Is Reading Really Fundamental to Growing as a Writer?

Welcome, Guest Blogger Joanne Troppello! Here's what Joanne has to say about reading as a writer. And take a look at her inspirational book, MR. SHIPLEY'S GOVERNESS, described below.

I have always loved to read ever since I was a little girl when I first discovered books. Reading fueled my appetite to learn to write and the rest is history—well, almost. For a while I was focusing so much on writing my current WIP’s that I didn’t read any new books for over six months. Of course, that’s not beneficial to my writing and I finally realized that.

I recently started doing some book reviews and that has whet my appetite again to reading and why I love it so much. It’s also reminded me how much (as a writer) I need to read other books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Reading how other authors write is beneficial to sharpening your own writing skills. If you’re looking closely enough, you’ll see what works for other authors and what doesn’t. Your skills will be honed. That’s the point, right—we should always want to do what is necessary to sharpen our skillset and write better novels. At least that’s my goal.

I know with my first book, I did not know what I was doing other than basic grammar skills and that I really, really wanted to be an author. However, wanting to be a real author and truly being one—two totally different stories. Being a successful author takes hard work and determination and you always need to take the good with the bad. Are you able to handle constructive criticism from editors, publishers, book reviewers and even readers…without getting offended? It takes me time to process the criticism, but usually I can get a handle on it and use that to make my writing better.

Now that my second novel has been published and I’m working on my third and fourth, I’m excited that I’m still learning more on how to write better and get a truly polished novel that readers are waiting with bated breath to read. Starting to read other books again has truly assisted in that journey.

There are different levels of writing and I want to strive to make it to the highest level that I can write. Reading more books can open your mind to those different levels of writing skills and you can compare that to your own set of skills and figure out where you need to improve. Obviously, your end goal is not to copy another author’s work. That would be plagiarism and wrong! My point is that reading good, quality work can inspire you to see where your writing skills are lacking and open up your eyes to see where you can improve.
I recently received a Kindle and let’s just say that I LOVE it!! I never thought I would enjoy reading on an eReader since I was an advocate for print books, but after my mom got one (and she was more against the eReader than I was)…she convinced me that I would love it. I’ve only had the Kindle for a month and I’ve fallen in love—I’ve been kindle-fied!

So, just curious what other people think on the subject of eBooks vs. print books. Do you think print books will become obsolete? If you have an eReader, which kind and what do you like about it?

Bio: Joanne Troppello is an author of mystery and inspirational romance novels. Her second novel, Mr. Shipley’s Governess, was recently released by Wild Horse Press. She is at work on her next novel, a romantic suspense. She is married and loves spending time with her husband and family. Blog: http://joannetroppello.weebly.com/blog.html


Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoanneTroppello

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joanne.kerzmanntroppello
Book Blurb: MR. SHIPLEY'S GOVERNESS

Sophie Baird is looking for a way to escape the painful reality of her parents' deaths. Unable to live in their home any longer, she takes a job as a live-in tutor to Anastasia Shipley to remove herself from her painful memories and the feeling that God has abandoned her.

Anastasia has an illness that has prevented her from ever attending school and makes her father, Sebastian, over protective.

When Sophie first meets Sebastian, she cannot deny the intense attraction she feels toward him. When an unexpected romance begins between them, she starts to rebuild her relationship with God, with the help of a certain little girl.

Purchase Link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mrshipley039sgoverness-481158-149.html

What Was I Thinking?

Some time ago, my editor at LL asked when I might be finished with the second book of the Dead Detective series. After a pseudo-scientifi process, I told her June.
Wrong. Here's why.
First, I am an incurable optimist. I tell myself that I will write for four hours/day, five days/week. That never happens, of course. Life intervenes.
Second, creativity does not like being forced. Even if I could sit before my computer for four hours a day, five days a week, much of that time would be spent cursing an unmoving cursor.
Finally, I'm just a tad anal. I can't just write it and say, "There it is." I have to read it over and over, making it better. Then I have to get people I trust to give me feedback. Then I read it again. More than once.
So I started telling myself that July starts with the same two letters as June, and the editor might not notice. But July is fading fast, so it might be...well, it won't be January. I hope.
Maybe I should have told her from Day One that I am a cockeyed optimist.

Research, a Kind of Mini-Vacation

Hubby and I traveled to the Mackinac Bridge this weekend. It's something we've seen lots of times before, but I found that as I reached the closing scenes of the second Dead Detective Mystery, I needed to look at the bridge with a new purpose. The book is already past the date that I gave my editor for submission, but I needed to answer some specific questions: can a person get from the water onto the bridge, would the bridge workers be aware of a pedestrian, and could she get up onto the bridge structure from the deck.
We examined the south end of the bridge carefully, taking notes from directly underneath, in the visitors' center, and from each side. We discussed how a climb could be made from the ground to the bridge deck. Then we drove across the bridge, as slowly as possible, much to the chagrin of others on the bridge. (There's no stopping, so we had to do what we could.) Now I'm guessing Homeland Security was aware of us by this time, but they probably concluded we were just another loony older couple, not a real threat.
I also needed to look at boats, so hubby took me to a marina when we got into the Upper Peninsula. Now we owned several boats in the past, but I was not really paying attention back then. I listened carefully as he told me the parts of several different boats, how the parts work, what they're used for, etc. As we talked, a man came along, looking at us rather oddly, and got onto the boat we were discussing. My clipboard and note-taking clearly made him nervous, so I explained what we were up to. His face lit like a candle, and he gladly told us all sorts of details. Later, we heard him telling other boaters that his vessel was going to be featured in a new mystery novel, DEAD FOR THE MONEY.
Research complete, we enjoyed our weekend in the U.P., wandering around Sault Ste. Marie as we talked over plot points and solved little knot-lets. Hubby seemed happy to be able to help, and I returned home with a new enthusiasm, ready to add details that will make the story resonate with readers.
I've already decided, however, that my next book will be set in Alaska, Italy, or maybe Australia. Somewhere I've always wanted to visit.

The Flag, Pie, and...Mystery Novels?

I just finished three pies for our church ice cream social, held on the Fourth every year. I like making pies. They require a little expertise, they look pretty if they're done well, and they get you all sorts of compliments from people who hope you will make more.
On this Fourth, the pies reminded me of my novels. They, too, take some expertise, and I've worked many, many years, days, and hours to get to the point where I know that I will need to work many more years, days and hours. You never arrive as a writer, in my opinion: you just keep working at it.
Mysteries are pretty when well done, despite a few bloodstains here and there. With characters the reader can root for, a plot that is intriguing and not too obvious, and all the other literary elements considered and polished, a writer creates art.
And the compliments! Nothing makes a writer happier than to have a reader say, "When will there be more?"
I'm working on it. Have another piece of my pecan pie while you wait.