Hello Everyone,
Welcome back to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, which has a monthly blog hop on everything related to writing. This is my second post with the group, and I’m excited to be a part of it. The question this month is how has being a writer changes my experience as a reader.
Here’s the good:
While it is humbling when you read a great writer, it’s also validating. They make all those errors we get yelled at for. POV switches, wondering body parts, typos, repetitive word use, sagging middles, you name it. You can find mistakes in any book. Even those who sell most, and win awards and write books on writing.
Here’s the bad:
I used to read all books from beginning to end, no matter what. I can’t do that anymore. I know too much now. If a characters doesn’t grab me by the throat and refuse to let go, if the conflict is manufactured and could have been resolved by the conversation they spend 300 pages avoiding, or if the villains ooze only evil with no humanizing qualities, I put it down and move on. The book may improve, but I’m no longer willing to wait until it does. This includes best selling writers and those considered on the top of their craft (not always the same). They don’t get a pass, anymore. I don’t keep reading them if they don’t deliver every time. Being a writer, I am a much tougher reader.
How has writing changed you? If you are a reader, how has a book or a writer changed you?
Visit the other bloggers, and see how they answered the question or just what they have to say about this crazy journey we call writing.
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group was founded by Alex Cavanaugh, who is also a key player in the A to Z Blog Challenge, which I intend to sign up for. During the month of April, bloggers post everyday but Sundays, following the alphabet. If you love blogging and a challenge, visit the Challenge site. They are preparing for a big announcement for the 2017 event. 
I like the title of your post. Though, for me, it’s more likely that I don’t have time to read because I’m writing. I still can’t put a book down halfway through even if I can’t stand the characters! I feel like that’s giving up, and I don’t like completing things (especially books I’ve paid for) halfway. :-/
Thanks, Mandy. Time is a big issue for me too, which another reason I no longer read books haven’t pulled me in enough by a certain time. I still read the ending though! 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
Life is too short for bad books. I don’t wade through them anymore either.
Glad you joined the IWSG!
Life is too short, time too precious, to use it on something not meaningful to you. Thanks for visiting, Alex. I’m glad I joined too.
Hi, Shari, nice to meet you.
I tend to agree with you. Life is too short to plow through a boring or badly written book. I’m a person who reads the endings. If I dislike the ending I don’t bother reading the entire book.
Have a great month.
Nice to meet you to Cathrina. I totally agree with you on endings. Even with a well written book that keeps me engaged from beginning through the middle, a bad ending destroys the entire experience. I will the hate book, no matter how much I enjoyed it along the journey. Same with movies. Have a great month yourself.
I am definitely a tougher reader as well. I feel like I lost a little part of me, the part that could float through a book with no regard for technique and plot holes.
I know, it does feel like I lost something. Its harder know to find books/series I can lose myself in, the way I once could.
I don’t always read books all the way through, though I don’t know if it’s so much that they’re bad as much as I have so little time and energy most days! And my interest does have to be held. I, too, choose to write over read when I can squeeze time for myself at the beginning and end of every day! Nice to meet you! Christy
I have little time too, which also has changed my approach to reading. I also choose to write over read, but I have always read myself to sleep, even if its only 3 pages a night. Given that, the book has to be good. Or good to me. Thanks for visiting, Christ. Nice meeting you.