“While it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and while it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one, it is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one.” – Stephen King, On Writing
Discuss!
Reader Friday: Writers as Readers
Last week’s answers got me thinking. Most everyone said they saw no reason to finish a book they weren’t enjoying, for a variety of reasons. Someone told me that once you’re a writer, you can never read the same way again.
As a writer, do you think you’re more critical than before you took up the craft? Did you finish more “unfinishable” books when you were “only” a reader? Has your definition of a “unfinishable” book changed?
Image by congerdesign from Pixabay
Are you a member of the clean plate club when it comes to reading? Or do you leave books unfinished? How much time do you give an author to convince you to keep reading? What makes you stop?
Note: I was once given the formula 100 minus your age = how many pages you “owe” an author.
Describe your writing and/or your reading life using a Kangaroo word.
Technically, a kangaroo word carries its own synonym within it (called a joey word), but I don’t know how else to describe this game. Bonus points if you do!
Fill in the blanks:
My writing puts the ____ in _______. My reading life puts the _____ in ___________.
To get the ball rolling, I’ll start.
My writing puts the sass in assassin, the laughter in slaughter. My reading life puts the fun in funeral.
Your turn!
The pandemic changed the reading and/or writing habits for many.
Some readers stopped reading anything too real or violent and turned to lighter storylines, or at least stories with a HEA or uplifting ending.
Some writers couldn’t inflict as much pain, emotional and/or physical. Other readers and writers didn’t change a thing.
Did anything change in your reading and/or writing habits? Please explain.
Tell us about your WIP in three or four sentences (no time like the present to nail your elevator pitch). Please include genre.
How’s the writing going?
Are the words flowing from your fingerprints?
Or are you bleeding for every word?
For non-writers or if you’re in between projects: Tell us about the last book you read (in three or four sentences).
