reading while writing: the same YA subgenre or not?

Windcutter · Mar 2, 2012

Asking here, because YA has a pretty unique situation with YA being an umbrella genre. So if you write a dark contemporary issue drama while reading a humorous steampunk romp, you are still technically reading and writing in the same genre.

So, do you find it distracting to read YA books of other subtypes while you are writing one? Or maybe you try to avoid similarities by avoiding similar books altogether? I know one person who only reads YA books (of any kind) in between writing YA novels, never during the same period of time, she says that other writers' YA voices muddle up her own.

Sage · Mar 2, 2012

Sometimes I like reading the genre I'm writing and sometimes I don't, but it almost always depends on my reading tastes of that moment, not whether I need to read more of what I'm writing or need to avoid it (as many people feel one way or the other). I don't make the conscious choice to avoid reading while writing (like for voice reasons or anything), but my reading time and writing time is kinda the same time, so I either do one or the other on most days.

Technically, YA is not a genre.

KateSmash · Mar 2, 2012

It really does depend. Most of the time the diversity fo stories even within specific subgenres (and, like an echo, I have to say that YA is not a genre) that I don't run into anything too similar. Like the current w.i.p being a cyberpunk science fantasy. Closest thing I've read while writing it has been Cinder, which really has no resemblance to my w.i.p.

Of course if I were doing something with a little more market saturation - dystopian or paranormal - I'd probably want a bit of a genre blackout to avoid burning out on the subject matter. Otherwise, I'm not too worried about temporarily adopting someone else's voice.

amschilling · Mar 2, 2012

I read what I'm interested in reading at the time. I don't usually avoid something because my current WIP is similar in genre or theme.

That being said, I also read less when I'm in the first draft stage. That's probably more to do with how obsessively focused I am at that point on my own story than anything else.

Stiger05 · Mar 2, 2012

My reading varies. I generally read more YA when I'm not writing and other genres when writing, but not by design or anything. I just read whatever strikes my fancy at the time. Most of my "in between" YA reading is to see what's in the market. Otherwise, I buy books as I see them and read according to my mood. I just finished "The Fault in Our Stars" and am now reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" while working on a YA Fantasy-ish portal story.

Windcutter · Mar 2, 2012

So it's not officially considered a "genre" among the publishers? I'd never called it a genre before, but pretty much everyone corrected me saying it was indeed a genre.

Rhoda Nightingale · Mar 2, 2012

Another for "it depends." I have many, many books in my TBR pile. Some of them I read for "research" to get me into the headspace and whatever of my current projects; others I read to distract me from my current projects and calm my brain down; others I read simply because they sound cool.

wampuscat · Mar 2, 2012

Windcutter said:
So it's not officially considered a "genre" among the publishers? I'd never called it a genre before, but pretty much everyone corrected me saying it was indeed a genre.

If I understand correctly, YA is the market, but SF, F, mystery, thriller, contemporary, etc. is the genre.

Mandiloo322 · Mar 4, 2012

Rhoda Nightingale said:
Another for "it depends." I have many, many books in my TBR pile. Some of them I read for "research" to get me into the headspace and whatever of my current projects; others I read to distract me from my current projects and calm my brain down; others I read simply because they sound cool.

This! I usually find that if I have borrowed and modified an idea for a project, it's from a favorite book on my shelf, and I don't even notice until months later. Then I feel embarrassed. Thankfully, my favorite books are all at least twenty years old...

Becca C. · Mar 4, 2012

Usually when I'm writing, I'm interested in reading the exact opposite of what I'm writing. I write contemporary YA, but for some reason I read a lot of middle grade, adult mystery, epic fantasy, and Jane Austen. But that's also just the reading phase I'm in right now. I've been reading a lot of non-YA lately, but I'll go right back to my 90% YA reading soon enough.

bickazer · Mar 4, 2012

I usually have to read in similar genres to keep myself in the proper "headspace," so to speak. Then again I'm extremely undisciplined and my attention tends to drift unless I reinforce my interest by reading a lot of similar things.

maybegenius · Mar 4, 2012

I pretty much read whatever I feel like reading at the time, regardless of subgenre. I can usually separate my reading mind from my writing mind pretty well. Sometimes I go for reading something a little lighter because my brain needs a breather.

toldyouso · Mar 4, 2012

I got to a stage when I was writing the first draft of my WIP where I couldn't bear reading any more stuff in the genre - it's post-apocalyptic/dystopian. I didn't read any other YA for a while either. I think I'd just overloaded on YA reading. It's usually just cyclical. But generally, I just read stuff I'm interested in. It really varies. But if I'm knee-deep in something it relates. For example, when I was off YA reading for a bit I went through a huge non-fiction stage where I read about cults and north korea's cult-like leader a lot of other true crime stuff. It just happened out of the blue. But the cult stuff has been very useful to draw on.

Right now I'm able to read YA again, and it's all I'm reading. But I'm only really interested in reading contemporary. And some steampunk-ish stuff.

SaronaNalia · Mar 5, 2012

When I read something too similar to my WIP, I start getting negative. I become certain that my book will never be half as good as the one I'm reading. But they're usually more similar than just the genre when that happens. For example, if I was writing a novel about, say, a girl with an eating disorder, I could still read other contemporary YA. But I wouldn't want to be reading a book about a character with a similar disorder, especially not if the book was extremely well done. It wouldn't be good for my self-esteem.

reading while writing: the same YA subgenre or not?

So?

only the same subgenre/type

never the same subgenre/type

it depends

I only read books when I'm between writing projects

a totally unique option which I shall describe in the comments

Windcutter

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

KateSmash

this was a triumph

amschilling

Stiger05

Windcutter

Rhoda Nightingale

Vampire Junkie

wampuscat

Recovering adjective addict

Mandiloo322

[Shhhh....I'm writing.]

Becca C.

bickazer

someday we'll shine together

maybegenius

might be a giant

toldyouso

Surly Temple

SaronaNalia