📚 Read Like a Writer
You have to read if you want to write.
I am a bookworm on speed. I have read so many books in the last month it is embarrassing and expensive. One that has stuck out to me this week has been popular on BookTok.
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak appears to be a good old-fashioned ghost story with a twist. The twist is that it includes the pivotal illustrations of the story. I will not say much else; there are no spoilers here, except to say check it out.
Although including pictures in an adult book is not unique, Ransom Riggs does this to perfection in his Miss Peregrines books. It is an exciting idea, and I always wonder how authors develop these 'out of the box' ideas.
This book is definitely meant to appeal to young adults/horror fans. I am constantly amazed by how successful authors push the boundaries of traditional genres.
Fiction genres are all different and are told in different ways. Audiences of each have different expectations that writers need to cover. This is why writing in a genre you enjoy reading is essential.
You are your best audience and know the expectations for this.
The two genres that I write are Dystopian and Crime. Both I consume in large quantities as a reader.
The point of view is another factor that needs to be considered when writing. There are several points of view you can use to write a novel. The two most popular are first and third person.
If you write in the third person, you are the narrator, telling the story. If you write in the first person, you tell the story as it happens. Both have their pitfalls and advantages.
As a reader, I am not a fan of first-person narratives; for this reason, I rarely write books in this style. Our reading affects the writer that we are, even if it is subconsciously.
Which novels do you enjoy reading? Is this a point of view you use in your writing?
The combination of reading and writing should never be overlooked, which is why I talk about reading as much as writing in this newsletter. I firmly believe to write; you have to be a reader.
If you enjoy this email, please share it so more readers can find it.
Until next week stay safe
Sam 😊
Question of the Week
Does your reading affect your writing?
Quote of the week
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot - Stephen King
Another book for adults that combines texts and pictures in a unique way is Kurt Vonnegut's "Breakfast of Champions", where the author's own line drawings are used to punctuate the metaphorical themes in the novel.