Which do you prefer reading. Writers in your genre or something completely different?

Charlie Horse · Jun 23, 2008

This question was sparked by the other thread requesting suggestions for good humorous fantasy writers to read. It's also something I've been thinking a lot about lately, it being summer and all, as I tend to branch out in my reading list this time of year.

Specifically, the question is:

Do you think it's best to read more books in the genre in which you write, allowing yourself to learn from the masters? Or, conversly, does this pose the risk of subconsciously emulating someone else's style?

Or, should you open yourself up, perhaps broaden your horizons and see how the stylistic traits of other genres might be incorporated into your work?

Or, are there benefits and drawbacks to both?

It's no big secret I'm a Neil Gaiman fan, but in my writing I don't want to sound like him. Recently I put an excerpt from my WIP in the SYW forum and someone commented that it "pleasantly reminded them of Gaiman." While that's very flattering, I hope my writing has its own voice.

Feel free to discuss.

Calla Lily · Jun 23, 2008

I've read a bit of everything, and a lot of what I like (horror, mysteries). I'm a Lovecraft worshipper, and before I found my voice, I wrote short stories that were painful imitations of HP. But I believe my omnivorous reading helped me learn what works and what doesn't, and I recommend it.

Claudia Gray · Jun 23, 2008

I read within my genre while I'm not writing. While I am writing, I read other genres (often a lot of nonfiction).

Momento Mori · Jun 23, 2008

Charlie Horse:
Do you think it's best to read more books in the genre in which you write, allowing yourself to learn from the masters? Or, conversly, does this pose the risk of subconsciously emulating someone else's style?

Or, should you open yourself up, perhaps broaden your horizons and see how the stylistic traits of other genres might be incorporated into your work?

Or, are there benefits and drawbacks to both?

Personally, I think that if you're planning on writing in a particular genre, then you have to be familiar with that genre (even if it's only with the best sellers/most highly recommended books within it).

However regardless of the genre you write in, you should read widely across genres and include some literary fiction in that mix, if only because it will give you more examples of what can be done with plot, character and narrative style than what you could get by ever staying within one genre.

I'm mixing up my reading at the moment between literary fiction (Coetzee, McEwan and Faulkes), detective fiction (Sayers, McDermid and Billingham), children's and YA fiction (Colfer and Meyers), and graphic novels (Moore mainly). I pick out the bits I like and can learn from and learn more about what I don't like.

MM

Clarec · Jun 23, 2008

I'm firmly entrenched in my own genre. Sometimes I feel inspired and remember why I like to write as well as read this stuff but sometimes I feel deflated and think "I'll NEVER be as good as this" (you know who you are, Jim Butcher). On occasion, I have very quietly thought "this is rubbish, I could do better".

I do branch out though and read a lot of plain crime fiction and some chick lit. I guess I don't stray too far from what I like though.

Clare

willietheshakes · Jun 23, 2008

I tend to gravitate towards books that someone is paying me to read...

Calla Lily · Jun 23, 2008

willietheshakes said:
I tend to gravitate towards books that someone is paying me to read...

Okay, yes, I do that too. Music as well.

Birol · Jun 23, 2008

You need to be familiar with the genre that you want to write, in order to understand the conventions and the market that you are writing for, but definitely also read things outside that genre. There is a wide-range of learning and inspiration out there. Do not limit yourself.

ACEnders · Jun 23, 2008

I think I gravitate toward my genre - women's fiction. But I also read a lot of literary fiction and crime fiction. I read a bit of chick lit and some memoirs.

I think it's important to be familiar with your genre, obviously as others are saying. But I also think it's so important to expand. Which is what I'm trying to do.

Righting · Jun 23, 2008

I'd say open yourself up and read whatever is interesting - any genre could help.

Vandal · Jun 23, 2008

I alternate between my genre (Young Adult) and some other. I learn from them all.

I've read a few of the more mainstream books by AW authors. I'm not a fan of SF, but I'm going to read one of Uncle Jim's books very soon.

Esopha · Jun 23, 2008

I read everything, because there are masters in every genre I can learn from. The only thing I have a hard time reading is superhardcore SF and straight genre romance.

That said, I'm always open for suggestions on superhardcore SF and romance novels from friends and family.

I know what the OP means about being compared to a writer you love. I'm a huge Terry Pratchett fan, but I've forbidden my father to compare me to him. He thinks it's a compliment, but all it does is make me insecure about my voice.

Polenth · Jun 23, 2008

I read quite a bit of fantasy and science fiction (which is what I write). I also read other stuff. I like cozy detective novels, mythology and poetry in particular.

I've yet to find a romance, erotica or chick lit book that's persuaded me it's interesting enough to read the whole book. But I've read something from most other genres. If nothing else, it's taught me what I don't want to write.

JamieFord · Jun 23, 2008

If I really had a preference, I'd read graphic novels. But beyond that, I'll read anything and everything. I try to be unprejudiced about it and read the best of everything...

JoNightshade · Jun 23, 2008

I'll read it if it's good.

I'd say the majority of books I read are sci fi, sometimes fantasy or in between. I really love mind-bending sci fi. But I always browse the new books tables at the store and if something catches my interest I'll pick it up or get it from the library. Sooo I guess that would be primarily mainstream or literary fiction. I don't really get much into other genres, but I will read a mystery now and then. But no matter what, it has to be good. I don't waste time reading so-so books for entertainment. If you don't flip that 'stimulation' switch in my brain, sorry.

