I have to admit that until the last few years I was Terry Pratchett / Douglas Adams devotee. Recentlly though I have discovered many amazing high fantasy and more gritty fantasy authors whom I love to read. My writing is very much in the vein of Pratchett / Adams, yet when I write I don’t like to read similar literature – I like to keep my reading and writing minds separate. So at the moment whilst I’m writing/blogging the silly “In That Other Dimension” I’m reading Kurt Vonnegut and Karen Miller.

I also like to challenge myself and write in different styles, so I do write poetry, lyrics, travel blogs from time to time. I’ve recently written a very dark short story (which I’ve entered into a competition so I can’t blog at the moment) – very different to my usual genre! I believe that writing outside of your comfort zone is the best way to improve, and fill in those holes that may exist in your current skills.

Anyway, an interesting discussion! Thanks!

Matty

There are too many books I know I want to read to try and force myself to read something I’m not interested in.

As a writer, I try to read widely in my genre (YA), but I think it’s important to read other genres as well because you can learn from them, and reading more will always make you a better writer.

To be perfectly honest, I read for recreation as little as possible nowadays. I learned two lessons a long time ago:

FIRST, if you want to write well, you have to read…but you have to read GOOD stuff (i.e., not the average drugstore paperback).

SECOND, my personal writing style mimics that of whatever author I am reading. Consequently, when I’m actively writing, I have to limit exposure to other styles, so as not to adulterate the “voice” of my narrator or characters.

I think it’s vital for writers to do so. Not only does it expand your mental horizons, but it can make you aware of alternate ways of storytelling and make you more aware, by contrast, of different tropes and conventions in the genre you write. This can help you mix it up and add a unique spin to your books so they stand out over everybody else’s.

I used to be embarrassed to pick up a chick lit book, or cozy murder mystery, but I’ve learned those are PERFECT books to read when I’m editing because they’re so different than what I write. And they can be fun and sexy, which is a nice change. I have to admit, I did tuck one away the other day when I knew people were coming over, but I will read them in public occasionally, so I’m not as bad about it as I used to be!