutton for punishment or too much of a challenge thrill seeker. 😀
I realized long ago I would probably not be a “literary giant” – I like action and fun way too much. I would be ok if my stories were reading-candy-crack for readers… many of those reads have been my favorites!
I thought I would probably be writing in Sci-fi, but have spent more time with urban fantasy.
Same with me. I’ve been a science geek since I was a kid, but when I started writing seriously, I found sci-fi wasn’t for me. I’m drawn to fantasy fiction.
And wouldn’t you know it, when I started writing the type of fiction I enjoyed reading, I started getting acceptance letters from editors. Funny how that works.
Good to know, Mike. That gives me more hope! 😀
I have way too many interests and read such a large variety of genres that I do have a problem when it comes to writing. My stories range from cozy mystery to suspense to historical fiction to women’s fiction….but at the center of each story is a bit of a mystery, so I guess I’m consistent in that one tiny way.
I love reading many genres but I when I write I always seem to be drawn to the historical – so even though I read a lot of contemporary novels I don’t seem to be able to write them:)
Aw, what a nice topic to ponder on. I just finished a crime novella for a story bundle, while writing a horror one on the side. I finished the crime first, but realized I like writing about horror more. I think it’s because I love to watch Criminal Minds, but I like historical mystery and crime. And I love to read fantasy and horror because of the “un-reality!”
“Don’t write what you know,” the common wisdom goes. “Write what you’re interested in.”
I love to read both literary fiction and thrillers.
When I first started writing, I didn’t think I had it in me to write anything literary, or that I’d ever have it in me to do so, but I’ve found my voice, and I think I’m now capable of writing a literary thriller.
What do I mean by literary? (because people have different views about what literary writing is and is not.)
What I think it’s not: it’s not pretentious, it’s not boring or a slow read, it’s not ten-dollar words.
What it can be: it can be a page-turner, it can raise huge moral dilemmas, it can be clear (clarity is Rule #1 for me) and deep at the same time, it can teach us about ourselves via complex characters.
So that’s my goal: to write a literary thriller, or at least a damn fine thriller.
I like to read cozy mysteries and scifi romance, and yes, I write in those genres. I do not write historicals even though I love to read them because the research is too daunting.
Yes, I write what I read….sorta. I love historicals, but I don’t often find any with the scope of story I’m looking for–I prefer stories that are wide and sweeping–not Michener size, but more than Jack & Jill in breeches and petticoats. I want stories that examine not just the immediate issue at hand with the protag, but what’s going on in their town, region, nation, and even how those events are affected by what’s going on in other places of the world. But the research is gargantuan when you want to write stories like that, which is why I suspect there aren’t many out there.
I’m also in the same boat as Nancy—but in a different genre. I love to read thriller/suspense (love the late Vince Flynn) but I would never attempt to write books like that because I just do not feel I’d ever have access to the people I need for the research involved.
I’m curious, does anybody find it HARDER to write contemporary stories than historical? That’s how I feel. Somehow it feels harder to be authentic when writing stories set in recent decades. Maybe because each decade has its own unique stamp and it seems hard to keep those decades straight. You know, like having a reader write to you and say “They would never have said/worn that in 1985!”
The short answer would be – yes! I am greatly influenced by what I read and enjoy – I want to write, what I would like to read!
I was brought up on sci-fi and still love it. It is deeply rooted in me. I was never a big “high fantasy” person although I read and do read a lot of fantasy, most would be considered some variation of urban fantasy (before they even had a genre for it). It is in more recent years that I read thrillers, mysteries, cozy mysteries, and I’ve read some romance twists of these (although I don’t think I’d be good enough to pull off a good romance version). I read westerns, science, tech, etc. I read a lot of variety. I love to read. I always have.
I thought I would probably be writing in Sci-fi, but have spent more time with urban fantasy. You guys must all be rubbing off on me, it looks like my first big finish will be a southwest killer thriller. I manage to have a dead body in just about each book I’ve worked on, so, I might as well run with it. My WIP does bear on what I know (I am a southwestern/ Great Basin archaeologist by training, with some forensics background (people and critter bones and stuff). It is located where I love to be, doing what I like to do, and I know it will have some super twists (because I’m planning it – I’m a reforming pantser. Thanks JSB – I LOVE your new structure book – it is now officially my favorite on the subject! ). Killer Thrillers/Murder-Mysteries – I might be biased, but of all the things I’ve written I think they take a bit more work and imagination. Planning is more of a necessity to make it look unplanned and fun. I also may be a bit of a glutton for punishment or too much of a challenge thrill seeker. 😀
I realized long ago I would probably not be a “literary giant” – I like action and fun way too much. I would be ok if my stories were reading-candy-crack for readers… many of those reads have been my favorites!
I thought I would probably be writing in Sci-fi, but have spent more time with urban fantasy.
Same with me. I’ve been a science geek since I was a kid, but when I started writing seriously, I found sci-fi wasn’t for me. I’m drawn to fantasy fiction.
And wouldn’t you know it, when I started writing the type of fiction I enjoyed reading, I started getting acceptance letters from editors. Funny how that works.
Good to know, Mike. That gives me more hope! 😀
I have way too many interests and read such a large variety of genres that I do have a problem when it comes to writing. My stories range from cozy mystery to suspense to historical fiction to women’s fiction….but at the center of each story is a bit of a mystery, so I guess I’m consistent in that one tiny way.
I love reading many genres but I when I write I always seem to be drawn to the historical – so even though I read a lot of contemporary novels I don’t seem to be able to write them:)
Aw, what a nice topic to ponder on. I just finished a crime novella for a story bundle, while writing a horror one on the side. I finished the crime first, but realized I like writing about horror more. I think it’s because I love to watch Criminal Minds, but I like historical mystery and crime. And I love to read fantasy and horror because of the “un-reality!”