I write... uh, lots of stuff. I think my stuff ends up being between genre and general fiction. Although my next project is a character-based science fiction, and after that I've got a non-magical fantasy planned.

Danger Jane · Jun 23, 2008

I read some in my genre, plenty out of it. There are too many great books for me to read just one type of story.

Penguin Queen · Jun 23, 2008

Danger Jane said:
I read some in my genre, plenty out of it. There are too many great books for me to read just one type of story.

That.

And poetry. I dont write it, but it is a) such a pleasure to read, and b) has taught me such a lot about language and writing and putting words together. Everybody should read poetry.

Shweta · Jun 23, 2008

I mostly read in my genre -- I write it because it's what I love best -- but I'll pop out of it at least a few times a year. That's not counting non-fiction.

sunandshadow · Jun 23, 2008

I think there's fewer voices than writers, so everyone's voice is going to be similar to someone else's.

I read a lot of different things: non-fiction, romance, and I watch a lot of anime which is sort of like reading. I don't really read science fiction and fantasy any more (although that's part of what I write) because I don't like the direction the genre has gone since the 90s, and because I read so much of it as a teenager that I feel I am familiar with it and don't need to read any more as research unless I want to see what writers have done with a specific concept I want to use. Also my writing genre is a bit constricted because I'd prefer to write anime scripts than novels but if I wrote an anime script it wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting produced so I try to stick to novels.

tehuti88 · Jun 23, 2008

Charlie Horse said:
Do you think it's best to read more books in the genre in which you write, allowing yourself to learn from the masters? Or, conversly, does this pose the risk of subconsciously emulating someone else's style?

Or, should you open yourself up, perhaps broaden your horizons and see how the stylistic traits of other genres might be incorporated into your work?

Or, are there benefits and drawbacks to both?

The third option.

It's great to read a lot in one's own genre, but to expand beyond that is good as well, since you'll never know what interesting techniques you can incorporate if you don't read about them. (Yes, I'm such a fence-sitting Libra.)

That being said, to simply address the title of the thread--I prefer to read things in my own genre (in fiction) and things related to the subjects I write about (in nonfiction). I'll read different stuff if it looks interesting enough, but I prefer to stick to what I know, simply because there's a greater chance I'll enjoy it. I'm kind of simple that way.

THAT being said, I have a few widely different areas of interest, and they can cross over in interesting ways within one genre. And the same idea can be used in intriguingly different ways in different genres. So expanding one's horizons is a good thing.

scope · Jun 23, 2008

I read in and out of my genre.
Within, because I enjoy some of it, but even more importantly, because as a business person I have to know what's going on with my bread and butter -- trends, writers, publishers, agents, good, bad, reviews, etc.

However, I love reading, as I know most of us do, and my personal tastes are all over the place. No rhyme or reason, I just go to the bookstore, browse around, and usually wind up buying several books on diverse subjects.

Quossum · Jun 24, 2008

Funny, I was thinking of posing this very question!

I teach middle school, so mostly I read YA novels. Voraciously, and in every subgenre therein. When I'm not in a heavy "writing mode," I usually read a book a day, two during the summer. When I'm in a writing mode, I read less--can't concentrate on anyone else's characters when I'm dwelling on my own.

But what I write is more adult in nature.

Of course I'll read anything, and sometimes I branch out and read an actual "grown up" book in the genres that I write: science fiction, fantasy, literature, romance...but mostly I read children's books. Love 'em.

Oh, and I do love "special interest" cozies, which I could never write. I like the dog oriented one and the quilt ones.

--Q

Charlie Horse · Jun 24, 2008

Shweta said:
I mostly read in my genre -- I write it because it's what I love best -- but I'll pop out of it at least a few times a year. That's not counting non-fiction.

In afterthought, I thought maybe I should have asked if many novel writers read much non-fiction. Personally I don't (at least not without getting paid for it), but maybe there's some value in that as well.

Perle_Rare · Jun 24, 2008

When I figure out my genre, I'll let you know.

BfloGal · Jun 24, 2008

I used to teach, so I've read widely -- mostly classics and award-winning YA. I've always enjoyed a good mystery, and wanted to attempt my own cozy, so I took a trip to the bookstore and came home with a large bag of best-selling cozies. (OK -- two bags)

The quality is depressing. Or maybe it's encouraging, because after reading one of them I thought, "I could have written that!"

I'm only partway through the bag, but so far I solved a mystery in the third chapter when I realized there was only one likable suspect, and that person had to be guilty. I was right. I also received a physics lesson on why airplanes fly, and a travel guide of London. (Are travel-related expenses tax deductible for authors? Those pages convinced me that he was just trying to prove that he was there.)

Right now I'm reading one that isn't too easy. It's too hard. There is a tremendous amount of raw information and detail being given to the reader, and the protagonist is not sharing any tips on sorting it out. I feel like I should start a file so I have a shot at this one. (Well, actually, I feel like I should put down the book and pull something else out.)

But it's helping me define what I, as a reader, like in a good mystery. Now if I could only write it.

Which do you prefer reading. Writers in your genre or something completely different?

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