Reading to Write

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Today, I write as a reader.  I’ve only had articles published online; I have manuscripts in a drawer, not published books.  But I have fifty years of experience as a reader.  I love literature; I will read almost anything that has words in a row.  There are a few things that I will tune out/grumble or argue with when reading; there are even a few things that I refuse to read on the grounds that they might contaminate my thinking.  For the most part, my reading is ecclective, varied, and includes fiction, non-fiction, print and electronic material.

When I pick up a book I expect to be entertained or informed, or both.  Sometimes I want something light and fluffy, sometimes something to springboard creativity.  My favorite books (currently) are science fiction mystery/thrillers.  There is something intriguing about combining Sam Slade with laser blasters or magic wands.  Terry Pratchet, Mike Renick, Elizbeth Moon, Mercedes Lackey all produce for fine fiction under this heading.

A good mystery story does not give away the ending in the first chapter–or, indeed, till the final chapter.  I despise the brand of “mystery”, where the only mystery is how the villain eluded capture when the evidence was so clearly displayed/announced.  However, clues must be planted early in the plot-line, and revealed in a logical fashion.  A surprise letter from Great-Uncle Harry who has never been mentioned before the next-to-last page, or a mystical revelation from an un-named source are NOT fair-play when writing a suspenseful thriller.

Characters, regardless of genre, should be memorable.  The days of BEMS (bug-eyed monsters), embedded lectures on physics, and card-board cut-out protagonists are over.  Even if it is not mentioned in the plot-line, the character should have a past, should have idosyncracies (like reading in bed, likes tea with lemon, etc.), family roots or an explanation of why there are no roots and so on.  Even if the reader never sees these things, a person who reads comic book will have a vastly different background from a person who reads Tolstoy.  (Ok, ok, War and peace has been done as a graphic novel, I’m sure of it.  That still isn’t the same as reading the whole thing.

Words should be spelled and type-set correctly.  Nothing is more off-putting than bad spelling or half-sentences.  It really breaks the mood of a story.

Grammar should reflect the education, attitudes and mores of the characters.  The language should flow smoothly, there should be continuity from one event to another.  Romantic interludes should enhance the plot or be central to it; not occur randomly without apparent excuse or cause.

Yes, I will read almost anything.  But some things I enjoy more than others.

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