You Are What You Read…
I have a theory…
Just as you are what you eat, my theory is that you are, as a writer, what you read. All the plots, information, characters, words, poetry, classics, contemporary, fiction and literary study I’ve ever read MUST, surely, be reflected in:
- what themes I choose to write about
- which vocabulary I choose to use
- the settings I place my story
- what patterns of speech I can ‘hear’ as I write
- many other aspects that I might not even recognise
Does This Ever Limit My Reading?
I notice what reading I select is when I’m writing my novel. I cannot read crime while trying to develop my own crime-writing voice. It is too easy to mimic other writers (and imperative we guard against that) so reading a totally different genre helps me stick to my own voice.
Are There Drawbacks to This Approach?
Yes!
I have a crime & thriller TBR bookshelf that I am aching to start. I daren’t, for all the reasons I’ve given. Whilst I thoroughly admire several crime writers of today, I do not want to end up as some kind of clone. Not just because it is intellectual theft but also because I have more pride in myself as a writer than to copy another.
To make matters worse. my favourite crime authors have books coming out soon – I want to both read and review their new work.
How Can I Overcome My (Self-Inflicted) Reading Embargo?
I will have to declare a novel-writing holiday by starting to write some romantic short stories while reading one or more crime novels from that TBR pile.
Two Questions For You…
- Does it worry you that what you are currently reading might be reflected in your current writing?
- Do you have any other solutions or tips for me?
