I can’t read novels anymore.
After two craft books and two conferences I sat down to read a novel and I couldn’t do it. The first sentence bored me. The first two pages were back story and by the fourth page I had picked out three or four blurbs of telling.
I would like to thank Jeff Gerke and “The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction” for my demise. Without his fabulous book (which includes samples to help you identify those mistakes) I might have enjoyed my novel in ignorance. Instead, I’ll be taking Dr. Dennis Hensley’s idea and taking a colored pencil to the pages to highlight the telling, the back story, and hopefully also some good dialogue and description.
And so I turn to another craft book, because that novel isn’t getting read anytime soon.
Haha… well, at least you know you retained a significant amount from the conferences & books…! LOL 🙂
Faith
http://www.boughanfire.com
Oh dear. Maybe someday you'll pick up one and be able to read it without this happening, but I doubt it. Sorry!
My son, an animator, cannot just go to a movie for enjoyment anymore. He picks apart the screenplay, camera angles, plot, etc. It frustrates him, but how can you unlearn something?
I read a nonfiction book recently by a bestselling author and was appalled at the mistakes. Tons of passive verbs and continuity issues. I guess you get to do that when you are famous!
Blessings on your craft reading,
Jeanette
Audience of ONE
don't give up so quickly! there's got to be a novel that will grab you from the start and be a fun ride all the way through. you've just got to find it (hey, or write it!)
I too picked up my favorite novel that I have read 5+ times after reading craft books for the past month and found places where she didn't do as the writing gurus instruct. So, as I enjoyed the story again anyway, I just figured, the story is loads more important than crafting exactly by the rules.
But I totally understand once you get very familiar with something, be it writing craft, web design, correct knifesmithing, discus throwing technique, what have you, you have to deal with the part of your brain that can't enjoy it anymore unless you pick it apart and find it worthy. Maybe there is an off button for that we can find? 🙂
Go pick up your favorite author right now!! You'll get sucked in and miss the flaws, trust me!
Have a terrific Fourth of July!
Thanks for all of the encouragement! I think I'm going to grab one of the 'award winners' that I own – that should help!
Happy 4th to everyone – thank a veteran!
Very sad! Time heals all wounds…
LOL. You'll get past it. After a while you'll be able to pinpoint great authors who make you forget to critique in the beauty of their story.
And then reading becomes fun again.